INTRODUCTION
To drink or not to drink? – That is the question. Although drunkenness is directly prohibited 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 topic in the contemporary church. Should a Christian drink alcoholic beverages? Does the Bible say anything to help answer this crucial question? Some say that a Christian should not drink and others say the opposite. Others say that a Christian can drink moderately, especially since the Bible comments on characters who drank wine. However, an attempt is made to solve this problem by studying some biblical principles.
WINE AND USES IN THE BIBLE
In general, wine could 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 product in Hebrew life and was regularly included in summaries of agricultural products (Gen. 27:28; II Kings 18:32; Jer. 31:12). It is noted that “grape juice was sometimes served unfermented, but was generally bottled after fermentation” (Lockyer 1986, 1101).
The wine as part of the Offering
The wine was part of various offerings such as the liquid (Lev.23:13), the holocaust and the freewill offerings (Num.15:4). The latter required a quarter of a hin of profit. The sacrifice of a ram was accompanied by a hin of wine (Num. 15:6-7). In the temple organization established by David, the Levites were appointed to oversee these wine offerings (I Chronicles 9:29).
wine as food
The old man from Gibeah offered wine to the traveling Levite (Judges 19:19). Jesse smells David with bread, a skin of wine and a kid as a gift when Goliath was scaring the Philistines (I Sam.16:20). Abigail brought David two skins of wine (I Sam.25:18).
Ziba brought wine to David when he fled from Absalom (II Sam.16:1-2). Wine was on the list of provisions that the Persians provided to the captive Hebrew people when they returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 6:9; 7:22).
wine as medicine
Wine was used as medicine. It was said recommended “for those who are exhausted in the desert” (II Sam.16:2) and could serve as a sedative for people in danger (Prov. 31:6). It could be mixed with a drug (Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23). When the Good Samaritan found a beaten man by the side of the road, he “came up to him, bound up his wounds, poured oil and wine on him, mounted his own beast on him, brought him to an inn, and took him.” take care of him” (Luke 10:34).
It is evident from the foregoing that the Samaritan spilled wine on the wounded traveler’s wounds. The apostle Paul charged Timothy, “Drink no more water, but use a little wine on account of your stomach and your many infirmities” (I Timothy 5:23).
wine 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.
He came as slavery
Wine often enslaved the heart (Hosea 4:11). The prophets accused Israel of being overwhelmed by wine (Isa. 28:1), of drinking wine by the bucketload (Amos 6:6), and of wanting prophets to speak of wine (Mic. 2:11). The leaders were interested in drinking and were not worried about ruining the country (Isa. 5:11-12; 22:12). The list of wine drunks in the Bible begins with Noah and includes Lot, Nabal and Amon (Gen.9:21; 1 Sam.25:36-37; II Sam.13:28).
Drunkenness
This is a drugged or deranged condition that results from drinking intoxicating beverages (I Cor.5:11; 6:10; Eph.5:18). Drunkenness appears regularly in New Testament vice lists (Luke 21:34; Galatians 5:21). The dangers of drunkenness are abundantly recognized in the Bible (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35). Lot committed incest with his two daughters when he was under the influence of alcohol. Paul admonished his readers to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead of wine (Ephesians 5:18).
BEGINNING
Since the use of wine is a crucial contemporary issue, there are certain principles that can be applied to this thorny problem. Drinking Christians point out that the Bible recommends wine and assume that it is therefore acceptable today. If drinking in biblical times is to be used as a basis for drinking today, the wine of today must be the same as that used then. This deserves careful analysis.
A. Some biblical words for wine
Yo. Oinos/Yayin
The most common New Testament word for wine is the Greek word oinos. It is a general word that simply refers to the fermented juice of the grape. The Old Testament equivalent of the Greek word oinos is yayin, whose root means ‘to bubble’ or ‘to boil’. Yayin, at least in rabbinic times, is believed to have been diluted with water.
ii. Gleucos/Tirosh
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. He says that they were ‘full of new wine’. Although it was comparatively fresh and not yet fully aged, it was potentially intoxicating. The scoffers in Acts 2:13 accused the apostles of being drunk. The Old Testament word for new wine is tirosh. Hosea 4:11 says “wine (yayin) and new wine (tirosh) take away the heart.” Drunkenness is the result of drinking this new wine.
iii. Sikera/Shakar
The Old Testament word for strong drink is shaker, a term that was eventually restricted to intoxicants other than wine. This refers to unblended wine. The New Testament equivalent is the Greek word sikera.
