Wine in the Bible: A Biblical Study on the Use of Alcoholic Beverages

FOREWORD by Dr. Robert P. Teachout
FOREWORD by George W. Reid
FOREWORD by Dr. Ernest H. J. Steed
PREFACE
	A Personal Sense of Responsibility.
	Abandonment of Abstinence.
	Uncertainty Among Adventists.
	A Plea from a Church Member.
	Personal Discoveries.
	Style.
	Acknowledgments.
	Authors of Forewords.
	Author’s Hope.
	NOTES TO THE PREFACE
A PREVIEW OF THE BOOK
	A Look at the Drinking Problem.
	A Christian Responsibility.
	Moral or Medical Issue?
	The Meaning of “Wine.”
	“Wine” in Biblical Perspective.
	The Preservation of Wine.
	Jesus and Wine.
	Wine in the Apostolic Church.
	Some Misunderstood Passages.
	Ellen White and Alcoholic Beverages.
	Alcohol in America.
	NOTES TO THE PREVIEW
Chapter 1 A LOOK AT THE DRINKING PROBLEM
	A CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY
		Temperance Movement.
		Biblical Criticism.
		The Person of Christ.
		Moderation Rather Than Abstinence.
		Biological or Biblical Ethics?
		Moral or Medical Issue?
		A “No Fault” Society.
		Need for Moral Conviction.
		The Christian Way of Freedom.
	THREE MAJOR POSITIONS
		1. The Moderationist View
			Definition and Supporters.
			Weaknesses of the View.
		2. The Abstentionist View
			Definition and Supporters.
			The Adventist Abstentionist View.
			Weaknesses of the View.
			An Apparent Biblical Paradox.
		3. The Prohibitionist View
			Definition of the View.
			Supporters of the Prohibitionist View.
		Conclusion
		NOTES TO CHAPTER 1
Chapter 2 THE MEANING OF “WINE”
	Objective of Chapter.
	Procedure.
	PART 1 SECULAR USAGE OF THE WORD “WINE”
		1. The Meaning of “Wine” in English
			Current Usage of “Wine.”
			Past Usage of “Wine.”
			Older English Dictionaries.
			Bible Translations.
		2. The Meaning of the Latin Vinum
			Latin Usage of Vinum.
		3. The Secular Usage of the Greek Oinos
			Oinos: Only Fermented Grape Juice?
			Unfermented Grape Juice.
			Oinos as Pressed Grape Juice.
			The Septuagint Renderings.
		4. The Secular Usage of the Hebrew Yayin
			Yayin as Freshly Pressed Grape Juice.
			Unfermented Wine for Religious Ceremonies.
			Conclusion.
	PART 2 THE BIBLICAL USAGE OF YAYIN AND OINOS
		1. Yayin as Fermented Wine
			Frequent Use.
			Examples of Intoxication.
			Disapproval of Yayin.
		2. Yayin as Unfermented Grape Juice
			No Self-explanatory Passage.
			Isaiah 16:10.
			Jeremiah 40:10, 12.
			Nehemiah 13:15.
			Lamentations 2:12.
			Genesis 49:11.
			Song of Solomon.
		3. Oinos as Fermented Wine
			Intoxicating Oinos.
		4. Oinos as Unfermented Grape Juice
			Oinos in the Septuagint.
			New Wine in Fresh Wineskins.
			Unfermented Grape Juice.
			Oil and Wine Spared.
			Conclusion
	NOTES TO CHAPTER 2
Chapter 3 “WINE” IN BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
	Objective of Chapter.
	PART 1 BIBLICAL APPROVAL OF UNFERMENTED WINE
		Central Importance of the Vineyard.
		1. “Wine” as Symbol of Divine Blessing
			Isaac’s Blessing of Jacob.
			Moses’ Blessing of Israel.
			Jacob’s Blessing of Judah.
			“Wine” as a Conditional Blessing.
			Removal of “Wine” as a Divine Curse.
		2. “Wine” as Symbol of Messianic Blessings
			Renewed Blessings.
			Messianic Prosperity.
			Offer of Divine Mercy.
		3. “Wine” as a Wholesome Beverage
			Primary Purpose of Vineyards.
			“Wine” to Gladden the Heart.
			Sustenance and Sweetness.
		4. “Wine” as Tithe or Offering
			An Acknowledgment of God.
			Eating the Tithe Before the Lord.
		5. “Wine” as a Libation
			Drink Offering.
			Fermented or Unfermented Grape Juice?
			No Fermented Thing.
			Only Natural Products.
			Conclusion.
	PART II BIBLICAL DISAPPROVAL OF FERMENTED WINE
		1. The Prohibition of Intoxicating Wine
			Proverbs 23:29-35.
