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 MoreA favorite passage that is used to support the moderate use of alcoholic beverages is 1 Timothy 3:8. One of the qualifications for the office of a Deacon is “not given to much wine.” It appears the wine is not condemned but the quantity of wine consumed. However, abstinence from alcoholic beverages is required of the Eldership (1 Tim. 3:2-3; Tit. 1:7). Is this a sanction of intoxicating wine for Deacons as long as they ...
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 MoreIf a person were to study the subject of wine from most any English translation of the Bible, that person might come away with an idea that the Bible condones a moderate use of alcohol. The Bible clearly condemns drunkenness (Lk. 21:34; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). Yet, certain passages sound like they approve of the consumption of intoxicating beverages (Deut. 14:26; Prov. 31:6; Hos. 4:11; Lk. 5:37-39; 7:33-35; Jn. 2:1-11; 1 Cor. ...
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 purpose of this chapter is to discuss whether there is a need to study wine in the Bible. Some people believe that Jesus turned water into wine; therefore, all wine is good and there is no need for a study. Others say that they would never participate in wine of any sort, to be better safe than sorry, and so there is no need for study. Others still, even in the Lord’s church, ...
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 MoreNot all churches of Christ are the same. Many churches of Christ do not strictly follow God’s word. Some churches of Christ have been “leavened” by carnal members (1 Cor. 5:6-8). A sure sign of this is a church that condones sin among its members (1 Tim. 5:22). Such was the case in the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1-5). Rather than taking action to remove the sinful member, the church in their arrogance, ignored ...
Read MoreDefinitions of words change over time. For example, the word “gay” has always meant to be happy. However, its definition presently includes the relationship between homosexual people where half a century ago no such reference could be found in any dictionary. Ironically, according to the first edition of the Webster Dictionary that was published in 1828, the word “gay” use to be a term of derision for drunks. The third definition under the word “gay” ...
Read More
