SHOULD CHRISTIANS DRINK ALCOHOL?
HERE’S THE TRUTH
Many people have argued the question whether Christians should drink wine, or alcoholic beverages or not. Throughout the Old and New Testament, especially the Old, wine and strong drinks were regarded as a necessity of life. It was necessary for simple meals (gen 14:18; judges 19:19; 1sa 16:20; Isaiah 55:1), was drunk by all classes and ages of people, even by the very young children (lam_2:12; zec_9:17), was an essential provision for fortresses (2ch_11:11), and was used as “drink offerings,” for the ritual (lev_23:13, num_28:7). The ABUNDANCE OF WINE was a special token of God's blessing (gen_27:28; deu_7:13; amo_9:14).
The question is, what kind of wine was used in the Old and New Testament? Let us look at the scriptures.
In Old Testament times wine was drunk undiluted, and wine that was mixed with water was thought to be ruined, (Isa_1:22).
TYPES OF WINES AND ALCOHOL IN THE BIBLE
The Hebrew word Yayin “wine” is usually used generally for the word “Wine”; for all drinks that were made from grapes, whether natural juice or fermented. However, yah'-yin came from an unused root meaning to bubble; (as fermented); by implication intoxication: - banqueting, wine. “Winebibber” came from this.
Many people believe that the people of God should not drink alcoholic wine; but what are the scriptures saying about that?
SPICE WINE – (MIX WINE)
For Spiced wine three words occur which donates Mixed Wine Meṣekh, Mimṣākh, Mamsâk
Mixed Wine - Pro 23:30
There is also a wine called “mixed wine” Mamsâkh [mam-sawk']
A mixture, that is, (specifically) wine mixed (with water or spices): Pro 23:30, “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” [mamsâk].
Also called “mingled wine” [Meṣekh]; mâsak - maw-sak' A primitive root; to mix, especially wine (with spices).(Pro9:2 & 5; Psa_75:8 (“mixture”); Psa 75:8, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture”
This Wine is also referred to as “spiced wine” Son_8:2 meaning intoxication.
Mixed wine starts with wine diluted with water Mezegh [meh'-zeg]
Son 7:2 From an unused root meaning to mingle (water with wine); tempered wine: - liquor.
However, mixed or mingled wine is made stronger by adding more powerful ingredients, such as aromatic herbs of various sorts (honey, spices, myrrh, etc); some of these compounds were highly intoxicating (Isa 5:22).
Back up evidence is in Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh:
Strong Drink
There is a wine called Shēkhār which is translated “strong drink” in English versions of the bible (Isa 5:11, Isa 5:22, Lev 10:9; Num 6:3; 1sa 1:15). Shēkhār appears to mean “Intensely alcoholic liquor” and “intoxicating drink”. Not only this wine was intoxicating, but it was also mixed to make it even stronger, [mingle strong drink]
Biblical history clearly shows that the people, priests and prophets drank this strong drink (strong wine) and ended up sinning by their excessive drinking; they became drunk. Gen 9:21, He [Noah] drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Isaiah 28:7, These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. Lot (Gen_19:33, Nabal (1Sa_25:36), Uriah made drunk by David (2Sa_11:13), Amnon (2Sa_13:28), Elah, king of Israel (1Ki_16:9), Benhadad, king of Syria (1Ki_20:16). This means, it WAS NOT grape juice. However, this strong drink mentioned is distinguished from normal “wine,” (Luke 1:15) and could be made from pomegranate wine as is (son_8:2). Some translation uses the word Beer or fermented drink.
Sweet Wine
In the Bible, there is another wine called “Sweet wine” or “New Wine”. The Hebrew word is tirowsh, which means new or fresh grape juice. This New or Sweet wine (Jdg_9:13; Hos_4:11) is either juice freshly made from the grapes or grape juice with time passed on it, or the juice that is still in the grapes,, ( Num_6:3), even when still in the grape (Isa_65:8).)
