Grammar and the Bible

What school subject do you like the least? Even though I love to write, I
always loathed English class—especially grammar. Diagraming sentences,
parts of speech, verb tenses it wasn’t my thing. So imagine my surprise
when I realized that what I had learned about grammar could help me study
the Bible.

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Take Ephesians 5:18 for example: “ be filled with the Holy Spirit.” This
verse is telling us to submit our lives to God and let Him fill us with His
Holy Spirit.

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The grammar lesson here is in the words “be filled.” First, the object of
this command is plural. This means that these words apply not only to a
single reader or listener of this verse, but to everyone who believes!
After all, Paul (the author of Ephesians) was writing this letter to the
whole church in Ephesus, not just one person. So, not only does God fill
each of us with the Holy Spirit individually, but He also fills the church
as a whole with the Holy Spirit.

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Second, these words are written in the present tense. Paul didn’t say “was
filled” or “could be filled.” He said, “be filled.” It is a present
action—every day we can choose to submit to God and be filled with His love
and joy, “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,
and making music to the Lord in your hearts” (verse 19).

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Third, this phrase uses a passive verb. It doesn’t say, “fill yourself.” It
says “be filled.” All we have to do is ask God, and He will fill us. We
don’t fill ourselves. God is doing the work; all we have to do is submit to
Him.

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He gave everything—including His Son—for us. Jesus died on the cross
and resurrected from the dead so we could be filled with His presence
through the Holy Spirit. When we put our trust in Him, He fills us up and
helps us follow His good ways, overflowing His love and joy in everything
we do. • Kimberly Brokish

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• What does it look like to live a life filled by the Spirit? (Hint: check
out today’s Bible passages.)

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• How can the things we learn about the world (such as languages, history,
culture, science, etc.) help us better understand Scripture?

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be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18b (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ephesians 5:15-Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 1:9-Colossians 1:14