Is Ephesians 5:17-18 a not…but ellipses?
Question:
Hello,
I enjoyed reading your sermon on figures of speech, especially not-but ellipses. My question is: how does the not-but ellipsis apply to Ephesians 5:17-18:
"Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit."
It appears that in both verses, the "not" and "but" share the common verb "be," which would have Paul saying...
Not only be foolish but also be understanding
Not only be drunk with wine but also be filled with the Spirit
Also, in Ephesians 5:15: "Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise."
'Not' and 'but 'share the common verb "walk." This has Paul saying...... Not only walk unwise but also walk as wise.
Obviously, this is not what Paul is saying. So, how are the not-buts to be understood in these verses?
Thank you for any help you can provide.
Answer:
When looking for not ... but idioms, it is critical that the Greek text be examined.
dia (because of) touto (this) me (not) ginesthe (be) aphrones (foolish) alla (but) sunientes (understanding) ti (what) to (the) thelema (will) tou (of the) kuriou (Lord). (Ephesians 5:17)
I highlighted the verbs in this statement. Notice there is a verb after "not" and after "but." This is not an ellipses where one verb is left out and implied. The rule doesn't apply.
kai (and) me (not) methuskesthe (be drunk) oino (with wine) en (in) ho (which) estin (is) asotia (foolish) alla (but) plerousthe (be filled) en (with) pneumatic (Spirit) (Epheisans 5:18)
Again, there is no ellipses with the verbs. Both the "not" phrase and the "but" phrase have independent verbs.
blepete (watch out) oun (therefore) pos (how) akribos (accurately) perpateite (you walk) me (not) hos (as) asophoi (unwise) all' (but) hos (as) sophai (wise) (Ephesians 5:15)
This one is different. Neither the "not" or "but" have a verb. It is a prepositional phrase. Again, there is no ellipses involving the verbs in this statement.
Response:
Thank you very much for your time.
Ephesians 5:17-18 are more like antithetical statements, with "but" being a contrasting word.
