Many people like to use 1 Timothy 5:23 as justification to drink alcohol. After all, Timothy is being told to drink wine by the Apostle Paul. To those who use this line of thought, it makes no difference how much wine is being drank or the reason for its use; all that matters is the sanction being given to Timothy to drink an intoxicating beverage. First of all, we should point out again that the word wine ...
Read MoreMany well-meaning people will point to the miracle where Jesus turns water into wine as their justification to drink alcoholic beverages (Jn. 2:1-11). They correctly conclude that Christ would not have made wine if He did not approve of its consumption. However, they err by assuming the wine which Jesus made was fermented. The generic Greek word for wine (oinos) does not imply either a fermented nor unfermented beverage. We have already covered this point ...
Read MoreMost English versions of the Bible consistently translate the Hebrew word “shekar” as “strong drink.” “Shekar” literally means “drink.” It is used 23 times in the Old Testament. The vast majority of the times when it is used in the Old Testament are in contexts where its use is condemned (ex. Lev. 10:9-11; Num. 6:2-4; Judg. 13:3-5; Prov. 20:1; Isa. 5:11). Incidentally, our English word “sugar” is derived from it. Shekar is a sweet beverage ...
Read MoreThe Bible has a lot to say on the subject of "wine," but unfortunately it does not specify what kind of ''wine'' it is talking about. There are several words from different languages that get translated into the word ''wine.'' Yayin and tirosh from the Hebrew, oinos and gleukos from the Greek, and vinum from the Latin are all words that were translated into "wine" in the Bible. The word tirosh and gleukos refers to ...
Read MoreThe warnings against the consumption of alcohol are found throughout the Bible. A well known passage in Proverbs 23: 31- 32 states “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” The command given here is not to desire any intoxicating drink! It is an admonition to abstain altogether from the use ...
Read MoreMany people contend that the Bible does not condemn the drinking of an alcoholic beverage; rather, it condemns drunkenness. To them the drink is not wrong but the quantity of alcohol consumed. In truth, the Bible does condemn the drinking of fermented beverages. The warnings against the consumption of alcohol are found throughout the Bible. A well-known passage in Proverbs 23:31-32 states “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles ...
Read More
