“Does The Bible Allow Us to Consume
Alcoholic Drinks As Beverages?” Part 1
The Problem Stated1: “Does the Bible allow us to consume alcoholic drinks
as beverages?”
Why It's A Difficult Problem
1. The Bible Speaks Positively of “Wine:” Gen. 14:18; Neh. 2:1; Job 1:13; Ps.
104:15.
2. But Drunkenness is a Menace to Society: Drunk driving, spousal abuse,
fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.
3. But Some Cultures Say It’s Ok To Drink
4. Christian Liberty: Some claim it is their Christian liberty to drink
modern wine.
Agreed Upon Facts
1. Alcohol is used medicinally: E.g., 1 Ti. 5:23; Luke 10:34; Prov. 31:6
2. Drunkenness is a sin: Deut. 21:20-21; 1 Co. 5:11; 6:9-10; Eph. 5:18
Misconceptions
1. All wine mentioned in the Bible has alcohol in it, including “new
wine” (Hos. 4:11; Acts 2:13).
2. “Strong drink” does not refer to the amount of alcohol in the drink
itself. Because of what biblical wine is, it refers to the strength of the
flavor (NIV “other fermented drink”; NET “beer”).
Historical Facts
Facts About Wine in Bible Times
Wine had a maximum of 7% alcohol and it was diluted with water.
Jewish Practice
 Jewish Talmud: Passover wine was 3 parts water to 1 part of wine
(Pesahim 108a cf. Shabbath 77a)
Two articles were particularly helpful in developing some of the points of this article. Gary Reimers’ article “Does the Bible Condone Alcoholic Beverages?” Accessed here
http://pbcpowdersville.org/site/user/files/39/Does_the_Bible_Condone_Alcoholic_Beverages.pdf. Also helpful was "A Christian Perspective on Wine-Drinking."
Bibliotheca Sacra 139, no. 553 (1982): 51.Accessed here https://www.galaxie.com/article/bsac139-553-04.
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 Intertestamental Period: “For as it is hurtful to drink wine … alone;”
(2 Mac. 15:39).
 "[Merchants may] add water and then sell the wine without warning
their customers, for the customers naturally assume that the wine has
been diluted."2
 “It was the general practice of the Jews to dilute their wine with water.
‘Their wine was very strong,’ says an ancient Jewish writer, ‘and not fit
for drinking unless water was mixed with it.’”3
Pagan Practice
 Pliny referred to wine as eight parts water and one part wine. 4
 Athenaeus (Greek rhetorician end of the 2nd century, early 3rd century)
writes, "Mnesitheus said ‘those who mix and drink [wine] moderately,
it gives good cheer; But if you overstep the bounds, it brings violence.
Mix it half and half, and you get madness; unmixed, bodily collapse.”5
 “Only barbarians drank undiluted wine.”6
So, the ancients drank wine diluted with water to make drinking water and
wine safe, for various reasons. Therefore, to become intoxicated on diluted
wine required drinking many more times the amount of alcohol. One has
suggested up to a gallon7; another suggested 22 glasses.8
Facts About Wine Today
Standard wine today has 14% alcohol, double even undiluted wine in Bible
times. It is well known that our culture drinks undiluted alcoholic
beverages primarily for its intoxicating, debilitating effect.
Abrams, Judith Z. A Beginner's Guide to the Steinsaltz Talmud. Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 1999. 243.
Charles Hodge, vol. 3, Systematic Theology (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 617. Hodge cites Gloss in Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae in St. Matthew 26:27, n.
v. Opp. tom. ii. p. 380 as well as Scudamore, ut supra, p. 350.
4 Natural History 14.6–54
5 The Deipnosophistae of Athenaeus published in Loeb Classical Library edition, Volume 1. Accessed
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Athenaeus/2A*.html#note:complete_extant_text_is_onsite
6 Alcock, Joan P. Food in the Ancient World. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006. 184. See also Charters, Stephen. "The History of Wine." In Wine and Society: The Social and
Cultural Context of a Drink. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006.
7 See Gary Reimers’ article, cited above.
8 “One would need to drink twenty-two glasses of wine in order to consume the large amount of alcohol in two martinis today.” Geisler, Norman, 51.”