B. Historical wine data
1. Unfermented wine
The wine was often boiled until the liquid evaporated (as a result of refrigeration problems in ancient times), leaving a thick, non-intoxicating paste that stored well. It was somewhat similar to modern grape jam. People spread it on bread like a jam, and some still do it today in the Middle East. It is suggested that the wine “was brought to the city in skins and sold in the public markets. It was said to have the appearance of coarse honey” (Russell 1894, 26). The wine that was consumed in biblical times was not what we know as wine today. Most were more of a concentrated grape juice with its intoxicating properties basically removed. One cannot defend wine drinking today on the basis of wine drinking in biblical times because the two are totally different.
2. Fermented wine
has. The procedure
Indisputably, however, wine stored as a liquid would ferment. Pure, unmixed wine was drawn from these jars and poured into large bowls called kraters, where it was mixed with water. From these kraters, it would then be poured into kylix or goblets. It is generally noted that historical studies state that “wine would never be served directly from the amphora without first mixing. And based on other historical data from this period, mixing could be as high as a 20:1 ratio or less than 1 : 1” (Stein 1975, 10).
b. The present
From the foregoing, the researcher wishes to expound the following line of reasoning. Beer is approximately 4% alcohol, wine 9-11%, brandy 15-20%, and hard liquor 40-50%. Unmixed wine in biblical times measured at about 9-11%. Mixed wine, in a 3:1 ratio, would be between 2:25 and 2.75%. Under current standards, a drink must exceed 3.2% to be considered an alcoholic beverage. It is argued that “the wine they consumed was completely non-alcoholic or sub-alcoholic by today’s standards. To get drunk on wine in those days, you would have to drink all day” (MacArthur 2004). That is why the Bible commands church elders not to be addicted to too much wine (I Tim.3:3). With such a low alcohol content, you’d have to aim to get drunk. Therefore, drinking wine today is not necessarily the same as it was in biblical times. In any case, if drinking wine was a necessity in the past, today it is a preference. There are a variety of non-alcoholic beverages in many parts of the world today. In our contemporary society, drinking alcohol is simply and only a preference. Today’s wine doesn’t necessarily mix with water and can be very intoxicating. The wine that people mainly drank during biblical times was mixed with generous amounts of water and was largely intoxicating. The researcher believes that these considerations must be considered 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 it is forbidden to drink when it causes another believer to stumble (Romans 14:1-23; I Corinthians 8:9-13). Does one’s drinking cause another to stumble? One must evaluate these earlier passages to determine if another will ultimately stumble. Realistically, this is what is happening. Many people justify drinking by citing other Christians, especially those in authority, who drink.
The Bible warns the Christian to refrain from every form or appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22). To be sure, drunkenness is bad, and since the only way one can get drunk on wine today is by drinking it, the principle of abstinence is a realistic suggestion for the sober Christian. Discussing the issue of prevention, it is argued that the 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 preventative maintenance. The goal, therefore, is to stop the problem before it starts, by enabling God’s people to make responsible decisions…Prevention is paramount” (1985, 38).
This advice is significant considering that “according to (US) national statistics, there are 9 to 10 million alcoholics in this country: men, women and adolescents who cannot control their drinking or the effect it has on their drinking.” in their lives” (Hawthorn 1980). , 245).
CONCLUSION
There are various degrees of drunkenness, but one cannot pretend to know where that fine line is for everyone. However, one gets drunk whenever one relinquishes control of the senses to alcohol. The Bible condemns drunkenness. A Christian is warned against its consequences (see Gal. 5:19-21; Rom.13:13; I Cor. 6:9-10; I Pet.4:3; I Thes.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; Hosea 4:11). Although the subject of drinking is controversial in modern times, “there is no biblical justification for the heavy traffic in alcoholic beverages in modern times” (Lockyer 1986, 1102). In modern times, drinking “excites carnal lust; and to wallow with delight in the mire of sensuality, a man, created in the image of God, must first make himself drunk” (Delitzch 1970, 120). As temples of the Holy Spirit, each Christian is expected to help his/her brother/sister grow instead of serving as the stumbling block of the Pharisees. Therefore, a Christian must abstain from alcoholic beverages.
LIST OF REFERENCES
apthorp. Stephen P. 1985. Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy. Wilton: Morehouse-Barlow.
Delitzsch, Franz. 1970. Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Eerdman.
Hawthorn, Madalyn. 1980. The ABC’s of a drunk’s life. Ohio: Deckard Publishing Company.
Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible. 1986. Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Publishing House Ltd.
Lockyer, Herbert. 1986. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. New York: Guides.
MacArthur, John. 2004. Don’t get drunk on wine, part 2. Available [online] [http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sq1937.htm]. Retrieved October 3, 2004.
Russell, A. 1894. Natural history of Aleppo. London: GG and J.Robinson.
Stein, Robert. 1975. Wine Drinking in New Testament Times, Christianity Today, 4(2): 9-11.