Efésios 5
Marvin Vincent · Citado em PreceptAustin
Efésios 5:18
Vincent - In the Septuagint the verb (methusko) repeatedly occurs for watering (Ps 65:9, 10), but always with the sense of drenching or soaking; of being drunken or surfeited with water. In Jer. 48 (Sept. 31) 26, it is found in the literal sense, to be drunken. The metaphorical use of the word has passed into common slang, as when a drunken man is said to be wetted or soaked (so Plato, above). The figurative use of the word in the Septuagint has a parallel in the use of potizo, to give to drink, to express the watering of ground. So Ge. 2:6, a mist watered the face of the earth, or gave it drink. Compare Ge 13:10; Dt. 11:10. A curious use of the word occurs in Homer, where he is describing the stretching of a bull’s hide, which, in order to make it more elastic, is soaked (methuousan) with fat (“Iliad,” xvii., 390). (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament 2:82)
Efésios 5:18
Vincent adds that asotia is literally "unsavingness" and describes the "the prodigal son who lived unsavingly [asotia]." The excesses and flagrant, senseless activities connected with the religious celebrations of Dionysus were well-known in the ancient world. The worshipers felt that they were united, indwelt and controlled by Dionysus who gave them special powers and abilities. As discussed below under "be filled", the idea in that command is to be continually controlled by the indwelling Spirit of God, this picture standing in stark contrast to the worshipers of Dionysus! Asotia is variously translated as profligacy (state of being completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness), reckless abandon, debauchery (extreme indulgence in sensuality), riotous living, wild, excess, extravagant squandering, dissoluteness, prodigality (quality of being recklessly extravagant with wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources). Asotia describes behavior which shows lack of concern or thought for the consequences of an action as seen with senseless or reckless deeds. Asotia is the characteristic of an abandoned man, denoting a dissolute life and carries the idea even of rioting (as translated in the KJV) and was commonly used to describe drunken revelry at pagan festivals. Asotia portrays the utter recklessness in expenditure on part of those who have lost self-control (or never had it). In the use in 1Peter 4:4, Peter gives us a good sense of the meaning of asotia (read the context), writing to the saints experiencing various trials that "the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation (asotia), and they malign you; but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (see notes 1 Peter 4 :3; 4 :4; 4 :5). An ásotos or prodigal is one who spends too much, who slides easily under the fatal influence of flatterers and the temptations with which he has surrounded himself into spending freely on his own lusts and appetites. Asotia describes the child who wastes money with the implication of wasting it on pleasures and thus ruining himself or herself. The Septuagint (LXX) uses asotia one time in the following verse (Brenton's English translation) A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery (asotia) dishonors his father. (Pr 28:7) He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. Eadie - The term asotos, from a privative and sozo, is the picture of a sad and very common result. It is sometimes used by the classics to signify one who is, as we say, “past redemption”...The adverb asotos is used of the conduct of the prodigal son in the far country in Lk 15:13. See Titus 1:6; 1Pe 4:4; Sept. Pr 28:7 (Ephesians 5:17-18 Commentary)