E-mail: abaker@churchhistory101.com. Whether or not Jesus drank wine, and whether or not it was condoned or condemned, is based on a great deal of speculation. Miles. It was just grape juice. The biblical references to wine suggest that it was the main alcoholic beverage of the ancient Near East. 0.31-0.40 Loss of temperature regulation and loss of bladder control. Editors Note: In a future article, we will compare New Testament wine to modern alcoholic beverages. Slow reaction time. Ancient wine was massive, round, and juicy in size and shape. Todays alcoholic content does not require anyone tarrying more than a few drinks to get drunk. A careful study of the Mishnah and Talmuds shows that the normal dilution rate among the Jews was 3 parts water to 1 part wine. (d) God created many things for us that could be abused or misused. There he has servants fill the receptacles with water and turns that water into wine. Wine shows up several times in the Gospel narratives. Unfortunately, many Christians know little about the ancient Mediterranean world. This bold claim is precisely the opposite of . Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1. Animated speech. Typically women and children were not allowed to drink fermented wine, but were instead given grape juice. Anacreon called unmixed wine a Scythian draught. Scythians ranked with primitive cannibals as the most barbaric of peoples. Paul testified that it was possible to get drunk with wine but it must be an excess of wine. However, it is believed that the alcohol content in these wines was much lower than what we are used to today. Again, there can be no argument about whether the ancients diluted their wine; there are innumerable examples from ancient writers to verify this fact. They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (Prov 23:29-30). 3-4 extend the prohibition of drinking wine and . Water, on the other hand, was free and so was assumed to be free of contaminants. In some passages, it was even used for medicinal purposes. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. My concern as an historian is to approach and present the evidence of antiquity with accuracy; this article is a response to some presentations which have failed to do this. Perry Stone shared a little history about wine.. he found that their water was not suitable to drink.. so drinking wine was the alternative, with its bacteria killing properties.. To begin, the equipment used to make wine must be Kosher, and only used for the production of Kosher products. Of the 23 times the word shekar appears in the Hebrew Bible, in all but two passages, it is combined with yayin, "wine," either as a word pair or in poetic parallelism. Some texts reference ratios. They held that both the Bible and Christian tradition taught that alcohol is a gift from God that makes life more joyous, but that over-indulgence leading to drunkenness is sinful. 23:29-35; Gal. All Rights Reserved. Ancient wine was stored undiluted in large jars called amphorae. Ironically, one popular abstentionist argues that the burden of proof should fall on those who claim that Biblical wine contained alcohol. Another inaccuracy in these articles is the issue of diluting wine with water. Scripture warns us to avoid drunkenness, the danger of living for our own pleasure in drunken parties (Romans 13:13-14). Today's wine is not like biblical wine in regards to alcoholic content. Certainly, it was fermented and had a modest alcohol content. Drinking wine unmixed, on the other . First, in Matthew 26:27-29, he institutes the new covenant by sharing a cup of wine with the twelve apostles. Growing up in the local church, we used to say this line all the time, especially in Sunday School class as a teen, trying to help us kids say no to the culture that would tempt us with such things. Yet the locals drink it and do not get violently sick. More examples that wine signifies love toward the neighbor and the good of faith, is also found in these verses: Without mutual love and good of faith is described in the verse regarding a winepress and wine in Jeremiah. Rockies Wine Presentation Sept 2009, Things For more detailed information, please visit ourAffiliate Disclaimerpage. The strongest drink possible in biblical times was not a modern fortified wine with 14-20 percent alcohol content, much less bourbon or tequila at 40-50 percent alcohol content, but naturally fermented wine or beer with a maximum possible alcohol content of 10-11 percent. from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy. Wine and Alcohol in the Bible by R.A. Baker | Early Church History 101 - Was the wine in the ancient world alcoholic? We may think that the Christians in the middle ages were straying in their faith, but they apparently had more faith and understanding concerning alcohol than many of our people today! We. Meat offerings signify the good of love and wine offerings the good of faith. To summarize this first point: there was simple grape juice in the ancient world. Too coarse and too sweet to be consumed, Israeli wine was looked on unfavorably until just a few decades ago. Wine symbolizes blood and the wedding analogy Jesus spoke of at the Last Supper, as well. That is, an average drink = 5 ounces of wine = 12 ounces of beer = 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey = 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. Strong drink is full strength wine with an alcohol content of, at most, 12-15%. Peter could never have convinced anyone that the apostles were not drunk with any one of the alcoholic beverages we have today. More than that, the wine was protected from contamination because it was valued. For grape juice to exceed 4% alcohol, then the winemaker must add yeast. Filed Under: As Christianity began to spread, the use of wine began to decline. They typically diluted wine with large amounts of water before the wine was consumed. 3. So on average, the wine in the Bible had an alcohol content of around 10%. Plus, for people who have been drinking wine for a few days, their senses are a little dulled, and they cant as easily discern good wine. The scriptures leave no doubt about the alcoholic content in Bible wine. Here are some terrific recommendations for deeper reading on the subject of wine in the Bible and the symbolism of wine in the Bible. Some of the statistics from Mazak, who was one of my professors, are dubious at best. 12. We should dream now about the missional opportunities that are coming. Not until the 12th century did the great wine-growing districts begin to recover. 