Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ephesians 5:18

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

And is then this Spirit within us? Yes, indeed, within us. For when we have driven away lying, and bitterness, and fornication, and uncleanness, and covetousness, from our souls, when we are become kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, when there is no jesting, when we have rendered ourselves worthy of it, what is there to hinder the Holy Spirit from coming and lighting upon us? …

Homily on Ephesians 19 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And further he restrains anger, because excess in wine also makes people wrathful and insolent. And that he censures excess is clear, for he did not say "do not drink," but "do not get drunk." But drunkenness comes from excess, since the moderate use of wine provides both health (as the apostle himself says in the epistle to Timothy – 1 Tim. 5:23) and gladness, as David testifies (Ps. 104:15). And Scripture moreover says (Prov. 31:6): "Give wine to those who are bitter of soul," that is, merriment to those who are in sorrow. …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗

Desert Fathers

Antony said, 'I think that the body has a natural movement within itself, which obeys the orders of the mind, a kind of inclination of which the body's actions are only symptoms. There is a second movement in the body, caused by eating and drinking, by which the blood is heated and excited. That is why St Paul said, 'Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess' (Eph. 5:18), and again the Lord commanded his disciples in the Gospel, 'See that your hearts be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness' (Luke 21:34). …

The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

Hence the Apostle says: Do not get drunk with wine... but be filled with the Holy Spirit; for those who are drunk with wine stagger and stumble, but those who are intoxicated in the Spirit are rooted in Christ. And therefore, the excellent drunkenness, which operates the sobriety of the mind.

On the Sacraments 5.3.17 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He urged them before to that newness which is in opposition to the old illusion (5:15), now he does the same in reference to the old ways of carnal sins. Or, we might say that he previously reprimanded carnal sins in regard to voluptuousness, and here does it concerning gluttony. Thus he says: I have stated that fornication and all uncleanness should not be even named among you. …

Commentary on Ephesians ↗