Ephesians 5:19-21

Context

Ephesians has traditionally been accepted as a letter written by Paul from prison to the churches of Asia Minor. Some scholars hold that it was written by a disciple who carried on Paul's thought. Chapter 5 follows the exhortation to "walk as children of light" (v. 8) with the command in verse 18: "And be not drunk with wine … but be filled with the Spirit."

In the Greek text, "speaking," "singing," "giving thanks," and "submitting" in verses 19–21 are all participles (modifying forms derived from verbs) dependent on "be filled" in verse 18. These verses therefore explain how being filled with the Holy Spirit is expressed. Verse 21 serves as a bridge to the instructions that follow concerning wives and husbands, children and parents, and servants and masters (5:22–6:9). This section is commonly called the "household code."

Interpretation

• As an expression of the filling of the Spirit: On the basis of this passage, many commentators describe the filling of the Spirit less as an individual ecstatic experience than as a life displayed in the worship and relationships of the community.
• As instruction on worship music: A widely held view takes "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" as different kinds of songs. This view regards both sung psalms and newly composed hymns as legitimate worship music.
• Some Presbyterian and Reformed traditions in Scotland and North America read the passage differently. Noting that all three terms appear in the superscriptions of the Psalms in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), they advocate "exclusive psalmody," the position that only the Psalms should be sung in worship.
• Some in Pentecostal and charismatic circles connect "spiritual songs" with songs sung spontaneously under the inspiration of the Spirit, that is, singing in tongues.
• "Giving thanks always for all things": This is read as a call to give thanks in the name of Christ in every circumstance, not only for good things.

Debates and Issues

• The relationship between verse 21 and verses 22 and following: The egalitarian position holds that the mutual submission of verse 21 frames the entire instruction on marriage and therefore means that husbands and wives are to submit to one another. The complementarian position regards verse 21 as a general principle and verses 22 and following as the concrete application of that principle within the order of the household. Some complementarians read "one to another" as "each to those to whom submission is properly due." This discussion extends to Ephesians 5:21-25 and to the debate over the ordination of women.
• Textual issue: Some early manuscripts lack the verb "submit" in verse 22. In that case verse 22 must borrow the verb from verse 21, which supports the view that the two verses are grammatically bound together.
• "The fear of Christ": The Textus Receptus reads this phrase as "the fear of God," and the King James Version follows it: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

In the Korean Church

• Together with verse 18, the passage is frequently used as a sermon text on the filling of the Spirit.
• It is cited to justify hymns, gospel songs, and praise team-led worship alike. For this reason it is also frequently mentioned in the worship music debate.
• Verse 20 is cited in sermons on the theme of thanksgiving.

Related Passages

• Colossians 3:16
• Colossians 3:18-19
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• 1 Peter 3:1-7