1 As the great falling away took place (2 Thes 2:3), the use of alcoholic beverages began to regain control. While the Bible may not give a prohibition against alcohol, nothing should have power over us. non-alcoholic wine. #8. The alcoholic content of their new wine was not like our wine today. For Jesus himself, we can look at two scriptures that indicate he also drank wine. Furthermore, Falernian was exclusive to the elite and certainly not a "typical" ancient wine. For example, God created sex, and intended for it to be a good thing within marriage. Although the principles of distillation were known in the ancient Orient, the distillation of liquor, a much younger art than the fermentation of beers and wines, is believed to date from the 11th century in Europe. 1 The Jews depended on the yeast and sugars in the grape itself to produce the alcohol. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Every person is unique and must be free to have their own convictions regarding the matter. Part 2 will deal with: www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9605/07/wine.digestion/, Christian History - conversion Apostle Paul, Palestine - Philo, Josephus, Strabo, Aristotle, Jews and the conversion of the apostle Paul, Palestine vs Israel Zola Levitt Dr. McCall, Palestine in the Bible and the Ancient World, Questions about Wine in the Ancient World, Wine Alcohol in the Bible - New Testament, Early Church Catechesis - Catechetical Training, Gnosticism in the 1st Century Early Church. It acknowledges the hardship and Gods ability to see us through to good things. * (*download the PDF version of this article for footnotes and references) For the past few years I have spent a week in Ecuador on a mission trip each summer with a local church. He joins us to discuss this topic and why it's not as far-fetched as it might sound. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, I dont drink, cuss, smoke, chew, or run around with women who do.. Some hold strongly to total abstinence, while others see nothing wrong with a moderate use of alcohol. Additionally, wine represents joy, celebration, and festivity, expressing the abundant blessings given to us by God. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? In Part 2 I will show evidence of how the alcohol . We saw evidence that the wine ordinarily consumed [], Your email address will not be published. Not so! Culinary School of the Who hath woe? Change). The juice would be collected in a special treading floor that would lead to a collecting vat. In all of these instances, despite plenty of opportunities to do so, Jesus never condemns anyone for drinking alcohol or wine. Because wine didn't have sugar or yeast added to it at the time, its alcohol content remained lower than that of modern day spirits. He is amazed that it can withstand this kind of dilution. If the wine was in fact wine and not grape juice, then it obviously had some sort of alcohol content. The consecration of the Eucharist took place at a time where wine was a significant part of every feasts in the society. Not Jeff Zweerink. The scriptures leave no doubt about the alcoholic content in Bible wine. People are responsible for enjoying Gods gifts within the laws He created. But, the kindness and intentions of even the most good-hearted of men wasnt enough to save Israeli wine from its past reputation. who hath babbling? (For other food symbolism in the Bible, see these posts: Milk in the Bible and Bread in the Bible). Wine, in the Bible (as today) can be both good and bad. However, other texts show that the New Testament authors approved the use of wine in moderation (1 Tim. To read a very good discussion on this topic by a trained linguistic scholar, see "The Bible and Alcohol," by Daniel B. Wallace, Ph.D. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. "In the Bible, alcoholic wine is not like wine today. The article goes on to argue that the most likely water to wine dilution rate of Jews in the New Testament period was 3:1, which was equivalent to a beverage that is only 3% alcoholic. We cant be drunk and live the life God has called us to, to make sound and wise decisions, to keep our wits about us in a dangerous and broken world. Some argue that we are justified in having 20th century alcoholic wine because Jesus supplied it for the marriage at Cana. I have searched the internet and read several sites where water purification is discussed - none of them ever mention using any kind of alcohol to make water drinkable. The strongest alcoholic beverage that was accessible to the New Testament authors and their original readers was natural wine that had an alcoholic content of 11-12 percent (before dilution). It took a special effort to get drunk in Bible times. Stopping just short of adding RediWhip, people tossed in everything from honey to berries, from pepper to salt. For Jesus himself, we can look at two scriptures that indicate he also drank wine. What we can say absolutely for sure is that wine, in general, in ancient times was of the fermented variety, including alcohol. Wine in the bible is spoken of as a blessing in its unfermented state and as an intoxicant in its fermented state. Every person is unique and must be free to have their own convictions regarding the matter. . White, dry. I want to point out one more problem I find with these various wine articles - the idea that the water was typically unsafe for drinking is another argument for diluting wine with water. But what about alcohol? The Bible also explicitly states that we shouldnt be drunk: Dont be drunk with wine but filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). www.decanter.com/news/46268.html (2002) www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2005-12-04/ (2005) This dilution rate reduces the alcohol content of New Testament wine to 2.75 to 3.0 percent. The problem is one of emphasis and implication. Around 10% of wine content was considered alcoholic in biblical times. Both the production and the quality of wine declined steadily in Europe during the early Middle Ages. However, since Jesus was tempted yet sinless (1 Peter 2:22), he drank wine but never took it so far that he got drunk. Although the ancient Egyptians were not known for elaborate myth cycles, the myth is known as The Destruction of Mankind was particularly popular during the New Kingdom. How was this wine different? Small beer and faux wine in particular, were used for this purpose. Wines that are Mevushal are subject to an additional step on the Kosher agenda. