The Bible’s Teaching about Wine

Truth Cannot Contradict Mt 4:5-7 Satan’s interpretation did not pass the test- was false! Deut 6:16 Psalm 91:11-12

Truth Cannot Contradict Mt 4:5-7 Ecclesiastes Cannot Authorize What Proverbs Forbids! Eccl 9:7 Proverbs 23:29-35

Truth Cannot Contradict Mt 4:5-7 Jesus cannot be promoting what Peter forbids! Jn 2:1-11 1 Peter 4:3

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “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

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) 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

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine Grape Juice Could Be Preserved (Must) “Must could be kept a year. The Romans filled it in jars, shut and sealed them tightly and immersed them in cold river or sea water, thus stopping fermentation.” -Studies in Ancient Technology, Vol 3, p. 130

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) ahsis (5x) fresh grape juice; see Joel 3:18

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) ashishah (5x) a cake of raisins (flagon of wine- KJV); see 2 Sam 6:19

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) mesech (9x) wine mixed with stimulating drugs and spices; reproved where mentioned; see Prov 23:30

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in O.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) shakur (23x) all fermented drinks except grape wine; included date wine and beer; 19x specifically condemned; see Lev 10:9-11

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “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

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in N.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) gleukos (1x) any beverage short of total fermentation- containing any sugar Acts 2:13

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in N.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) sikera (1x) straight, unmixed wine Lk 1:15

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine “Wine” in N.T. is not always “Wine” (Webster’s) oxos (4x) sour wine or vinegar, given to Jesus on the cross see Mt 27:48

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine Their “Wine” is not Our “Wine” Strength “The strength of natural wines is limited by two factors. The percent of alcohol will be half the percentage of the sugar in the juice. And if the alcoholic content is much above 10 or 11 percent, 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

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine Their “Wine” is not Our “Wine” Dilution “Wine was always drunk mixed with water as was the custom throughout Antiquity. Only ‘boozers’ drank pure wine.” -Studies in Ancient Technology, Vol 3, p. 80 “We call a mixture “wine”, although the larger of the components is water” -Plutarch, Symposiacs, III, ix

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine Their “Wine” is not Our “Wine” Dilution Ratio determined by the host Highest recorded 20 parts water to 1 part wine 3:2 considered strong 1:1 called “strong wine” Passover mixed 3:1 Lord’s Supper mixed in the early centuries of the church

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine Their “Wine” is not Our “Wine” Dilution 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! Other Passage Proverbs 23:29-35

Truth Does Not Contradict No N.T. passage authorizes what Peter forbids! Other Passage 1 Peter 4:3

The Bible’s Teaching about Wine There is no doubt that the Scriptures condemn the drinking of the intoxicating beverages of our day. If men are willing to dilute their beverages with water to the ancient strength where one could drink “a little” without becoming intoxicated, then we would have a parallel with what is approved in the N.T. But, who is willing?