Grapes of Wrath

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Grapes of Wrath

• The Bible and Social Drinking

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Do the following passages condone moderate or
social drinking?
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No longer drink only water, but use a little wine
for your stomachs sake (1 Tim. 523)
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And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess(Eph. 518)
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No man also having drunk old wine straightway
desireth new for he saith, The old is better.
(Luke 539)
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Wine in the Bible

• Greek oinos translated wine
• May be fermented or unfermented
• Context provides distinction
• Hebrew yayin translated oinos in LX
• Other Hebrew words for wine
• Wine does not necessarily denote fermented wine

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New Wine is a Blessing

• Thus says the Lord As the new wine is found in
  the cluster, And one says, Do not destroy it,
  For a blessing is in it, (Isaiah 658 NKJV)

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Fermented Wine a Curse

• Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it
  sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around
  smoothly At the last it bites like a serpent,
  And stings like a viper. (Prov. 2331-32)

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Wine is a Mocker

• Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler and
  whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. (Prov.
  201 ASV)

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Alcohol is Poison

• Poison A substance that through its chemical
  action usually kills, injures, or impairs an
  organism something destructive or harmful
  (Webster)

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Intoxication

• Toxic means poison, and to intoxicate means to
  poison. An intoxicating drink is a poisonous
  drink (W. Lee Lewis, Professor of Chemistry)

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Prevention of Fermentation

• A chief argument for proponents of social
  drinking is that the ancients could not prevent
  fermentation
• This is far from true, as will be demonstrated

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Process of Fermentation

• Grape juice contains two essential elements
  sugar and gluten
• The decay of gluten promotes the growth of yeast
  germs
• Sugar is slowly converted to alcohol in the
  presence of yeast

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Gluten Separation

• Gluten is located in the lining of the skin and
  the envelope of the seed
• If the juice is carefully removed from the grape
  without releasing the gluten, it may remain
  unfermented for a time
• Ancients called this protropum, a sweet drink

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Moisture Removal

• Grapes were allowed to dry in the unbroken skin
• They were later boiled and the juice was drunk
• Grapes were also boiled to remove all water
• Alcohol evaporates at 172
• Grape juice boils at 212

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Air Exclusion

• Germs from yeast are introduced by air into
  fermentable liquids
• Ancients would seal fresh juice in vessels and
  bury them or sink them in water
• Columella It will thus remain sweet for a
  whole year

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Reduced Temperature

• Vinous fermentation only possible at temperatures
  between 40 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit
• Above this acetous fermentation occurs (vinegar)
• Juice could be kept from fermentation (briefly)
  bysealed vessels in water

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Sulphur Fumigation

• Oxygen is absorbed by sulphur fumigation
• Oxygen is necessary for fermentation
• These were referred to assmoked wines

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Didnt Jesus Make Wine?

• Did Jesus make alcoholic wine at the wedding
  feast in Cana? (John 21-11)
• Cited by many as evidence that Jesus condoned
  social drinking of alcoholic wine

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The Wedding Feast

• Jesus, his disciples, and Mary are invited to a
  wedding feast
• They ran out of wine
• Mary took the problem to Jesus
• Jesus says to fill six pots (120 to 180 gallons)
  with water
• Governor pronounces it the finest wine

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What Was the Miracle?

• Jesus did instantaneously what He does in a
  season each year through the laws of nature
• Water from clouds
• Taken into roots of vine
• Converted to sap in vine
• Finally juice in grape
• Why would He go beyond this to make alcohol?

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Would Jesus Contribute to Drunkenness?

• The guests had well drunk (10) until they ran
  out of wine (3)
• If drinking alcoholic wine, some would likely be
  well drunk
• If Jesus created alcoholic wineHe contributed to
  their drunkenness and causedtheir further
  inebriation

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For Consideration

• What was the basis by which the governor
  pronounced Jesus wine the best? By taste
• Methods to hinder fermentation would render some
  non-alcoholic wine inferior
• Fresh, Protropum and spiced wines were best

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A Discrepancy in NIV

• Everyone brings out the choice wine first and
  then the cheaper wine after the guests have had
  too much to drink but you have saved the best
  till now.
• Assumes alcoholic content
• Drunk freely is correct

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Does This Fit Jesus?

• Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler and
  whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. (Prov.
  201 ASV)

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Conclusion

• Scriptures condemn the use of alcoholic wine
• Ancients could and did preserve fresh wine
• Jesus did nothing contrary toscripture
• Christians must abstainfrom alcohol