This is seen in Pro 3:10, "thy presses shall burst out with New Wine [tirowsh] and Joel 2:24, “overflow with wine” and Acts 2:13, "fill with New wine".
In Acts 2:13, It could not have been referring to grape juice or new wine as in just made, but is in sense wine with intoxicating properties; inasmuch as about eight months must have elapsed between the vintage and the Feast of Pentecost. This juice by then would become semi-fermented wine.
This is also evident in the bursting of the wine skin in Pro 3:10. A wine skin will only burst if there is a fermentation process. This led us to believe from the ancient lexicographers that the luscious qualities (John 2:10) were due, not to its being recently made, but to its being produced from the very purest juice of the grape. Unfermented grape juice in bible times was very difficult thing to keep without the aid of modern antiseptic precautions; therefore its preservation in the warm conditions of ancient Palestine was impossible.
Conclusion:
Fermented wine was never forbidden in the Bible, neither in the Old or New. The New Testament passages ALWAYS refer to fermented wine. If the Apostles and men of God were only drinking grape juice, then how could the Apostles be accused of being drunk on GRAPE JUICE? (Acts 2:13-15). Jesus made the best wine which is obviously not grape juice due to the fact it was customary in Jewish weddings to have fermented wine.
On the Passover (Last Supper), which occurred in the spring, Jesus drank wine and gave to his disciples. Since this was six to seven months after the grape harvest and since there was no way to preserve grape juice, this HAD to be fermented wine.
If Jesus only drank grape juice, then why was he accuses and called a wine bibber or drunkard? Winebibbers are habitual wine-drinkers. Mat 11:19, “The Son of man came eating and drinking,” A person is only called a drunkard if he or she is always drinking alcoholic wine.
In Pro 20:1 it says, Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. This scripture is NOT saying that Christian should not drink alcohol; instead it is saying that those who allowed themselves to get intoxicated is not wise.
Fermented wine was also used to receive a merry heart or “gladdening of the heart” (Psa_104:15; Ecc_9:7; Ecc_10:19).
It is also clear that strong drink is not forbidden according to Pro 31:6, Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Num 6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:
Num 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
This means, if Moses instructed those who are enrolled for the Nazarite vow to stay away from wine and strong drink, it obviously means that strong drink drinking was naturally part of the Israelite’s feast.
The Bible is clear that fermented drinks are safe to drink, as long we do not sin by getting drunk. Gal 5:13.
The question is, what kind of wine was used in the Old and New Testament? Let us look at the scriptures.
In Old Testament times wine was drunk undiluted, and wine that was mixed with water was thought to be ruined, (Isa_1:22).
TYPES OF WINES AND ALCOHOL IN THE BIBLE
The Hebrew word Yayin “wine” is usually used generally for the word “Wine”; for all drinks that were made from grapes, whether natural juice or fermented. However, yah'-yin came from an unused root meaning to bubble; (as fermented); by implication intoxication: - banqueting, wine. “Winebibber” came from this.
Many people believe that the people of God should not drink alcoholic wine; but what are the scriptures saying about that?
SPICE WINE – (MIX WINE)
For Spiced wine three words occur which donates Mixed Wine Meṣekh, Mimṣākh, Mamsâk
Mixed Wine - Pro 23:30
There is also a wine called “mixed wine” Mamsâkh [mam-sawk']
A mixture, that is, (specifically) wine mixed (with water or spices): Pro 23:30, “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” [mamsâk].
Also called “mingled wine” [Meṣekh]; mâsak - maw-sak' A primitive root; to mix, especially wine (with spices).(Pro9:2 & 5; Psa_75:8 (“mixture”); Psa 75:8, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture”
This Wine is also referred to as “spiced wine” Son_8:2 meaning intoxication.
Mixed wine starts with wine diluted with water Mezegh [meh'-zeg]
Son 7:2 From an unused root meaning to mingle (water with wine); tempered wine: - liquor.
However, mixed or mingled wine is made stronger by adding more powerful ingredients, such as aromatic herbs of various sorts (honey, spices, myrrh, etc); some of these compounds were highly intoxicating (Isa 5:22).
