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Student Jones #123
Professor Hartley
GEN 120
March 17, 2005
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Theme 3: The Ethical Issue Of Drinking Alcohol
Drinking is an issue that many Christians have mixed views on. The Bible contains over
140 references that deal with drinking and wine. It speaks of several people who abstained
completely from drinking, it warns people against engaging in drunkenness and wine, and is full
of stories of drunkards. However, there are also instances in Scripture where wine was used at
celebrations and feasts. It was even used at the Last Supper when Jesus and his disciples ate
together.
The word wine is found in many lists of produce in Bible times and because of its dark
color is sometimes called “the blood of the grape.” There is sometimes a difference of opinion
whether all wine was intoxicating or not in Biblical times. The Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary
states, “There is no Biblical evidence that wine has ever consisted of unfermented grape juice.
When such a drink is mentioned it is never called wine” (1058).
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Drunkenness has been a struggle for the human race since the beginning of time. Within
the first few pages of the Bible the effects of strong drink are displayed. In Genesis, the story of
Noah enjoying his vineyard’s wine is told, “when he drank of some of its (his vineyard) wine he
became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent” (9:20,21). Just a few chapters later the story of
Lot and his daughters is found. The two daughters decided to get Lot drunk and lie with him so
they could get pregnant (19:30). In 1 Kings 16 the Bible tells of Elah, the king of Israel who
became drunk in his home.
Scripture citations (book title is found
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The Bible includes several warnings and rebuttals against the abuse of drinking wine.
Drunkenness was considered to be one of the main social evils of ancient times (Thompson
1290). The book of Proverbs is a book full of moral and religious thoughts on right living.
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Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not
wise.” This is a caution to those who use other Scriptures to support the use of drinking
alcoholic beverages. In this verse the wise man is concerned that the alcohol prevents him from
thinking clearly and makes him appear to be a fool. As we continue reading a few verses later
Proverbs 21:17 says, “He who loves pleasure will become poor, whoever loves wine and oil will
never become rich” (Kufeldt 550). The New Testament also has much to say about drinking.
Paul says in Galatians 5:21, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious” and lists drunkenness as
one of the signs.
Many people in the Bible chose or were ordained to abstain completely from drinking of
the vine. In Leviticus 10:9 the Lord told Aaron and the Priest’s, “You and your sons are not to
drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die.”
Another example is found in the first chapter of Daniel. The king brought in several strong boys
to the palace to train them in the language and literature of the Babylonians. He assigned them a
daily amount of food and wine from his table and they were trained for three years. Daniel and
three other boys chose not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine and asked the chief
official for permission to do this (1:8). The Pulpit Commentary suggests one reason why David
chose to do this:
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It may have been that, feeling the critical condition in which they were placed, it was
well for them to erect a hedge about the Law… Daniel’s request was simply due to the
necessity of the situation. (Spence and Exell 18)
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Daniel , Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ( also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) ate
nothing but vegetables, fruit, and water and trusted in God for the three years of training. The
King ended up finding Daniel and his friends to be ten times better than all the magicians and
enchanters in his whole kingdom.
As one continues to study the Scriptures perhaps one of the greatest examples of someone
abstaining from alcohol is John the Baptist. He never once took a sip of wine, but instead was
filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Luke 1:15). This same contrast between being drunk and
being filled with the Holy Spirit can be found in Ephesians 5:18. These verses stress the
importance that our hope should be put in Christ, not drowned in alcohol through drunkenness
(Eerdman’s 1059).
If author’s name is unavailable, cite with a shortened
version of the source title.
Another reason given in the Bible for abstaining from alcohol is found in Romans 14:21.
It talks about how Christians shouldn’t drink if it causes their brother to stumble. In this verse
Paul purposely puts aside the legalities of drinking and puts the focus on the demands of love and
integrity. A very important principle in Christianity is to place Christian brothers and sisters
needs before ones own. It is not at Christians liberty to cause others to stumble because of ones
own actions. This is something that Paul himself believed and preached for others to also
believe. Paul suggested total abstinence, even if it is used in moderation, if it is a stumbling
block for another (Cragg 630).
