the bible’s teaching about wine

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine

Truth Cannot ContradictMt 4:5-7

Satan’s interpretation did not pass the test- was false!

Psalm 91:11-12

Deut 6:16


Ecclesiastes Cannot Authorize What Proverbs Forbids!

Proverbs 23:29-35

Eccl 9:7


Jesus cannot be promoting what Peter forbids!

1 Peter 4:3

Jn 2:1-11


“Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s)

tirosh (38x) the natural grape and its contents, commonly used with corn (grain) and oil, the trio of natural blessings field, vineyard, and tree, see Dt 7:12-13



yayin (141x) a general term, meaning determined by context: grape Jer 40:10,12 fresh juice Isa 16:10 mixed (syrup mixed w/water) Prov 9:2,5 intoxicating Gen 9:21; Prov 23:31 intoxicating mixed w/drugs Ps 75:8


Grape Juice Could Be Preserved (Must)

“Must could be kept a year. The Romans filled it in jars, shut andsealed them tightly and immersed them in cold river or seawater, thus stopping fermentation.”

-Studies in Ancient Technology, Vol 3, p. 130



ahsis (5x) fresh grape juice; see Joel 3:18



ashishah (5x) a cake of raisins (flagon of wine- KJV); see 2 Sam 6:19



mesech (9x) wine mixed with stimulating drugs and spices; reproved where mentioned; see Prov 23:30



shakur (23x) all fermented drinks except grape wine; included date wine and beer; 19x specifically condemned; see Lev 10:9-11


“Wine” in N.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s)

oinos (32x) parallels Hebrew yayin; general word; context determines meaning

grapes Rev 6:6 intoxicating wine Eph 5:18



gleukos (1x) any beverage short of total fermentation- containing any sugar Acts 2:13



sikera (1x) straight, unmixed wine Lk 1:15



oxos (4x) sour wine or vinegar, given to Jesus on the cross see Mt 27:48


Their “Wine” is not Our “Wine”

Strength

“The strength of natural wines is limited by two factors. Thepercent of alcohol will be half the percentage of the sugar in thejuice. And if the alcoholic content is much above 10 or 11percent, the yeast cells are killed and fermentation ceases. Probably ancient wines were 7 to 10 percent”

-Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Vol 1, p. 865



Dilution

“Wine was always drunk mixed with water as was the customthroughout Antiquity. Only ‘boozers’ drank pure wine.”

-Studies in Ancient Technology, Vol 3, p. 80

“We call a mixture “wine”, although the larger of thecomponents is water” -Plutarch, Symposiacs, III, ix



Dilution

o Ratio determined by the host

o Highest recorded 20 parts water to 1 part wine

o 3:2 considered strong

o 1:1 called “strong wine”

o Passover mixed 3:1

o Lord’s Supper mixed in the early centuries of the church



Dilution

o Gives us perspective

-Jesus turning water to wine Jn 2:1-11

-Deacons not “addicted to much wine” 1 Tim 3:8

-Timothy’s use of “little wine” for stomach & ailments 1 Tim 5:23

Truth Does Not Contradict

No O.T. passage authorizes what Proverbs forbids!

Proverbs 23:29-35

Other Passage

Truth Does Not Contradict

No N.T. passage authorizes what Peter forbids!

1 Peter 4:3

Other Passage


There is no doubt that the Scriptures condemn thedrinking of the intoxicating beverages of our day.

If men are willing to dilute their beverages with waterto the ancient strength where one could drink “a little” without becoming intoxicated, then we would have aparallel with what is approved in the N.T.

But, who is willing?

the bible’s teaching about wine

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