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To Drink or Not to Drink? The Use of Alcoholic Beverages

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To drink or not to drink? – that’s the question. Although drunkenness is directly forbidden by God, wine itself was used in the Bible. Almost every society today has a drinking problem. The subject of drinking alcoholic beverages is an important and confusing issue in the contemporary church. Should a Christian drink alcoholic beverages? Does the Bible say anything to answer this crucial question? Some say that a Christian should not drink and others take the opposite view. Others say that a Christian can drink in moderation, especially since the Bible commented on characters who drank wine. However, an attempt is made to resolve this issue by studying some biblical principles.

WINE AND BIBLE USES

Wine can generally be defined as the fermented juice of grapes. It is first mentioned in the Scriptures when Noah got drunk after the Flood (Gen. 9:20:21). Wine is a common commodity in Jewish life and was regularly included in summaries of agricultural produce (Gen. 27:28; II Kings 18:32; Jer. 31:12). It is noted that “sometimes grape juice was served in an unfermented state, but generally it was bottled after fermentation” (Lockyer 1986, 1101).

Wine as part of the Offer

Wine was part of some offerings such as liquid (Lev.23:13), burnt and free will offerings (Num.15:4). The latter required a quarter of the hin of victory. The sacrifice of a ram was accompanied by a cup of wine (Num.15:6-7). In the temple organization set up by David, the Levites were appointed to oversee these wine offerings (1 Chr. 9:29).

Wine as food

The elder of Gibeah offered wine to the traveling Levite (Jud. 19:19). Isaiah sent David with bread, a goblet of wine and a goat as a gift when Goliath was terrorizing the Philistines (I Sam.16:20). Abigail brought David two jugs of wine (I Sam.25:18).

Ziba brought wine to David as he fled from Absalom (II Sam.16:1-2). Wine was on the list of provisions that the Persians supplied to the captive Jewish people when they returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 6:9; 7:22).

Wine as medicine

Wine was used as medicine. It was said to be recommended “for those who are weary in the wilderness” (II Sam.16:2) and could serve as a sedative for people in distress (Prov. 31:6). It can be mixed with a drug (Matt. 27:34; Mk. 15:23). When the Good Samaritan found a beaten man by the side of the road, “he went to him, bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, put him on his animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:34).

From the above it is clear that the Samaritan poured wine on the wounded traveler’s wounds. The apostle Paul commanded Timothy: “Drink no more water, but use a little wine for your stomach and for your diseases often” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Summer in memory

Wine was also used when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26 and instructed His followers to keep this ordinance in remembrance of Him.

Summer as slavery

Wine often enslaves the heart (Hos. 4:11). The prophets accused Israel of being overcome by wine (Is.28:1), drinking wine from cups (Amos 6:6), and needing prophets who spoke about wine (Mic.2:11). The leaders were interested in drinking and not concerned about the destruction of the land (Is. 5:11-12; 22:12). The list of drunkards in the Bible begins with Noah and includes Lot, Nabal and Ammon (Gen.9:21; 1 Sam.25:36-37; II Sam.13:28).

jams

This is an intoxicated or insane state resulting from drinking intoxicating liquors (1 Cor.5:11; 6:10; Eph.5:18). Drunkenness appears regularly in lists of vices in the New Testament (Luke 21:34; Gal. 5:21). The dangers of drunkenness are abundantly known in the Bible (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35). Lot committed incest with his two daughters while under the influence of alcohol. Paul advised his readers to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not with wine (Eph. 5:18).

principle

Since the use of wine is a crucial contemporary issue, there are several principles that can be applied to this acute problem. Christians who drink point out that wine was praised in the Bible and assume that it is acceptable today. If the drink in biblical times is to be used as a basis for drinking today, the wine today must be the same as the wine used then. This deserves careful analysis.

A. Some biblical words about wine

i. Oinos/Yayin

The most common word in the New Testament for wine is the Greek word oinos. It is a general word that simply refers to fermented grape juice. The Old Testament equivalent of the Greek word oinos is yayin, the root of which means ‘to bubble’ or ‘to boil’. It is believed that yayin, at least in the rabbinic period, was diluted with water.

ii. Glaucous/Tyrous

The Greek word gleukos – from which we get the English word glucose, means ‘new wine’. It is used in Acts 2:13 to refer to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. She says they were ‘full of new wine’. Although it was relatively fresh and not yet completely stale, it was potentially intoxicating. The scoffers in Acts 2:13 were accusing the apostles of being drunk. The Old Testament word for new wine is tirosh. Hosea 4:11 says “wine (jayin) and new wine (tirosh) take away the heart.” Drunkenness is the result of drinking this new wine.

iii. Sikera/Joker

The Old Testament word for strong drink is shaker, a term that eventually became limited to intoxicants other than wine. This refers to unmixed wine. The New Testament equivalent is the Greek word sikera.

