“Not Given To Much Wine”

by Micky Galloway

This issue generally arises in connection with a discussion of I Timothy 3:8 where, among other things, the Scripture teaches that a deacon must not be “given to much wine.” A similar statement with regard to bishops in I Timothy 3:3 indicates that bishops must not be “given to wine.” Because of the difference in these two expressions some contend that deacons (and presumably other Christians) may participate in drinking a little as long as they do not get drunk (social drinking) while bishops (elders) may not.

Bible words discussing alcoholic beverages. The word “wine” in our English versions of the Bible most often translate the Hebrew word yayin or yain in the Old Testament and the Greek word oinos in the New Testament. The term “strong drink” translates the Hebrew word sekar and the Greek word sikera. When the two terms are used together, the term “strong drink” probably refers to all kinds of fermented drinks other than wine, which referred primarily to drinks derived from the grape (see ISBE, Volume 1, page 993, 1979 revision). As in the Hebrew yain, the Greek word oinos does not always signify fermented intoxicating drink, but grapes as fresh fruit, dried raisins, or prepared as jam, or preserved by boiling for storage, or as thick syrup for spreading upon bread as we do butter; and that syrup dissolved in water for a beverage at meals, as described in the Hebrew Bible by Solomon and others, and amongst Greek writers by Aristotle, and Pliny among the Roman ones. This mixing of the syrup with water ready for use at meals is alluded to in more than one of our Lord’s parables. The liquid was absolutely non-alcoholic and not intoxicating. Grape juice was also prepared by heating it, as soon as possible after it had been squeezed in the press, by boiling, so as to prevent fermentation, and yet preserve its thin liquid form as a drink (see The Bible and Wine by Ferrar Fenton).

Strong drink in the Bible is condemned. Even when fermented wine is intended, we must remember that the wine of Bible times was usually diluted with water before drunken. Also, the usual alcoholic content of Bible wines varied from 5% to 8% alcohol depending on the sweetness of the grapes (see Archaeology and Bible History, J.P. Free, page 352). Through modern methods of distillation, today’s fortified wines are 20% alcohol (i.e. four times stronger than what the Bible calls “strong drink”). Beer and whiskey vary in content up to 190 proof whiskeys which is 95% alcohol. Please note that concentrated alcohol came into being in the Middle Ages when the Arabs invented distillation (“alcohol” is an Arabic word) so what is now called liquor or strong drink (i.e., whiskey, gin, etc.) and the fortified wines of today were unknown in Bible times.

Drunkenness is condemned in both Old and New Testaments.

Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.”

Proverbs 23:29-35, “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine … At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, (shalt thou say), and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” If you don’t want to be this foolish condemned drunk, then do this: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly” (Verse 31). Very simply, stay away from it! Don’t flirt with sinful practices.

Proverbs 31:4-5, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes (to say), Where is strong drink? Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice (due) to any that is afflicted.”

Isaiah 28:7, “And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”

Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are (these): fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness … drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

I Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers … nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

I Peter 4:2-3, “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries” (NKJV).

Please note especially these three words in this text. “Drunkenness” – “indulging in wine to excess with its consequent results” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). This is the falling down drunk. “Revelries” – The riotous conduct associated with drinking and the forsaking of social decency. Defined as: “unrestrained indulgence in alcoholic beverages and accompanying immoral behavior” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain). This is the one who is exhibiting a thick tongue, giddiness, and impairment of equilibrium, vision, and judgment. “Drinking parties” – drinking without reference to amount; drinking that gives opportunity to excess. “It is improper for Christians to meet together for the purpose of drinking - as wine, toasts, etc.” (Barnes’ Notes). This is the one who participates in “social drinking”! Whether it is cocktail hour, the office party, or a private bash with the bottle. Peter’s admonition is, “Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (I Peter 4:1-2). Yes, men will “think it strange that ye run not with (them) into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of (you)” (I Peter 4:4). But, I am a Christian and I will not live like the world!

But what about I Timothy 5:23? “Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” Possibly every drunkard knows this one Scripture, even if they know nothing more about the Bible. Present day medicines contain alcohol in varied percentages. Medical use is not condemned. However, one would do well to consider the historical writings of Pliny, Columella, Philo, and others which state that many of the wines of their day produced “headaches, dropsy, madness, and stomach complaints.” Paul was not recommending these! The same writers tell us that wines destitute of all strength were exceedingly wholesome and useful to the body. Pliny, particularly, states that the wines most adapted to the sick are “most useful when its forces (i.e. alcohol) have been broken by the strainer” therefore, “without power, without strength” (Bible Wines, William Patton).

It shouldn’t take the wisdom of Solomon to see that Christians should take the dangers of alcohol seriously and be proactive in helping themselves and others to remain free from its clutches!