Should Christians drink Wine?

The consumption of alcohol impairs judgment, inflames passions, and invites violence (Lev. 10:8-11; Proverbs. 20:1, 23:29-35, 31:4, 5).

There are 637 references to wine, drink and drinking in the King James Version of the Bible. Most people think in today’s terms, believing that when wine is mentioned it refers to alcoholic wine. Actually, that is not necessarily true. Thirteen different words are translated "wine" in the King James Version of the Bible. The word wine has a wide range of meaning in the Bible, covering everything from grape juice, to concentrated grape syrup to alcoholic wine.

Old Testament Hebrew Words for Wine...

"yayin" -- It is a general term for grape beverages and includes all classes of wine, non-alcoholic or alcoholic; unfermented, in the process of fermentation and fermented. (Proverbs 31:4) The context will show whether it is alcoholic wine or not. Yayin, when used properly was always diluted with water.

"shekar" -- It is the word for strong drink, unmixed wine. Yakin is wine to be distinguished from Shekar, or strong drink. The former is diluted with water; the later is undiluted." Shekar was not diluted with water." (Numbers 28:7)

"Tirosh" -- This word refers to fresh grape juice. It is referred to often as new wine or sweet wine. (Proverbs 3:10; Deuteronomy 7:13)

New Testament Greek Words for Wine...

"oinos" is the counterpart to the Old Testament word yayin. It is a general term for grape beverages and includes all classes of wine, non-alcoholic or alcoholic; fermented or unfermented. The context has to be used to determine whether the drink was intoxicating or not. (Luke 10:34; Ephesians 5:18). Oinos, when used properly was always diluted with water.

"sikera" is the counterpart to the Old Testament word shekar. It is the word for strong drink, unmixed wine. (Luke 1:15)

"gleukos" is the counterpart to the Old Testament word tirosh. This refers to fresh wine, a new wine or freshly squeezed grape juice.

Why believers should abstain from drinking alcohol…

1. Drinking leads to Drunkenness

Drunkenness is condemned in the Bible
Isaiah 5:11, Proverbs 23:20, Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19a & 21, Ephesians 5:18
Drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God
1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The fact is that the Bible clearly condemns drunkenness. Drunkenness is a serious matter.

2. The Bible condemns strong drink
Proverbs 20:1, Isaiah 5:11, Proverbs 23:29-31

What was strong drink in Bible times?

Distillation was not discovered until about 1500 A.D. Strong drink and unmixed wine in Bible times was from 3% to 11% alcohol. Therefore, since anybody in biblical times who drank unmixed wine (9-11% alcohol) was definitely considered a barbarian, then it is obvious that a Christian should not drink hard liquor at all.

Christians should not drink strong drink. Since wine has 9 to 11% alcohol and one brand 20% alcohol, you should not drink that. Brandy contains 15 to 20% alcohol and hard liquor has 40 to 50% alcohol (80 to 100 proof), and that is obviously excluded.

3. In Bible times what Christians drank was sub-alcoholic (purified water).

Remember the Hebrew word "yayin" and the Greek word "oinos". These were the companion words for wine whether fermented or unfermented. In fact, whether fermented or not, it was mixed with water.

All alcoholic beverages used in our culture fall under the biblical classification of strong drink and are therefore forbidden. The least ratio of water to wine mixture used in Bible times was 3 parts water to 1 wine. That produced a sub-alcoholic drink that was 2.5% to 2.75% alcohol. Normally, the ratio was even higher, up to 20 to 1. There is no Biblical support for a Christian to drink alcoholic beverages today. What early believers drank was sub-alcoholic by today’s standards. Pastors and deacons were cautioned to steer around even the sub-alcoholic stuff (I Timothy 3:3 & 8).

Drinking, even social drinking cannot be legitimately supported by the Bible. Every drink that is available today, even beer, falls into the category of unmixed or strong drink. Clearly, Christians should not drink alcoholic beverages. Drinking socially is a worldly activity and in light of the fact that believers are neither to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2) nor love the world (I John 2:15) our choice should be clear. We are to be separate from the worldly system (II Corinthians 6:17) and a light to the world (Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15).

Perhaps social drinking has enhanced the acceptability of Christians in society, but it has not advanced the cause of Christ, and it does not glorify God, Social drinking is simply a means which the devil uses to blunt our testimony for Christ and squeeze us into his mold.