There is a blessing in the juice of the grape.
Many Christian advocates of drinking alcoholic wine point to a verse in 1 Timothy. Paul says, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities" (1 Tim 5:23). What did Paul mean when he instructed Timothy to take "a little wine" for thy stomach's sake?
It’s obvious that Paul was not advocating social drinking in this passage. He clearly states, “Drink no longer water, “ (Anyone who has traveled in the Middle East knows the difficulty of getting pure, unpolluted water), but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
Whatever kind of wine Paul was talking about (fermented or unfermented), it is exceedingly plain that the purpose of his counsel to Timothy was due to his stomach ailments.
Paul’s counsel related to a medicinal use, not a social enjoyment. What kind of wine was Paul recommending? Would the apostle encourage the moderate us of a drink which Proverbs 23:31 says “Look not upon the wine when it is red, “ a drink which brings “woe sorrow, babbling, and wounds” (Proverbs 23:29). A drink which is deceptive (Proverbs 20:1), a drink which perverts the judgment causing tine eyes to behold strange women and thine heart to utter strange things (Proverbs 23:32-33).
Certainly not! The Bible uses the word wine to refer to both an alcoholic fermented beverage as well as unfermented grape juice. According to Isaiah 65:8, the new wine is found in a cluster and there is blessing in it.
This is obviously the unfermented, freshly squeezed juice of the grape. Referring to the communion wine served, Jesus told His disciples that He would not participate in the service again until He “drank it new with them in the Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:29).
The communion wine representing Christ’s pure, undefiled Blood must be unfermented since fermentation is a sign of sin. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul encourages Timothy to use a little wine or grape products for his stomach’s sake. Unfermented grape juice has healthful properties for the body. Indeed there is blessing in the freshly squeezed juice of the grape.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The advice is to be SOBER. When you are not sharp and have all your wits about you Satan can tempt and deceive you.
A recent healtharticle on CNN.com states in part,
The latest studies show you can get all the same benefits from grape juice as you can from wine. The reason purple grape juice contains the same powerful disease-fighting antioxidants, called flavonoids, that are believed to give wine many of its heart-friendly benefits. The flavonoids in grape juice, like those in wine, have been shown to prevent the oxidation of so called bad cholesterol LDLs, or low density lipoproteins that leads to formation of plaque in artery walls.
It goes to tell us that the alcohol found in wine is actually harmful to you,
University of Wisconsin researcher John Folts, Ph.D. says, "with grape juice, you can drink enough to get the benefit without worrying about becoming intoxicated."
What's more, alcoholic drinks don't seem to improve the function of cells in blood vessel linings the way grape juice does. And alcohol generates free radicals unstable oxygen molecules that can actually cause damage to blood vessel tissues dampening any of the benefits that red wines antioxidants may offer.
The word ‘grape juice’ first appeared in Webster’s Dictionary in 1896. In ancient literature wine had the dual meaning of fermented or unfermented grape juice. Aristotle wrote of a sweet grape beverage he called wine: “It has not the effect of wine, for it does not intoxicate like ordinary wine.” Marcus Cato describes “wine still hanging on the grapes.”
Since wine could be fermented or unfermented, the translators of the King James Version of the Bible did not always specify which meaning the Hebrew yayin or Greek oinos had in a text. We can't assume that just because the Bible says 'wine' that it is referring to the fermented type. As prudent Bible students we must sort out the context.
In John 10:10 in part says, "…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." God says, In using alcohol we participate in destroying not only our own life but often the lives of others.
We must live for God and seek to honor Him in all that we do. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). It is impossible to drink alcohol to the glory of God.
Despite the prevailing view that the Bible supports the moderate use of alcohol, we have seen that God has set a standard of total abstinence for Christians. Instead of wine, we should be filled with His Spirit that we may be a holy people that seek and know righteousness. "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7).
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As an enthusiast and expert in the field of biblical interpretations and historical contexts, I bring a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the concepts presented in the article regarding the consumption of wine, particularly in a biblical context.
The passage from 1 Timothy 5:23 is crucial to understanding the perspective on wine in the Bible. The author, Paul, advises Timothy to use "a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." The article emphasizes that this recommendation is for medicinal purposes rather than social enjoyment. This distinction is significant, as it sets the tone for the subsequent discussion on the nature of the recommended wine.
The article delves into the question of what kind of wine Paul was advocating for, highlighting the ambiguity in the term "wine" in the Bible. It references Proverbs, which warns against the negative effects of certain types of wine, suggesting that the context matters in understanding the nature of the beverage. The biblical use of the term "wine" encompasses both fermented alcoholic beverages and unfermented grape juice.
Isaiah 65:8 is referenced to differentiate between fermented and unfermented wine, stating that "new wine" is found in a cluster, implying the unfermented juice of the grape. Additionally, the article brings in Jesus' statement about not participating in the communion service until he "drank it new with them in the Father’s kingdom," reinforcing the idea of unfermented grape juice representing Christ's pure, undefiled blood.
The health benefits associated with grape juice are discussed in the article, drawing on modern studies that suggest grape juice provides similar health advantages as wine without the potential harm of alcohol. This aligns with the biblical admonition to be sober, as stated in 1 Peter 5:8.
Furthermore, the historical context is explored by referencing Aristotle and Marcus Cato, who described a sweet grape beverage that did not intoxicate like ordinary wine. The article contends that the dual meaning of wine in ancient literature supports the idea that biblical references to wine could include both fermented and unfermented varieties.
In conclusion, the article argues against the prevailing view that the Bible supports moderate alcohol consumption. Instead, it advocates for a standard of total abstinence, aligning with biblical principles of living for God and seeking to honor Him in all aspects of life. The passage from 1 Corinthians 10:31 is invoked to emphasize the idea of doing all things to the glory of God, and the concluding statement from 1 Peter 4:7 encourages sobriety and watchfulness in anticipation of the end times.
