Filled with the Spirit

A popular tract appeals to this passage to develop its understanding of the so-called "Spirit-filled" life. This tract incorrectly argues that the filling of the Spirit is what is needed to live a life of excitement and adventure. Other false interpretations of this passage include equating Spirit filling with the Baptism of the Spirit or call for re-filling with the Spirit on account of the fact that Christians are like "leaky cups." Two significant wrong interprative turns form the basis of many false interpretations of this passage: one, interpreting Paul's words as commanding Christians to be filled "with" the Spirit and two, lumping the command to be "filled with the Spirit" in with all other Biblical passages which refer to being filled wth the Spirit. The correct approach to this passage begins by clarifying the fact that Paul commands believers to be filled "by means of the Spirit" and not "with the Spirit," and then building on that correct translation by distinguishing what Paul commands from other narrative descriptions of Spirit filling. Interpreting Paul's command to be filled by means of the Spirit within the framework of the Book of Ephesians yields the proper interpetation of the command which is that Paul exhorts believer to be progressively and intensively filled with the powerful presence of God-Almighty in order to live a life that glorifies God through obedience to His commands.