			Admonition to Abstain.
			Warning of Consequences.
			Abuse or Use of Wine.
			Proverbs 20:1.
			Habakkuk 2:5.
			Ephesians 5:18.
			Translators’ Bias.
			Moderation or Abstinence?
			Conclusion.
		2. The Consequences of Drinking Intoxicating Wine
			Drinking Distorts Perception of Reality.
			Drinking Dulls Thinking Abilities.
			Drinking Corrupts Morals.
			Drinking Causes Sickness.
			Drinking Disqualifies for Civil Service.
			Drinking Disqualifies for Church Service.
	CONCLUSION
	NOTES TO CHAPTER 3
Chapter 4 THE PRESERVATION OF GRAPE JUICE
	Objective of This Chapter.
	PART 1 THE ANCIENT ART OF PRESERVATION
		1. The Preservation of Fruits
			Amazing Ability.
			Classical Writers.
			Methods of Preserving Fruits.
			The Preservation of Grapes.
			Squeezed Grapes.
		2. The Preservation of Fermented Wine
			A Prevailing Misconception.
			The Discovery of Pasteurization.
			Problems in Preserving Wine.
			Preservation of Wine with Boiled-Down Must.
			Preservation of Wine with Salt.
			Preservation of Wine with Pitch.
	PART 2 THE PRESERVATION OF GRAPE JUICE
		Fermentation Process:
		1. The Preservation of Grape Juice by Boiling
			Moisture and Heat.
			Ancient Testimonies.
			Safe Preservation.
			Wide Use of Boiled Grape Juice. The custom of preserving grape
			Dilution of Boiled Grape Juice.
			Boiled Grape Juice among the Jews.
			Boiled Grape Juice in Ancient Israel?
		2. The Preservation of Grape Juice through Filtration
			Separation of Albumen.
			Gentle Pressing.
			Filtration.
			A Biblical Allusion.
		3. The Preservation of Grape Juice Through Cold Storage
			Below 40º Fahrenheit.
			Ancient Method.
			Gibeon’s Wine Cellars.
		4. The Preservation of Grape Juice Through Sulphur Fumigation
			Sulphur Fumigation.
			Ancient Use of Sulphur.
	CONCLUSION
	NOTES TO CHAPTER 4
Chapter 5 JESUS AND WINE
	Objective and Procedure.
	PART 1 THE WEDDING AT CANA
		Importance of the Miracle.
		The Meaning of Oinos.
		Is Oinos Always Alcoholic?
		Preservation of Grape Juice.
		“High-Quality Alcoholic Wine.”
		Rabbinical Witness.
		Moral Implications.
		“Well Drunk.”
		The Object of the Miracle.
	PART 2 NEW WINE IN NEW WINESKINS
		Importance of the Saying.
		“New Wine”: Fermented or Unfermented?
		Unfermented Grape Juice.
		A Pagan Testimony.
		The Meaning of the Saying.
	PART 3 IS OLD WINE IS BETTER?
		Importance of the Saying.
		Meaning of “New Wine.”
		Meaning of “Old Wine.”
		Is “Old Wine” Better?
		The Context of the “Old Wine.”
	PART 4 WAS JESUS A GLUTTON AND A DRUNKARD?
		Importance of the Text.
		Two Different Lifestyles.
		Two Different Missions.
		John, a Nazirite.
		No Mention of “Wine.”
		Drunk with Grape Juice?
		Critics’ Charge.
	PART 5 THE COMMUNION WINE
		Importance of the Episode.
		1. Is the “Fruit of the Vine” Alcoholic Wine?
			“Fruit of the Vine.”
			Josephus’ Testimony.
			Natural Produce.
		2. Was the Passover Wine Alcoholic?
			Jewish Practice.
			No Preference Given to Fermented Wine.
			A Rabbinical Fabrication.
			Later Testimonies.
		3. Jesus Used the Unfermented “Fruit of the Vine”
			Obedience to the Mosaic Law.
			Consistency of Symbol.
			The Language of the Last Supper.
			The Survival of the Practice.
		CONCLUSION
		NOTES TO CHAPTER 5
Chapter 6 WINE IN THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
	Objective and Procedure.
	PART 1 ACTS 2:13: “FILLED WITH NEW WINE”
		Importance of the Text.
		Unwarranted Interpretation.
		The Meaning of “Gleukos.”
		The Irony of the Charge.
		Historical Confirmation.
		Peter’s Response.
		Conclusion.
	PART 2 1 CORINTHIANS 11:21 “ONE IS HUNGRY AND ANOTHER IS DRUNK”
		Importance of the Text.
		1. The Nature of the Feast
			A Selfish Love Feast.
			Private Supper or Lord’s Supper?
