SPECIAL TOPIC: "Fill," "Full," "Filling" in the NT

In Luke's writings
1. literal ‒ Luke 3:5 (OT quote)
2. used in positive sense
  1. wisdom ‒ Luke 2:40; Acts 6:3
  2. gladness ‒ Acts 2:28 (OT quote)
  3. amazement ‒ Acts 3:10
  4. the gospel ‒ Acts 5:28
  5. joy ‒ Acts 13:52
3. used in negative sense
  1. fear ‒ Luke 5:26
  2. rage ‒ Luke 6:11; Acts 19:29
  3. Satan ‒ Acts 5:3
  4. jealousy ‒ Acts 5:17; 13:45
  5. deceit and fraud ‒ Acts 13:10
  6. confusion ‒ Acts 19:28
4. used of different people being "filled with the Holy Spirit"
  1. Luke 1:41,61; Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 5:3; 6:3,5,8; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9,52
  2. related texts to the presence of the Spirit ‒ Acts 1:5,8; 8:17; 11:15
5. used of a "fulfillment" of time ‒ Luke 21:24 ("times of the Gentiles"); Acts 7:30; 9:23; 24:27 (of days)
6. used of Jesus' life and teaching "fulfilling" OT prophecies ‒ Luke 1:20; 4:21; 24:44; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 13:27,33
7. used of events/activities
  1. Jesus finishing a teaching session ‒ Luke 7:1
  2. of Jesus' death and ascension ‒ Luke 9:31
  3. of the Messianic banquet of the eschaton ‒ Luke 22:16
  4. Paul and Barnabus finishing a ministry assignment ‒ Acts 12:25; 13:25; 14:26; 19:21
In Paul's writings
1. The classical text is Eph. 5:18 (a PRESENT PASSIVE IMPERATIVE), meaning "you must continue to be filled with the Spirit" or "ever be filled with the Spirit." This is a command, not an option! It is the normal state for all believers, not the exception. This phrase implies that believers are to be available, sensitive, and obedient to the Spirit's forming of Christ in their daily lives (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 2:10; 4:13; Col. 1:28; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15). Believers cannot fill themselves, but must regularly allow the Spirit to have freedom and influence (PASSIVE VOICE). Human performance is not the key to effective living but the presence and influence of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 3:1-3). However, believers must volitionally open themselves to the Spirit's leadership and control on a daily basis.
2. The term "fullness" was used by the Gnostic false teachers to refer to the angelic levels (eons) between the high, good god and lesser gods/angels. The last eon farthest removed from the high god was YHWH, who was able to form (not create) matter. Paul used the false teachers' vocabulary and slogans and redefined them in light of Christ's ultimacy! Jesus is "the fullness of God."
3. The structural parallel (Colossians & Ephesians are based on almost the same outline) in Col. 3:16 changed the "ever be filled with the Spirit" to "let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." They both refer to daily, intentional submission to the Spirit's producing Christlikeness, particularly as it relates to dealing with people. Jesus died for people. People are priority; only people are eternal.
  For an extensive discussion of the use of plēroma (with PREPOSITIONS), see Bruce Winter, The Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting, pp. 85-87.