The writers of the New Testament wrote in Greek and used the word "oinos" (οἶνος) broadly to encompass any beverage made from grapes, whether it was freshly pressed juice or fermented wine. Unlike modern languages, the ancient Greek language didn't have a specific word to distinguish between wine and unfermented grape juice, (neither did ancient Hebrew), relying instead on the context to clarify whether fermented, alcoholic wine or unfermented, grape juice is being referred to.
Let's use the Bible's own principles to study the subject and whether or not Christians should consume alcohol.
God is not the author of confusion. — 1 Corinthians 14:33
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. — 2 Peter 1:20
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. — Isaiah 28:10
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. — 2 Corinthians 13:1
Wine Maketh the Heart Glad
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. — Psalm 104:15
The attention is in the details (so is the devil). The above verse does not read "wine maketh glad" but "wine that maketh glad", clearly making an indication that there is more than one wine, and here the writer is talking specifically about one that maketh glad. Logic would then dictate there is wine that does not maketh glad.
Princes and Priests of God Not To Touch Alcohol
God, through Moses, instructed His priests to abstain from wine and strong drink in order to better discern or distinguish the holy and the unholy, clean and unclean, right and wrong, so that they could teach God's children God's laws and statutes. Likewise, rulers were not to drink wine or strong drink, lest it cause them to forget God's law and impair their judgment.
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: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. — Leviticus 10:9-11
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. — Proverbs 31:4-5
We know this is not just for the Jews or the priesthood of the Old Testament, for we are told in the New Testament that God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile if we are in Christ, and that if we are in Christ we are also called to be part of His royal priesthood.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. — Galatians 3:28
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. — 1 Peter 2:9
Just as no alcohol was to enter God's temple, so to Christians, being described as the temple of God, are not to defile themselves with alcohol.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? — 1 Corinthians 6:19
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. — Romans 12:1-3
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; — 1 Timothy 3:2-3
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. — Proverbs 20:1
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. — Proverbs 23:31-33
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. — Proverbs 23:29-30
The Bible says wine is a mocker that brings deception, sorrow, and nothing but curses. Forget drinking wine in moderation, this wine, we are told to not even look upon!
The Bible Means Just What It Says
It is impossible to read the above scriptures and conclude that God approves the consumption of alcohol.
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. — 1 Peter 4:7
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: — 1 Peter 5:8
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. — Titus 2:2
Some claim that "sober" doesn't mean abstain but that it means "vigilant," or "in moderation", but where else in the Bible, or the English language, does sober mean vigilant or moderate? We don't mean vigilant or moderately when warning young people about drugs or premarital sex.
The word "sober" comes from the Latin word "Sobrius" which directly translates to "not drunk" in the sense of being free from the effects of alcohol. Free means "without', "independent of". While a pregnancy progresses as the unborn child develops, a woman is either pregnant or not pregnant. There is no such thing as being moderately pregnant. Likewise with alcohol consumption, there are degrees of impairment starting with with very first drink. Either your free or you're not.
Alcohol Brings Curses
Numerous studies show the harmful effects of alcohol on the brain, heart, liver, as well as ties to various cancers. A large global study, published in The Lancet, concluded that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, with the risks of alcohol outweighing any potential benefits, and the safest option for overall health being no drinking at all.
Even when there are no outward signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or staggering walk, science shows that the brain is negatively affected after just one drink! A single drink can impair judgment and lead to changes in mood and behaviour. Even moderate consumption of alcohol increases the risks of premature death by 20%.
The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 10:31, tells us that we are to glorify God in everything we do, even in whatever we eat or drink. How exactly is God glorified in the consuming of alcoholic beverages? Science proves that even if there were benefits to even moderate drinking, any benefits are far outweighed by the negatives.
Jesus says, in John 10:10, that he came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Alcohol, including wine, only destroys life, even if slowly. The very process of making alcohol requires death as fermentation is a process of decay that happens after the death of vegetation.
A Wine That Brings Blessings
There is a wine in the Bible that is described as a blessing from God, and that gladdens the heart: Jeremiah 31:12-14; Psalm 104:14-15; Judges 9:13; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Zechariah 10:7; Genesis 27:28; Deuteronomy 7:13; Joel 2:24-26, 3:18.
This wine that is a gift from God cannot be the same wine spoken as bringing woe or as being a mocker, so what is this wine that brings blessings?
Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. — Isaiah 65:8
It is clearly new wine that has a blessing in it, that which is freshly pressed from the cluster, or what today we would call grape juice.
And contrary to popular belief, the ancients had their own methods of preventing fermentation and preserving grape juice for use out of season. Modern mankind was not the first to discover how to do this. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11)
Clearly Jesus made a distinction between old, fermented, alcoholic wine and new, unfermented wine.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. — Matthew 26:29
And knowing all the woe and sorrow alcohol causes, not only to the drinker's health, but with its ties to domestic abuse and other acts of violence, do we really believe God would have fermented, alcoholic wine represent the precious blood of His son, shed at Calvary as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world?!
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. — Matthew 26:27-28
Nothing That Corrupts In Heaven
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: — Matthew 6:20
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, — 1 Peter 1:4
Fermentation is the process of decay where the grape begins to corrupt and rot, and yeast begin to eat it and excrement in it, therefore wine will not be in heaven.
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord your God. — Deuteronomy 29:5-6
The Bible describes two different kinds of wine. One is holy and brings only blessings and glory to God, the other is profane and is associated with curses, sickness, death and deception. Can we truly say, with any integrity, that fermented wine fits the description of "holy?" If we know one wine is unclean or profane in the eyes of God, how can we justify partaking of such, even in moderation?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. — 2 Corinthians 6:16-17