As one looks at the opposite angle of drinking, many Scriptures appear to validate
drinking. In the New Testament there is no direct prohibition against drinking wine. In fact,
wine was often used at celebrations, engagements and weddings. The moderate use of wine is
recommended to Timothy by Paul in 1 Timothy 5:23 for the “sake of your stomach and frequent
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ailments.” Wine was also present at all of the annual feasts. In the Old Testament period wine
was used at full strength because diluting it with water made it undesirable and made it symbolic
of spiritual adulteration (Isaiah 1:22). However in Roman times it was sometimes mixed with
water because some believed that water improved it. Sometimes wine was even used as a
libation, or liquid offering (Barabas 170).
Jesus used the topic of wine in many analogies, parables, and object lessons through his
earthly ministry. In fact, the first miracle of Jesus that is recorded in the Gospel of John is at the
famous wedding in Cana. This is where Jesus turned water into wine.
Perhaps one of the most memorable uses of wine in the New Testament was at the Lord’s
Supper when Jesus and all of the disciples drank the “fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:7-29). The
fruit of the vine stands for the whole supper as used here; it is an example of the part used for the
whole. “I drink it new” means a new method of using the wine. It is taken from its significance
in the Passover Feast and given a new meaning in the Lord’s Supper. The wine is a
representation of the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross for the sins of the world (Boles
504).
In the many Scriptures throughout the Bible that deal with the issue of drinking, it is
important to study carefully the context and meaning of the Scriptures to see the many different
uses of wine in the Biblical world. By doing this, a Scripture based decision can be made by an
individual on whether or not he or she should engage in drinking alcoholic beverages.
(1246 words)
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the end of the paper.
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Works Cited begins on a new page. Center
title; continue double spacing throughout.
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Works Cited
Bible Encyclopedia
Barabas, S. “Drunkenness.” The Zondervan Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible. Vol. 2.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975. A Biblical encyclopedia
Multi-Volume
Commentary
including pictures and photographs of places, events, and Bible terms.
Boles, H. Leo. New Testament Commentaries: Matthew. Vol. 1. Nashville: Gospel
Single Volume
Commentary
Annotations
Advocate Co., 1983. A complete commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.
Cragg, Gerald R. The Interpreter’s Bible Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans. New
Article Online
York: Abingdon Press, 1954. A complete commentary on the book of Romans.
Dial, Karla. “Abercrombie & Filth.” 2001. Focus on the Family. March 10, 2005
<http://www.family.org/cforum/citizenmag/webonly/a0016463.cfm>. A brief account of
popular culture’s threat to the family.
Kufeldt, George. The Wesleyan Bible Commentary. Vol. 2. Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968. A commentary on the book of
Single Author
Book
Proverbs.
Limbaugh, David. Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity.
Washington: Regnery, 2003. Valuable insight into the liberal agenda.
Schultz, A. C. “Wine and Strong Drink.” The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the
Bible. Vol. 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975. A Biblical
encyclopedia including pictures and photographs of places, events, and Bible terms.
Spence, H. D. M. and Exell, Joseph S., eds. The Pulpit Commentary. Vol. 13. Grand
Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, n.d. A complete commentary on
Bible
the book of Daniel.
Thompson Chain Reference Bible: New International Version. Indianapolis, IN: B. B.
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Bible Study Helps
Kirkbride Bible Co., Inc., 1990. New International version of the entire Bible.
Thompson, Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Comprehensive Bible Helps Second
Improved Edition. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., Inc., 1990. A
Bible Dictionary
concordance, maps, dictionary, and list of links to aid in studying the Bible.
“Wine.” The Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 1987. A Biblical dictionary with thorough definitions of terms
found in Scripture.
MLA Model Paper - Beginner ©2005 Florida Christian College, Kissimmee, FL.