B. Historical data about wine

1. Unfermented wine

The wine was often boiled until the liquid evaporated (as a result of refrigeration problems in ancient times), leaving behind a thick, non-intoxicating paste that kept well. It was somewhat similar to modern grape jelly. People spread it on bread as a jam, and some still do today in the Middle East. It is suggested that the wine “was brought into the city in skins and sold in the public markets. He said it had the appearance of thick honey” (Russell 1894, 26). The wine consumed in biblical times was not what we know as wine today. Most of it was more of a concentrated grape juice with its intoxicating properties essentially removed. One cannot defend drinking wine today on the basis of drinking wine in biblical times, because the two are completely different.

2. Fermented wine

a. procedures

Indisputably, wine stored as liquid, however, would ferment. Pure, unmixed wine was drawn from these jugs and poured into large bowls called kraters, where it was mixed with water. From these craters, it would then be poured into kylixes or glasses. Historical studies generally note that “wine would never have been served directly from the amphora without first being mixed. And according to other historical records for this period, mixing could be as low as 20:1 or lower than 1: 1” (Stein 1975, 10).

b. The present

From the above, the researcher wishes to present the following line of reasoning. Beer has approximately 4% alcohol, wine 9-11%, brandy 15-20% and spirits 40-50%. Unmixed wine in biblical times measured approximately 9-11%. Therefore, the blended wine, in a 3:1 ratio, would be between 2:25 – 2.75%. By today’s standards, a drink must exceed 3.2% to be considered an alcoholic beverage. It is argued that “the wine they consumed was either completely non-alcoholic or sub-alcoholic by today’s standards. To get drunk on wine in those days one would have to drink all day” (MacArthur 2004). This is why the Bible commands elders in the church not to be addicted to too much wine (1 Tim.3:3). With such a low alcohol content, you’ll have to aim to get drunk. Therefore, drinking wine today is not necessarily the same as in biblical times. In any case, if drinking wine was a necessity in the past, it is a preference today. Today in many parts of the world there is a variety of soft drinks. In our contemporary society, drinking alcohol is simply a preference. Wine today does not necessarily mix with water and can be very intoxicating. The wine that people mostly drank in biblical times was mixed with large amounts of water and was mostly intoxicating. The researcher believes that these considerations should be taken into account by Christians. The Bible also gives examples of people in positions of spiritual authority who abstained from alcohol (Lev.10:8-11); Judg. 13:3-4; Luke 1:14-15).

The Bible condemns drunkenness and drinking is prohibited when it causes a fellow believer to stumble (Rom.14:1-23; I Cor.8:9-13). Is it one’s drinking that causes another’s stumbling? One must evaluate these previous passages to determine whether another will ultimately stumble. Actually, that’s what’s happening. Many people justify drinking by citing other Christians, especially those in authority, who drink.

The Bible warns the Christian to refrain from any form or appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). Undoubtedly, drunkenness is bad, and since the only way one can get drunk from modern wine is to drink it, the principle of abstinence is a realistic suggestion for the sober Christian. Discussing the issue of prevention, it is argued that ministers of the Gospel are the only care professionals who have daily and weekly access to members of the congregation or parish.

According to Apthorp, “it is clear that our most useful and effective ministry will be in preventive maintenance. Therefore, the goal is to stop the problem before it starts, enabling God’s people to make responsible decisions. . . . Prevention is primary” (1985, 38).

This advice makes sense if you consider that “according to national statistics (US), there are 9 to 10 million alcoholics in this country – men, women and teenagers who cannot control their drinking or the effect it has on their lives” (Hawthorne 1980, 245).

cONcluSiON

There are different degrees of intoxication, but there is no telling where that fine line is for everyone. However, one becomes intoxicated whenever one surrenders control of the senses to alcohol. The Bible condemns drunkenness. A Christian is counseled against its consequences (see Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 13:13; I Cor. 6:9-10; I Peter 4:3; I Thessalonians 5:6-7; Prov. 23 :20, 29-35; 31:6-7; Is. 5:11; Is. 28:7-8; Lev. 10:9; Is. 56:11-12; Hos. 4:11). Although the issue of drinking is controversial in modern times, “there is no biblical justification for the heavy liquor traffic of modern times” (Lockyer 1986, 1102). In modern times, drinking “excites the lust of the flesh; and in order to wallow with pleasure in the mire of sensuality, a man, created in the image of God, must first brutalize himself with drunkenness” (Delitzch 1970, 120). As temples of the Holy Spirit, every Christian is expected to help his brother/sister to grow instead of serving like the Pharisees who were obstacles. Therefore, a Christian should abstain from alcoholic beverages.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Apthorp. Stephen P. 1985. Alcohol and Substance Abuse: The Clergy’s Handbook. Wilton: Morehouse- Barlow.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1970. Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, Vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Hawthorn, Madalyn. 1980. The ABCs of a Drunk’s Life. Ohio: Deckard Publishing Company.

Illustrated Dictionary and Bible Concordance. 1986. Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Publishing House Ltd.

Lockyer, Herbert. 1986. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. New York: Guideposts.

MacArthur, John. 2004. Don’t Get Drunk on Wine, Part 2. Available [online] [http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sq1937.htm]. Accessed October 3, 2004.

Russell, A. 1894. The natural history of Aleppo. London: GG and J. Robinson.

Stein, Robert. 1975. Wine Drinking in New Testament Times, Christianity Today, 4(2): 9-11.

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