		2. The Meaning of the Verb Methuo
			“Filled to the Full.”
			Scholarly Support.
		3. The Implications of Paul’s Admonition
			No Allusion to Drunkenness.
			Implication of the Admonition.
			Conclusion.
	PART 3 EPHESIANS 5:18 “DO NOT GET DRUNK WITH WINE”
		Importance of the Text.
		1. The Structure of the Passage
			Two Contrasting Statements.
			Two Similar Passages.
			“Drink no Wine at All.”
		2. The Relative Clause
			The Antecedent of the Relative Pronoun.
			Preference for “Wine.”
			Ancient Translations.
			Modern Translations.
		3. The Meaning of Asotia
			Moral Dissoluteness.
			Alcohol Affects the Mind.
		4. Rabbinical Testimonies
			Condemnation of Wine.
			Permanent Prohibition.
			Conclusion.
	PART 4 ADMONITIONS TO ABSTINENCE
		Importance of Two Terms.
		1. Mental Sobriety
			The Meaning of Sophron.
			Classical, Jewish and Christian Writers.
			Paul’s Admonition.
			Peter’s Admonition.
		2. Physical Abstinence
			The Meaning of the Verb Nepho.
			The Meaning of the Adjective Nephalios.
			Hellenistic Testimonies.
			Implication of Testimonies.
			Translators’ Bias.
		3. Nepho as Physical Abstinence
			1 Thessalonians 5:6-8.
			1 Peter 1:13.
			1 Peter 4:7.
			1 Peter 5:8.
			Correlation with Luke 12:41-46.
		4. Nephalios as Physical Abstinence
			Three texts.
			“No Drunkard.”
			Dual Meaning of Paroinos.
			The Reason for Abstinence.
		5. Enkrateia as Physical Abstinence
			Meaning of Enkrateia.
			Sample Texts.
			Abstinence in Acts 24:25.
			Abstinence in 1 Corinthians 9:25.
			Abstinence in other Passages.
		CONCLUSION
		NOTES TO CHAPTER 6
Chapter 7 A LOOK AT SOME MISUNDERSTOOD PASSAGES
	Analogy of Scripture.
	Procedure.
	PART 1 DEUTERONOMY 14:26 DRINK “WINE AND STRONG DRINK”
		Importance of the Passage.
		The Nature of the Problem.
		Solution of the Moderationists.
		A Mosaic Concession.
		“Satisfying Grape Juice.”
		“A Sweet Beverage.”
		Derivation of Shekar.
		Fermented or Unfermented?
		Survival of Shekar.
		Conclusion on Deuteronomy 14:26.
	PART 2 PROVERBS 31:6 “GIVE STRONG DRINK . . .”
		Importance of the Passage.
		The Context.
		The Form of the Counsel.
		The Nature of the “Misery.”
		Medical Use of Alcohol.
	PART 3 HOSEA 4:11 “WINE AND NEW WINE TAKE AWAY THE UNDERSTANDING”
		Importance of the Passage.
		The Meaning of Tirosh.
		Possible Broader Meaning.
		An Indictment of “New Wine.”
		The Context of the Text.
		The Meaning of “Whoredom, Wine and New Wine.”
		Conclusion.
	PART 4 1 TIMOTHY 5:23 “USE A LITTLE WINE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR STOMACH”
		Importance of the Text.
		The Connection of the Passage.
		The Nature of Paul’s Advice.
		The Form of the Advice.
		The Kind of Wine.
		Timothy Had Been an Abstainer.
		Conclusion.
	PART 5 1 TIMOTHY 3:8 “NOT ADDICTED TO MUCH WINE”
		Importance of Text.
		Immediate Context.
		Is a Little Addiction Right?
		The Meaning of “Much Wine.”
		“Much Wine” and “Little Wine.”
		Respect for the Convictions of Others.
		A Possible Reference to Grape Juice.
		Home Visitation.
		Summary.
	CONCLUSION
	NOTES TO CHAPTER 7
Chapter 9 ALCOHOL IN AMERICA
	Objective of this Chapter.
	PART 1 THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING
		Personal Costs.
		Inestimable Human Cost.
		Alcohol and the Family.
		Economic Costs.
		Crime and Alcohol.
		The Beloved Enemy.
		Health Care and Alcohol.
		Problems Among Moderate Drinkers.
	PART 2 ALCOHOL AND HEALTH
		1. How the Body Uses Alcohol
			Definition of Alcohol.
			Absorption.
			Breakdown and Removal.
		2. The Effects of Alcohol on the Body
			Brain.
			Is Moderate Drinking Safe?
			The Effect of One Drink.
			Liver.
			Stomach.
			Heart.
			Cancer and Alcohol.
	CONCLUSION
	NOTES TO CHAPTER 9