The enjoyment of wine and “light alcohol” is considered perfectly normal and completely harmless when consumed in moderation. It’s even said to be healthy. The Bible also speaks extensively about the enjoyment of wine. But not all wine is created equal.
Not all wine is created equal
The Greek word for wine in the New Testament is “οἶνον” (“oinon, oinos”). The origin of this usage can be found in the Hebrew “yayin,” which also simply means wine. Unlike the Greek, the Hebrew language does distinguish between alcoholic wine and grape juice. For example, while the word “yayin” is found in Genesis 9:21 for fermented wine, the Hebrew word “tirosh” is used in Isaiah 65:8. However, this distinction is handled differently in various translations.
Genesis 9:21:
“And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.”
Jesaja 65,8 (German Schlachter 2000):
“Thus says the Lord: As when juice is found in a grape [tirosh], and one says, “Do not spoil it; there is blessing in it!”, so will I act for the sake of my servants, that I may not spoil the whole.”
Isaiah 65:8 (Engl. Kings James Version):
“Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine [tirosh] is found in the cluster,…“
The King’s James Version describes this as “new wine.” In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (Septuagint, LXX), the passage reads “grape stones.”
It is therefore clear that a distinction is made between “new” and “old” wine, i.e., unfermented and fermented (alcoholic). Therefore, when interpreting the word “wine” in the New Testament (Greek), the context is particularly important.
Generally accepted as a matter of course
Most evangelical, or Lutheran, churches also maintain that wine can, of course, be drunk “in moderation.” The Roman Catholic Church, however, takes a different approach. There, it must even be a select, fermented, and therefore alcoholic wine when celebrating what is generally called Mass or Eucharist. The only difference is that the priest doesn’t share any of it with his flock, as it is a “bloodless sacrifice,” but he does drink the wine himself. The answer is quickly offered, however, that the Bible mentions wine countless times, thus highlighting its importance. After all, the first miracle of Jesus Christ was the transformation of water into wine at a wedding feast.
At a secular level, there was also a general lack of understanding about what “in moderation” actually means. What is “just a little bit,” what is “moderate,” and how long does it remain “healthy” before “too much” begins? This leads to theories claiming that a glass of red wine in the evening is even healthy. However, this is just one group’s opinion; another group says, no, alcohol (ethanol) is and remains a neurotoxin, even in small amounts.
However, if one were to assume unwaveringly that the wine mentioned in the Bible was generally fermented wine, and not (also) non-alcoholic wine, which today is called grape juice, then several contradictions would actually become apparent. For wine also serves as a symbol for doctrine. Pure wine is the pure gospel, and Babylonian wine (tainted wine) is the counterfeit doctrine. Wine also symbolizes the blood of Christ at the Last Supper. All very positive attributes for pure wine.
Noah’s shame – shame on Canaan
Conversely, the Bible also reveals that wine doesn’t exactly encourage the best decisions, and can even lead to fatal mistakes. A well-known passage describes a scene after the Flood, involving Noah and his family. Genesis 9:21, 24-25:
“And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.“
This led to the prophetically presented vision of all the descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham mocked in front of his brothers for seeing their father lying naked in the tent, and this led to Noah’s curses, which already bore fruit in Ham’s son Canaan. Not to mention further generations with Cush and Nimrod.
Fatal mistake
Personal advantages or prestige never existed and never will exist with God when it comes to applying the standard of justice. Thus, Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, received no special treatment because of their high priestly father. In their celebratory mood, they carried a fire into the sanctuary, which they were not permitted to do. God commanded that only the fire He Himself had kindled for the dedication of the tabernacle be brought in. And that fire was never to be extinguished. Nadab and Abihu died instantly (Leviticus 10). Furthermore, the fire symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit (e.g., tongues of fire above the heads of the apostles at Pentecost). But only the pure Spirit of God, not a foreign and therefore false spirit.
Belshazzar’s lack of restraint
The last king of the Babylonian Empire, Belshazzar, lost all restraint during a lavish, very boozy celebration and had the valuable cups and vessels, plundered from the Temple in Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar, brought to the grand party. The cup had run over. “Mene, Mene Tekel, Upharsin,” read the message written by the Lord on the wall of the banquet hall to Belshazzar. This was not a warning, but the announcement of imminent execution. That very night, the Medo-Persians surprised the rather inebriated guards, conquered Babylon in the blink of an eye, and Belshazzar lost his life. The end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 5).
Lot’s descendants – enemies of Israel
It was also alcohol that caused the rather unusual offspring of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. After Lot, his wife, and daughters “fled” from Sodom, and his wife died because of her disobedience, but the two daughters were still very much influenced by the customs of Sodom, they took turns getting their father Lot drunk in order to ensure their own offspring from him. Both daughters each gave birth to a son, Moab and Ben-Ammi (Genesis 19). One was the ancestor of the Moabites, the other of the Ammonites. Both peoples were among the fiercest enemies of Israel.
Warning about alcohol and its effects
The Bible warns in several places against the consumption of alcohol, or alcoholic wine.
Proverbs 23:31-33:
“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. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.“
Habakkuk 2:15:
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!“
Is a contradiction apparent?
On the other hand, wine is placed in a positive, even desirable, context.
Genesis 14:18:
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.“
Is there a contradiction here? On the one hand, priests are not allowed to drink alcohol, but Melchizedek, the priest of God, himself brings wine?
Leviticus 10:9:
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:“
There is another prominent group who should absolutely refrain from drinking any alcohol.
Proverbs 31:4-6:
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.“
Good wine – Bad wine
The water transformed into wine by Jesus Christ (John 2:1) was designated “good wine” by the wedding feast master, meaning it should have been served first, not the inferior wine beforehand. The distinction between “good wine” and “less good wine” certainly didn’t refer to the vineyard’s location—east- or south-facing, in France or Australia—but rather to whether the wine was fresh and sweet or fermented and alcoholic. This would indeed be completely contradictory if Jesus, through his word, were to proclaim that alcohol clouds the mind, yet then himself ensured a feast intoxicated by alcohol.
Fresh, unfermented wine, today simply called grape juice, was the “good wine,” while spoiled wine, meaning fermented and alcoholic, was the bad wine. Ultimately, only one more step of decomposition or oxidation is needed for final spoilage: vinegar. Accordingly, fresh, unalcoholized wine symbolizes the pure, unadulterated teaching of the Gospel, and the intoxicating, alcoholic wine symbolizes false teaching, such as the wine of Babylon (e.g., Revelation 17:2).
“With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.“
Priests and kings
Another significant aspect argues against any consumption of alcohol. Kings were not supposed to do it, and it was strictly forbidden for priests, for good reason. Who will be the saved or redeemed people?
Revelation 1:5-6:
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“
Revelation 20:6:
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.“
Those who are saved will be kings and priests of God!
Alcohol is a no-go!
One can certainly debate the conventional medical aspects, the pros and cons of alcoholic wine. That is the domain of science and its secular priestly caste in white coats. For the earnest Christian who desires to do God’s will, this should be irrelevant, regardless of the “daily-dependent” study results obtained by researchers commissioned and paid by whomever. Alcohol, even a “little, moderate, or moderate amount,” is taboo. Especially in these times, when deception is omnipresent, a consistently clear and level-headed mind is of paramount importance.
Alcoholized wine is considered an impure drink in the Bible, while new wine, or unfermented wine, is considered good wine, uncorrupted and pure. The context in which wine is mentioned reflects this. This is especially true when Jesus Christ turns water into wine. He did not produce impure, spoiled wine, but rather pure and uncorrupted wine, that is, grape juice.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