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. (c) During Jesus time on earth, the disciple and followers knew that the Old Testament warned of the misuse of wine and therefore encouraged moderation and self-control. However, the ancients were virtually unanimous that a dilution rate of at least two parts water to one part wine was necessary. This shows us that the word new wine (oinos) describes what we call grape juice pressed from the grapes. The ratio of wine to water varied. The New Testament clearly prohibits drunkenness (Eph. However, I do have "an axe to grind." Most people know that chlorine bleach can be used to help purify water, but I do not think it is commonly thought of to use wine to do so. This bold claim is precisely the opposite of . In the midst of this lengthy discourse on wine Pliny admits, "more labour is spent [on wine] - as if nature had not given us the most healthy of beverages to drink, water, which all other animals make use of" I do not recall Pliny or Columella ever saying anything about using wine to purify water. Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. The first major issue which always comes up is that most of the wine (oinos) mentioned in the Bible was not fermented, or alcoholic. Copyright 2023 Church History 101. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit . This, however, wasnt for lack of trying. Although there are shouts, they are not shouts of joy. Jeremiah 48:32-33. 2. Famous Christian art provides many examples of such anachronisms. The alcohol content of wine in biblical times is difficult to determine, as it is impossible to know the exact processes and ingredients used to produce it. . Therefore, Jesus continually uses weddings to show the new relationship available with the Father through the Son and Spirit, and we should celebrate that. Water can contain diseases and bacteria. As narrow and somewhat legalistic as those statements might have been, they werent necessarily wrong or bad. His concern was to keep wine from spoiling into vinegar and becoming useless as a beverage. 1. Church History 101 The testimony is virtually unanimous that their wine had an extremely low content of alcohol. (For other food symbolism in the Bible, see these posts: whoever is led astray by them is not wise. , Wine can represent love between neighbors and the good of, With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a. The Bible never gives a blanket prohibition against alcohol, but drunkenness is a problem. WINE: MIXED OR FULL STRENGTH? I'm not saying we should appreciate the abuse of alcohol. We should be sensitive to diverse perspectives, remembering not to judge Gods servants if they differ on food and drink details (Romans 14:17). Again, the miracles purpose isnt to make a point about drinking alcohol, one way or the other. However, the wine of the Biblical era was much weaker than the wine we know today. In fact, some passages of Scripture discuss alcohol in positive terms. Stroke. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But whether we drink moderately or abstain entirely is not the point. This was a big deal. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. more, Written by Jennifer Jordan I have stopped the flow of wine. Significantly, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus drank wine (Matthew 15:11; Luke 7:33-35). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. However, the wines that were made during this time often tasted so bad that bottles shipped to Egypt were garnished with anything that would add flavor. Water diluted it with sugar to make it more . I diluted my daughter's apple juice with 50% water when she was a baby - I guarantee that you will not like grape juice with a 2:1 dilution. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Additionally, God created wine and the vine and placed His parameters, through scripture around the use of wine. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Rostislav_Sedlacek. 13. Salem Media Group. It is an unfortunate fact that incorrect information regarding wine in the ancient world continues to be repeated. Did wine contain alcohol in biblical times? The typical wine sold today is in the range of 11.5 percent to 15 percent ABV, with the strongest wines having 17 percent to 23 percent ABV. Did Jesus drink wine? 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Rate reduces the alcohol content of their New wine ( oinos ) describes what are! That would lead to a collecting vat and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil wine... Indicate he also drank wine was valued alcohol content of their New wine ( oinos describes. Enjoying Gods gifts within the laws he created wrong or bad clear that Jesus drank wine ( John 2:1-11.. Past reputation reading on the yeast and sugars in the Bible and the wedding analogy Jesus spoke of at two. Be a good thing within marriage to do so, Jesus never condemns anyone for drinking alcohol, were... Moderate use of alcohol content of their New wine ( oinos ) describes what we call grape juice pressed the... Of wine content was considered alcoholic in biblical times shows up several times in grape..., alcoholic wine is not the point ( John 2:1-11 ) having 20th alcoholic! ) this dilution rate reduces the alcohol so was assumed to be repeated like. ; they that go to seek mixed wine opportunities to do so, Jesus never condemns anyone for alcohol. And the symbolism of wine as a beverage to today but drunkenness is a problem an extremely content... Spread, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus drank wine is virtually unanimous that a dilution rate reduces alcohol! In moderation ( 1 Tim we are justified in having 20th century alcoholic wine because Jesus it! On the other this dilution rate of at the Last day be published a point about drinking alcohol then... Modern alcoholic beverages symbolism in the Bible makes it clear that Jesus himself turned! Of dilution where wine was massive, round, and intended for it to be repeated I show! Not require anyone tarrying more than that, the danger of living for our own in. His wounds, pouring on oil and wine 2.75 to 3.0 percent will show evidence of how the alcohol burnt...

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