The role of wine in the Bible is prominent and the debate of whether or not the Bible refers to alcoholic wine or merely fermented grape juice rages on.
From the New Testament, we see Jesus’s first miracle at the Cana, when he turns water into wine. It is presumed to have been an alcoholic beverage. We also learn that Peter and Paul partake in drinking wine. The Old Testament mentions wine even more – with many warnings to abstain from excessive drinking and drunkenness.
At first glance, this appears to indicate that there was intoxication associated with drinking the wine of the Bible and thus the wine is to be considered an alcoholic beverage. However, the Bible never actually specifies what type of wine.
Historians and theologians are divided on the issue. Some argue that grape juice only would ferment naturally into an alcoholic beverage, and as wine was a common and familiar item throughout biblical times, it is reasonable to assume that the strongest interpretation is indeed for wine in the Bible to be considered alcoholic.
Yet others point out that there is cultural evidence of children drinking diluted wine with dinner and non-alcoholic wine could be created with honey and juices as early as the time of Jesus. Additionally, grape juice was featured as an everyday item in the Temple of Jerusalem, and there were strict procedures in place for how to determine when juice had fermented.
Among the Jewish population, there is known to be a history of grape juice that is not then made into alcoholic wine, but is simply heated for the purpose of keeping it longer – producing what is known as “pasteurized” grape juice, or as some believe, ‘the original drink of the Bible’. Wine for consumption in the Bible was believed to be fermented and in a semi-state of preservation.
In conclusion, wine connoisseurs may dispute how “wine’ would have been understood back then to mean either a grape juice or an alcoholic beverage, and although the debate is ongoing, it is safe to assume that the Bible did not exclusively refer to one type of wine.
The Social Role of Wine
Wine was a staple beverage of social gatherings and served as a ‘cultural bridge’ between cultures in the ancient world. Wine (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) was used to make social contracts and consumed at religious ceremonies and significant life events. So, it was important to understand the meaning and deferential use of the beverage.
At the conclusion of the Passover meal, for example, is the custom of reclining on a cushion or cushion and drinking 4 cups of wine, a rite called Kiddish. It’s likely that attendees were not so much drinking from the 4 cups as an act of inebriation, but were drinking from them as a symbol of the joy of new beginnings.
The social functions of wine were also highlighted in a feast made of wine and grape-based products for the wedding celebration in Cana. Mary, Jesus’ mother, noted the lack of wine and Jesus then performed his miracle with water turning into wine – this wine was praised by the master of the banquet and noted to be of excellent quality.
The magnitude of the miracle was in restoring the solemnity of the wedding with wine – it wasn’t necessarily an accomplished feat of turning water into an alcoholic beverage, but an act of goodwill and hospitality. The Bible also speaks of many occasions in which wine was used as a special libation and offering to God, indicating a certain reverence was given to the drink.
The Science of Fermentation
Fermentation is a natural process that requires sugar, yeast and water. The sugar in fruit or vegetable juices are broken down and combined with sulfates, minerals and other components that are found in the yeast to create carbon dioxide and alcohol – making the fruit or vegetable juice alcoholic. Complex biochemical processes then result in the alcohols becoming acidified, turning it into a ‘hard’ or alcoholic beverage.
The fermentation of grape juice has been well-documented in many ancient civilizations and dates back at least 6,000 years. In ancient times, yeast was not carefully managed, so more than likely the result of fermentation of the grape juice was an intoxicating beer-like drink that was not the same product used in today’s winemaking process.
The debate of whether the biblical wines were alcoholic or not can only be answered by further research – additional ancient texts and archaeological evidence could provide additional insight. However, it is impossible to conclude anything definitive and thus this question of whether the wine in the Bible was alcoholic remains unanswered.
Nutritional and Medicinal Benefits
In addition to its use as a cultural tool and religious symbol, wine was believed to have medicinal properties, and was widely consumed for both health and dietary related reasons. As a beverage of sustenance, wine was an important component of the daily meal for the poorer classes of the ancient world.
Various cultures had made medicinal applications for wine – the Egyptians and Greeks used to drunk a beverage called “pyment” that was made from grape pulp and was prescribed for digestive ailments, migraine, and stomach and intestinal ailments such as dysenteries, cholera and even as an antiseptic. Hippocrates, the Greek physician and known as the ‘father of medicine’, reserved it solely for infant feeding.
In the Talmud, wine is referred to as a “necessary food” and pre-dates many nutritional studies linking resveratrol and other antioxidant compounds to healthy aging. The biblical account mentions wine as a natural remedy for minor ailments and an important part of the diet in the bible. In all of these cases, wine is used in medicinal or nutritional contexts.
However, despite the popular notion, wine’s contribution to health is often exaggerated or overrated. There has been no reliable scientific evidence to prove that wine is a healthy food and thus the debate of whether to consider it one continues.
The Debate Defined
The debate over the wine in the Bible is ultimately whether or not it was in fact an alcoholic beverage. It is clear that the Bible does not explicitly state what type of drink was consumed, meaning that this debate is unsettled and open to interpretation.
The implications surrounding this debate have been the cause of much discussion in the world of religion, medicine, and alcohol consumption. Theological scholars have explored the role and importance of wine in religious ceremonies, historians have explored the science of fermentation, and scientists have studied the potential health benefits of consuming wine.
Examining the historical context of the Bible and the cultural implications of wine during those times, it is likely that wine was created through natural fermentation, which in turn would make the beverage alcoholic. But, it is equally plausible to suggest that non-alcoholic grape juice was consumed as well.
As a result, the argument of whether or not the Bible refers to alcoholic wine or fermented grape juice remains inconclusive as more evidence is needed to reach a conclusion.
Cultural and Religious Implications
The debate over the wine of the Bible extends to the customs and traditions of various cultures and religions around the world. Wine has been the source of cultural tension due to its association with intoxication and religious observance.
For some cultures, wine is an absolute staple at religious ceremonies and rituals. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Eucharist must involve wine, which is interpreted as a representation of the purity of Christ’s blood. In many Protestant denominations, grape juice known as “the juice of the vine” is deemed as a necessary component without the warrant of intoxication.
Likewise, the use of wine at traditional Jewish feasts and celebrations such as Passover are very common. Wine has been viewed as an integral part of the culture and is frequently used as an offering to religious figures. Moreover, Jewish culture has venerated the idea of the ‘good wine’ and is seen as a source of celebrating life.
The debate over the alcohol content of the wine of the Bible is relevant for numerous cultures and religious faiths – unresolved and open to interpretation.
The Moderate Use Debate
The Bible speaks of moderation and intoxication in multiple passages, such as “woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine”. This suggests that some amount of alcohol was consumed by those in the Bible, however, drinking for intoxication was discouraged.
The idea of a moderate use of alcohol is also prominent in some religious doctrines – scholars have noted that in Islamic and Eastern thought, wine could be considered a good thing in certain contexts as long as it was not overused. Additionally, some Christian denominations have gone so far as to suggest that the Bible advocates moderate drinking.
Thus, gleaning further clues from religious teachings, it seems that the Bible most likely implies the consumption of wine – both in the form of fermented grape juice and alcoholic beverage.
Additionally, while the Bible speaks of moderation, this does not negate the possibility that, based on the cultural influence of the Bible, alcoholic wine was an acceptable part of the diet of many ancient cultures.
Therefore, the question of whether the wine in the Bible was alcoholic or not is best answered by examining the context, culture and religious tradition in which it is mentioned.