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“Does The Bible Allow Us to Consume
Alcoholic Drinks As Beverages?” Part 2
Arguments for Abstinence
1. We don’t need alcoholic beverages.
The ancients needed alcohol, for health reasons. Alcohol killed bacteria. And when
they did drink it, they watered it down so as not to become drunk. Therefore, we
should not drink today's modern alcoholic beverages.
2. The Bible warns even about diluted wine.
Remember, biblical wine is diluted wine. Isa. 28:7; Hos. 4:11; Prov. 31:7; Job 12:25; Isa
28:7–8; 29:9. If the Bible warns us this way about diluted wine, how much more
undiluted wine?
3. Modern alcohol consumption is not healthy.
Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of death in the US, experts say. It
is a major contributor to cancer deaths, according to the Boston University School of
Public Health.9
4. Consuming alcohol is a bad example.
Children follow what their parents do. 10 Also, if parents want their rum, today's kids
will want their marijuana, etc. “You have your debilitating drug and they want theirs!”
5. Alcohol does not edify
A local New Testament church puts a high priority on edification. Does alcohol edify
people? 1 Co 6:12; Ro. 14:21
If someone who is weak in the faith knew that you “drank in moderation,” could that
embolden him to drink?
6. Studies show that small amounts of alcohol causes lack of self control.
One study says that even a small amount of alcohol affects driving.11 Another study
finds that a small amount of alcohol dulls the brain "signal" that warns people when
they are making a mistake, “ultimately reducing self-control.”12 Self-control is affected,
therefore, from even a small amount of alcohol. And why would I want to drink
“Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer death in U.S., experts say.” Accessed here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130214194103.htm
10 Children of alcoholics are 4-9 times more likely to be an alcoholic themselves. “Concepts and Issues in COA Research” accessed here
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-3/185.pdf
11 “You Booze, You Lose: Even Small Amount Of Alcohol Affects Driving Skills” accessed here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020919065955.htm
12 “Alcohol dulls brain 'alarm' that monitors mistakes, study finds” accessed here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901135030.htm.
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something that keeps me from displaying one of the fruits of the Spirit, self-control
(Ga. 5:22)?
7. Drinking undiluted alcoholic beverages is simply forbidden by Scripture.
Proverbs 23:29-35, esp. 31. “Red” wine would not be diluted wine. Properly diluted
wine would look much more pink or clear. Thus, Prov. 23:31 is a prohibition against
drinking undiluted alcohol.
Refuting arguments for moderate alcohol consumption as a beverage
1. “The Bible condemns drunkenness, not drinking modern alcohol.”
This is not true, Prov. 23:31.
2. “Condemning moderate alcohol consumption as a beverage is legalistic.”
Not true, Prov. 23:31 condemns any undiluted alcohol consumption itself
(“red”=undiluted). It’s wrong just like another sin is wrong. Legalism is an attempt at
earning favor with God, but choosing not to sin is not legalism, it’s obedience.
3. “But the Bible teaches moderation, not abstinence” (1 Ti. 3:8; 5:23)
Yes, if it’s diluted. If someone drinks diluted wine to purify drinking water (medicinal
use) or to make water taste better, this is biblical. This kind of wine (diluted) for these
purposes must be used in moderation. But to drink undiluted wine for its effect is
prohibited (Prov. 23:31).
4. “But I’ve heard moderate consumption is good for your heart.”
Actually, as we noted, it is a major contributor to cancer deaths and more recent
research from the British Medical Journal suggests moderate consumption is actually not
good for your heart.13 Plus, no one has proved that alcohol itself causes a health benefit.
5. “But it’s part of my culture” or “I feel like I have to drink to fit in.”
If _____ was necessary to “fit in,” would you do _____? Will you choose to live in the
culture of Scripture?
6. But it helps me relax!
Try running, herbal teas (that don’t control you) …oh, and Phil. 4:6-7! Don’t go to
something else for peace; go to God.
7. But Martin Luther and Calvin drank!
Martin Luther also baptized babies and John Calvin agreed to executing heretics. We
don't advocate everything good men do.
“Alcohol is the fifth leading risk factor for death and disability accounting for 4% of life years lost due to disease.” “Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease:
Mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data” accessed here http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4164. See also “” accessed here
http://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/349/bmj.g4164.full.pdf
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