FILLED with Holy Spirit g

Virgil Warren, christir.org PDF

BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Virgil Warren, PhD

I. Greek Terminology for Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

A. Several pertinent words not used of being filled with the Holy Spirit are γεμίζω (gemízō), ἐμπιπλάω (empipláō), ἐμπίμπλημι (empímplēmi), κεράννυμι (keránnymi, κεπάω, kepáō], μεστόω (mestóó), πλήρωμα (plērōma), συμπληρόω (symplēróō), ἀναπληρόω (anaplēróō), χορτάζω (chortázō, be filled with food), ἀνταναπληρόω (antanaplēróō), τελέω (teléō, fill by finishing).

B. Πίμπλημι (pímplēmi)

1. Luke 1:15: “He [John the Baptist] will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his

mother’s womb.”

2. Luke 1:41: “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she lifted up her

voice. . . .”

3. Luke 1:67: “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying

. . .”

4. Acts 2:4: “And they [apostles] were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . and they

began to speak. . . .”

5. Acts 4:8: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said . . .”

6. Acts 4:31: “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of

the Lord with boldness.”

7. Acts 9:17: “And be [Paul] filled with the Holy Spirit . . .”

8. Acts 13:9: “But Paul . . . filled with the Holy Spirit and said . . .”

9. Note also filled with fear (Luke 5:26), madness/rage (Luke 6:11), wonder and amazement (Acts 3:10), indignation (Acts 5:17), envy (Acts 5:17; 13:45), (city filled with) confusion (Acts 19:29).

C. Πληρόω (plēróō)

1. Ephesians 5:18: “. . . but be filled [present imperative] with the Spirit.”

2. Note Acts 5:3: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy

Spirit?”

3. Note also “filled with comfort” (2 Corinthians 7:4), covetousness (Romans 1:29), the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19), the fruits of righteousness (Philippians 1:11), joy/gladness (Acts 2:28; 13:52; Romans 15:13; Philippians 2:2; 2 Timothy 1:4; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12), knowledge (Romans 15:14; Colossians 1:9), maliciousness (Romans 1:29), obedience (2 Corinthians 10:6), peace (Acts 13:52), sorrow (John 16:6), understanding (Colossians 1:9), unrighteousness (Romans 1:29), wickedness (Romans 1:29), wisdom (Luke 2:40; Colossians 1:9). Note also “your joy may be full” (John 3:29; 15:11; 16:6, 24).

II. Observations on the Data

A. Except for Ephesians 5:18, the filling imagery for the Spirit occurs only in Lucan materials. Luke is virtually alone in using the expression “filled with the Spirit.” Paul is alone in using the expression “earnest (and “seal”) of the Spirit.” John the Baptist is alone in using the term “baptism in the Holy Spirit.” Terminology peculiar to one writer does not likely refer to something distinctive. He is not likely the only writer to be talking about that part of the picture. Other writers probably talk about the same thing with different word pictures. So, we do not look for a different thing every time we see a different expression.

B. Except in Luke 1:15, πίμπλημι refers to an on-the-spot drive to action.

C. Πληρόω (plēróō) connotes a more stative idea, although Acts 5:3 may be a

response to a situation.

D. Ephesians 5:18, being present imperative, is a characteristic filling rather than a special one. This passage is the only one in the imperative. Since a person can be commanded to be filled, the person determines whether it occurs.

Ephesians 5:18 should not be taken to mean that being filled with the Spirit is comparable to being drunk. In fact, being filled with the Spirit and being drunk are opposites—replacing one another—as in 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity (which are not fitting), but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

E. There is seemingly a conceptual connection between indwelling and filling in the characteristic sense. The first pictures ongoing personal association; the second pictures that association as complete—“full.” “Being filled the Spirit” connects the imagery with actions prompted by that complete “filling.”

III. Ideas Expressed Under the Filling-with-the-Spirit Imagery.

A. Establishment of the basic interpersonal relationship with the Holy Spirit

B. Increase in the general life quality

C. Surges of boldness to act

D. Special enablement to prophesy supernaturally

IV. Other Things People Are Filled with in the New Testament (See also I, B 9; and I, C 3

above.)

A. μεστόω (mestóō): new wine (Acts 2:13)

B. ἐμπιπλάω (empipláō): food (Luke 1:53; John 6:12; cp. Luke 6:25), company

(Romans 15:24)

C. ἐμπιπλάω (empliplaō): food and gladness of heart (Acts 14:17)

D. γεμίζω (gemízō): carob pods (husks; Luke 15:16)

E. χορτάζω (chortázō): food (Matthew 5:6; 14:20; 15:33, 37; Mark 6:42; 7:27; 8:4,

8; Luke 9:17; 15:16; 16:21; John 6:26; James 2:16)

F. μεστός (mestós): hypocrisy (Matthew 23:28); envy, murder, strife, malignity

(Romans 1:29); goodness (Romans 15:14); adultery (2 Peter 2:14)

V. What People Are Filled with in the Old Testament

A. Spirit of God: Exodus 31:3; 35:31; Micah 3:8

B. (The spirit of) wisdom/understanding/knowledge: Deuteronomy 34:9; 1 Kings

7:13- 14; Proverbs 24:3-4

C. Feelings: anger (Esther 5:9; Isaiah 51:20); anguish (Isaiah 21:3; bitterness (Lamentations 3:15); joy (Psalm 16:11); contempt (Psalm 123:4); indignation (Jeremiah 15:17); shame (Habakkuk 2:16); sorrow (Ezekiel 23:33)

D. Skill: Exodus 35:34-35

E. Behaviors: adultery (Proverbs 7:18); drunkenness (Jeremiah 13:13; Ezekiel 23:33); laughter (Job 8:21; Psalm 126:2); rebuke (Isaiah 51:20); reproach (Lamentations 3:30); scoffing (Psalm 123:4); singing (Psalm 126:2)

F. Glory: Habakkuk 2:16

G. Physical things: food (Nehemiah 9:25; Job 20:23; Psalm 78:29)

H. Qualities: burning (Psalm 38:7); goodness (Jeremiah 31:14); sin (Proverbs 12:21;

14:14; Ecclesiastes 8:11); youth (Job 20:11)

As the above data on vocabulary show, “filling” imagery applies to virtually anything notable: feelings, qualities, behaviors, abilities, conditions, as well as substantive contents. So, being filled with the Spirit is an image for being notably characterized by the Spirit’s interpersonal presence and influence.

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