Re: Eph 5:18

Eric Weiss (eweiss@acf.dhhs.gov)
Thu, 3 Oct 96 7:28:23 -24000

Dan Wallace in his BEYOND THE BASICS grammar has an interesting discussion on
Eph 5:18. If I recall what he says correctly (my book is at home and it's
6:30 in the morning and I haven't had my coffee yet!), he argues based on
other verses that this is a dative of means, and then explains that the agent
is Christ (he also has a lengthy discussion on dative of agency vs. dative of
means) and the content is God--i.e., Be filled (with all the fullness of God--
Eph 3:18) by means of (Christ using the) Spirit (to fill you). Note the
parallel:

You (agent) by (means of) wine get (yourself) drunk
Christ (agent) by (means of) the spirit fills you with God

I believe that's the point he makes. Certainly a different view from most.
I'm not saying I agree, but his argument is worth reading and thinking about.