Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

[prophetess JOY Elliott]

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

[APOSTLE DR. PRINCE NNAMS]

1. Wine in the Bible
2. Jesus and wine
3. Scriptures on Alcoholic beverages

Wine in the Bible

The most frequently used words for “wine” in the bible are the Hebrew word Yayin used 135 times in the Old Testament and the Greek word Oinos used 32 times in the New Testament. There is not a differentiation in translation between fermented and unfermented wine. Fermented wine is alcoholic, a product of decaying grape juice. Unfermented wine is grape juice. Only by examining the verse in context with the verses around it can you tell the difference. Wine referred to as good or new was unfermented. The Hebrew word Tiyrowsh is used 38 times in the Old Testament and means squeezed grape juice. According to Impe & Campbell, 41 % of the “wine” referred to in the bible referred to fermented /alcoholic wine and 59% referred to unfermented wine or grape juice.

Jesus and Wine

Luke 5:37-38 (AMP), Jesus said: And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the fresh wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled and the skins will be ruined (destroyed). But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
New wine in old bottles causes faster fermentation due to residues of yeast in them. The goal was to keep the new sweet wine (grape juice) unfermented. Grape syrup was stored in new wineskins to prevent fermentation. This “new wine” was used like a jelly or diluted in water for drink.
John 2 (AMP) : (1st Miracle of Jesus – water into wine) And when the manager tasted the water just now turned into wine, not knowing where it came from–though the servants who had drawn the water knew–he called the bridegroom 10And said to him, Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now!
The miracle wine was the best/good wine. Writings of ancient historians speak of new/good wine as unfermented. Dr. RA Torrey stated in 1907 that newly made wine is never intoxicating.

Luke 22:17-18 (AMP): at the Last Supper (Passover) And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves; For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the kingdom of God comes.
The cup contained the “fruit of the vine, the word “ wine” is not used.

Jesus at the Cross

1 Tim 5:23( KJV) Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. (wine given for medicinal purposes)
Matt 27:34 They offered Him wine mingled with gall to drink; but when He tasted it, He refused to drink it.

SCRIPTURES about ALCOHOL:
Instructions to those in authority:
Leviticus 10:8-11 (AMP) And the Lord said to Aaron, Do not drink wine or strong drink, you or your sons, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; it shall be a statute forever in all your generations. You shall make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy and the common or unholy, and between the unclean and the clean;
Proverbs 31:4-5 (AMP) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.
1 Tim 3:2a,3a,8 (KJV) A bishop then must be blameless…not given to wine…
Fermented wine and strong drink are spoken of negatively in the bible:
Fermented wine brought confusion and chastening by Paul to the Corinthian church where drunkenness was a problem (1 Cor 11:20,21).
Proverbs contains instructions and warnings about alcohol:
Proverbs 20:1 (Amplified Bible) WINE IS a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise.
Proverbs 23:20 (Amplified Bible) Do not associate with winebibbers
Proverbs 23:29-32 (King James Version) Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Isaiah 5:11-12 (AMP) Woe unto those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who tarry late into the night till wine inflames them!
1 Corinthians 6:10 (AMP) Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
Conclusion: It cannot be proven from scripture that Jesus turned water into alcohol, drank it, used it at the Last Supper or encouraged its use except for medicinal purposes. There is no evidence that the apostles or acceptable early church practices involved alcohol either. For a detailed study including the historical and cultural use of “wine”.