If you do your own research, you will find that a majority of the commentators consider virtually all the wine in the Bible to be fermented. However, the majority is not always right. Thankfully, some scholars look into ancient sources to give us a more accurate rendering. For example, Fausset’s Bible Dictionary states, “Yayin, from a root “boil up,” is the extract from the grape, whether simple grape juice unfermented, or intoxicating wine; related to the Greek oinos. We have also noted several Bible verses where wine is clearly not alcoholic.

Transition

Please keep this in mind as we examine wine as it relates to Jesus in the Gospels. For more details and resources, please refer to your handout.

The fifth step I want us to take to distinguish truth from error is to …

Examine the wine Jesus create in Cana (John 2:1-11)

  1. Let us gather facts from the context.
    1. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, attended a marriage in the town of Cana. Jesus’ mother, Mary, informed him that they needed more wine (v.3). She used the word oinos, the generic word for wine. She believed that Jesus could solve the problem (v.5). There were six stone water pots present holding two to three firkins each (v.6). Modern translations often read 20-30 gallons [75-113 L] each. Both Morrish Bible Dictionary and Smith’s Bible Dictionary state that a firkin was 8.6 gallons [32.5 L]. Thus, the six jars held between 390 and 585 litres. Jesus had the servants fill them with water and then serve it to the governor of the feast (v.7-8). We find his reaction in verse 10. The governor used the word “well drunk” in his exclamation as a general statement, but he did not say anyone was drunk at that particular wedding. Zodhiates in his Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament defines this word as, “Generally to drink wine or strong drink more freely than usual without any reference to whether one gets drunk or not.” This was the first of Jesus’ miracles (v.11). It manifested or showed forth His glory (v.11).
    2. With these facts in hand, we are now ready to proceed.
  2. With the aid of the context and the moral intent, we can evaluate the wine Jesus created.
    1. The common interpretation
      1. Mary, asked Jesus to provide more alcohol for the already drunken guests at this wedding.
      2. Jesus turned about 400-600 litres of water into alcohol to be served to the already drunken guests.
      3. The governor commends the created alcohol as “good wine” or the highest quality fermented wine.
      4. Thus, in this interpretation, Jesus contributes to drunks getting even more drunken.
    2. Let us look at it from a different perspective. The New Defender’s Study Bible states, “This “good wine” had been miraculously created by the Creator… The decay process, utilizing leaven (always in Scripture representing corruption) to convert good fresh wine into old intoxicating wine, could not have acted in this case, because Christ Himself had created the wine in its originally intended form before sin and decay entered the world. In this form, it was certainly the best wine, having all the health-giving, joy-inspiring character it was created to exhibit in the beginning.” icr.org
    3. Since the Scriptures clearly condemn drunkenness, why would God the Son disobey His own word and provide up to 600 L of alcohol to drunken celebrators? I believe that the context and moral intent refute that interpretation and lead us to believe that He created the best fresh juice.
      The sixth step I want us to take to distinguish truth from error is to …

Examine other wine topics related to Jesus

  1. New wine in old wineskins
    1. (Matthew 9:17) “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.“
    2. The “bottles” were actually animal skins. Skins previously used became somewhat stiff and contained leftover yeast. Fresh grape juice would certainly ferment in such skins and break them. See www.penn.museum/sites/Canaan/index.html
    3. The new unfermented wine picturing Jesus’s Kingdom was so different from the old wine picturing Judaism, that it required a fresh new setting.
  2. The old wine is better
    1. (Luke 5:39) “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.“
    2. “This is a statement of fact, not a commendation of drinking intoxicating (old) wine. The new, unfermented, wine is much better for one’s health and conduct, but the half-intoxicated man will not say so. The same holds true with the Pharisees, who preferred their old economy and traditions to the new and better way brought by Christ.” The New Defender’s Study Bible
  3. Jesus is a glutton and a drunkard
    1. (Matthew 11:18-19) “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.“
    2. Unlike John the Baptist, Jesus was not a Nazarite who avoided all grape products. John lived alone in the wilderness; Jesus had a social ministry. Though Jesus was accused of being a glutton and winebibber by his critics, they also accused him of blasphemy, treason, sedition, sorcery, breaking the Mosaic Law, and insanity. Because those charges were untrue, we have no reason to believe that he was a glutton and winebibber either.
  4. What wine did Jesus use at the Last Supper?
    1. (Matthew 26:27-29) “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. 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.“
    2. The first Lord’s Supper was during the Passover, when leaven was forbidden (see Article). Jesus never called the juice that he served “wine”. Why would the holy Lord use a fermented substance to represent His pure blood shed for the sins of mankind? That makes no sense.
      The final step I want us to take to distinguish truth from error is to …

Should a Christian drink wine today? See Article

  1. Drinking fermented wine is not a wise choice
    1. It is not necessary.
    2. God said that fermented wine was not for the priests, kings, princes, Nazarites, or church leaders. Every Christian is a king and priest, (1Peter 2:9).
    3. Proverbs 23:31-33 and other scriptures warn against it.
  2. Practical reasons for abstaining from alcohol.
    1. Alcohol is very addictive, enslaving one out of every ten users (see article for more details).
    2. Alcohol alters perception. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 3:16-17; 6:19-20). Does this glorify God?
    3. Your example may cause others to stumble (Ro 14:21). You may be able to drink a glass of wine without becoming addicted, but you cannot control those who see you. Countless parents have led their children astray by their casual drinking of alcohol. Can you witness to the person who sold it to you? Can you thank God for it?

Conclusion

In this series on Bible Wines, I have attempted to give an accurate understanding of the biblical use of the word “wine”. I do not deny that some of the wine in the Bible was alcoholic. However, it is an error to claim that it all was alcoholic. I believe it is also a serious error to claim that Jesus created up to 600 L of alcoholic wine for drunken wedding guests at Cana.

As you form your own conclusions about Bible Wines, please keep in mind that to take an abstinent position on alcohol as I have presented harms no one, but to take a tolerant position on alcohol may cause great harm to yourself, to others or to your testimony for Christ, and may incur God’s rebuke or judgment. Be discerning!

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337
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Truth & Error about Bible Wines4
5 February 2023 AM – Psalm 86:11 – Wine – Scott Childs