Drunk with Wine

      Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (ESV). Sadly, many Christians examine this verse and completely miss Paul’s point. A common refrain today from this verse and others like it is Christians are allowed to drink intoxicating beverages so long as they don’t get into debauchery or excess.

      That is not what the verse says at all. This is one of the few instances in which searching out the language behind our English translation provides us with information we miss. The word translated “drunk” is a form of the Greek word “methusko” which is, in turn, a special form of the word “methuo.” “Methuo” means to be filled and in the context of intoxicants, means to be drunk. However, according to Vine, “methusko” is the “inceptive form” of the verb. Vine goes on to explain this inceptive verb is “marking the process of the state expressed in No. 1 [methuo]” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p 343.).

      Webster’s Dictionary defines “inceptive” as “expressing the beginning of the action indicated by the underlying verb, …”

      Abbot-Smith’s Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament claims “methusko” is “causal of [methuo]” (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, Scotland. 1973, p 282.).

      Bullinger’s A Critical Lexicon and Concordance To the English and Greek New Testament says “methusko” means “to grow drunk (marking the beginning of No. 1 [methuo])” (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids. 1978. P 238.).

      Do you begin to see what Paul is saying now? He is not saying we can start drinking intoxicants as long as we don’t get to a point of debauchery. He is saying we shouldn’t even start drinking intoxicants because doing so is getting into debauchery.

      Instead, we need to be filled with the Spirit. Paul’s meaning is to the extent we allow intoxicating drink into our bodies, we remove the ability of the Spirit to control our lives. Let’s face it, everyone understands that the very first thing intoxicating beverages attack is our judgment. As we increasingly lose our ability to judge and discern, we lose our inhibitions to do what we have judged is right and avoid what we have judged is wrong.  Instead of allowing alcohol in our bodies, which causes us to lose control, we should fill our hearts and minds with the Spirit so we might follow righteousness.

      Yes, I recognize the biblical exception for medicinal purposes (Proverbs 31:6-7; I Timothy 5:23). But the rule is stay away from intoxicating drinks. Don’t even get started in the process. Instead, fill your heart with the things of the Spirit.

Edwin L. Crozier