Back up evidence is in Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh:
Strong Drink
There is a wine called Shēkhār which is translated “strong drink” in English versions of the bible (Isa 5:11, Isa 5:22, Lev 10:9; Num 6:3; 1sa 1:15). Shēkhār appears to mean “Intensely alcoholic liquor” and “intoxicating drink”. Not only this wine was intoxicating, but it was also mixed to make it even stronger, [mingle strong drink]
Biblical history clearly shows that the people, priests and prophets drank this strong drink (strong wine) and ended up sinning by their excessive drinking; they became drunk. Gen 9:21, He [Noah] drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Isaiah 28:7, These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. Lot (Gen_19:33, Nabal (1Sa_25:36), Uriah made drunk by David (2Sa_11:13), Amnon (2Sa_13:28), Elah, king of Israel (1Ki_16:9), Benhadad, king of Syria (1Ki_20:16). This means, it WAS NOT grape juice. However, this strong drink mentioned is distinguished from normal “wine,” (Luke 1:15) and could be made from pomegranate wine as is (son_8:2). Some translation uses the word Beer or fermented drink.
Sweet Wine
In the Bible, there is another wine called “Sweet wine” or “New Wine”. The Hebrew word is tirowsh, which means new or fresh grape juice. This New or Sweet wine (Jdg_9:13; Hos_4:11) is either juice freshly made from the grapes or grape juice with time passed on it, or the juice that is still in the grapes,, ( Num_6:3), even when still in the grape (Isa_65:8).)
This is seen in Pro 3:10, "thy presses shall burst out with New Wine [tirowsh] and Joel 2:24, “overflow with wine” and Acts 2:13, "fill with New wine".
In Acts 2:13, It could not have been referring to grape juice or new wine as in just made, but is in sense wine with intoxicating properties; inasmuch as about eight months must have elapsed between the vintage and the Feast of Pentecost. This juice by then would become semi-fermented wine.
This is also evident in the bursting of the wine skin in Pro 3:10. A wine skin will only burst if there is a fermentation process. This led us to believe from the ancient lexicographers that the luscious qualities (John 2:10) were due, not to its being recently made, but to its being produced from the very purest juice of the grape. Unfermented grape juice in bible times was very difficult thing to keep without the aid of modern antiseptic precautions; therefore its preservation in the warm conditions of ancient Palestine was impossible.
Conclusion:
Fermented wine was never forbidden in the Bible, neither in the Old or New. The New Testament passages ALWAYS refer to fermented wine. If the Apostles and men of God were only drinking grape juice, then how could the Apostles be accused of being drunk on GRAPE JUICE? (Acts 2:13-15). Jesus made the best wine which is obviously not grape juice due to the fact it was customary in Jewish weddings to have fermented wine.
On the Passover (Last Supper), which occurred in the spring, Jesus drank wine and gave to his disciples. Since this was six to seven months after the grape harvest and since there was no way to preserve grape juice, this HAD to be fermented wine.
If Jesus only drank grape juice, then why was he accuses and called a wine bibber or drunkard? Winebibbers are habitual wine-drinkers. Mat 11:19, “The Son of man came eating and drinking,” A person is only called a drunkard if he or she is always drinking alcoholic wine.
In Pro 20:1 it says, Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. This scripture is NOT saying that Christian should not drink alcohol; instead it is saying that those who allowed themselves to get intoxicated is not wise.
Fermented wine was also used to receive a merry heart or “gladdening of the heart” (Psa_104:15; Ecc_9:7; Ecc_10:19).
It is also clear that strong drink is not forbidden according to Pro 31:6, Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Num 6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:
Num 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
This means, if Moses instructed those who are enrolled for the Nazarite vow to stay away from wine and strong drink, it obviously means that strong drink drinking was naturally part of the Israelite’s feast.
The Bible is clear that fermented drinks are safe to drink, as long we do not sin by getting drunk. Gal 5:13.