Why is the bible so contradictory on the issue of drinking alcohol?

Question

In the O.T. Proverbs we're told wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, he that is decieved thereby is not wise. In the N.T. Jesus supposedly turned water in excellent wine for a drunken wedding party. Then Paul said a little wine is good for the stomach's sake.

Answer 1

I'm not a Christian apologist, I'm an atheist. I learned the Bible very well, I was a fervent Christian but I logically worked away from it over time.
That said, you're splitting hairs. Those statements aren't logically contradictory. I think the overall message, in context is.....
1) Don't use distilled spirits (whiskey, etc.)
2) Beware of fermented drinks (beer, wine). Consume them in moderation.

That's not to say the Bible doesn't have contradictions. It does, and some pretty big ones, but I'm not going to point those out, I'll leave you to find them yourself.

Answer 2

In the Bible, the words translated as "wine" do not always mean alcoholic wine. There are, in fact, several Greek and Hebrew words that are translated as wine. Some of these words simply mean grape juice.
You are correct that the guests at the wedding feast had already drank a lot! So, if Jesus had created alcoholic wine, He would have been contributing to their drunkenness. Drunkenness is a sin, so Jesus would have been contributing to their sin, and thereby sinning himself. Jesus committed no sin, therefore, it can be concluded that the "wine" he created was not alcoholic.
As for "a little wine for thy stomach's sake", this was addressed to Timothy. He was drinking only water and getting sick. Water was not filtered and purified back then as it is now. Paul told him to take a little wine for his frequent illnesses. This was for a medical reason, not social drinking. The Bible never forbids one from taking NEEDED medicine. If we follow Timothy's example, he was trying to stay away from all alcohol!

Answer 3

Here's the thing: wine in the ANE wasn't at all like either wine today or any other alcohol. Wine was almost ALWAYS diluted. Nowadays, it is irresponsible for someone to drink alcohol, because a lot of alcohol today could knock your socks off. But back then, you would have to drink an incredible amount to get drunk at all.

Also, Proverbs (along with other OT Wisdom books) should NOT be used to create doctrines. The Proverbs are NOT meant to be taken as absolutes.

Answer 4

on the marrige night meal at Cana, JC became water into wine, no longer grape juice. actually if a tumbler or 2 of wine are ok for Christ, they're ok for all people else. there's a criminal problem with ingesting below age and your moms and dads would not be too extremely joyful in case you arrived domicile inebriated. you would possibly want to also no longer drink if you're using. apart from that there is not any Biblical decrease on alcohol. in the experience that your criminal ingesting age is 21 you would possibly want to be in a really conservative usa. In distinct the international the ingesting age is eighteen as is the vote casting age. some international places enable alcohol youthful than 18.

Answer 5

The amount of alcohol was the key, not to drink your self into a rage, and to keep a sound mind about your self, every one in the Old Testament drank wine, And the New Testament confirms they did also even Mary & Elizabeth was told to obstain from strong dring while carrying their babies, Jesus did also. and did his first miracle turning water into wine. In that region it is a beverage served with every evening meal. there is no contraversy in the Bible only in the readers. Some say it was not wine it was nector. but the Greek word for wine meant fermented. that means it was Alchol.

Answer 6

Alcohol effects our judgment. It allows Satan to have the advantage. Jesus would never have provided alcohol to the wedding guests. Alcohol is a process of fermentation. The wine Jesus produced was unfermented.

Do a word study on yeast.

Answer 7

this is ONLY MY opinion but I think that in biblical philosopy the thought is..."anything in excess is bad" Paul himself I think talked to people about this who were adamant about saying that food and drink werent bad cause they go into the stomach and has nothing to do with matters of the heart. But Paul also said all things are permissable but all things are not beneficial and he didnt want to come under the power of anything other than God.

In thought, I think that the drinking of wine alcohol in responsible moderation is okay, but once you drink it in extreme excess where you lose your sense of being and self control then you are violating spiritual law. We all know the negative effects of alcohol and they did too...But you also know that wine taken with a meal allows you to stay in control.

In a nutshell, all things have a good a negative side and if you overindulge in ANYTHING you're apt to see it's negative effects.

Answer 8

Temperance equals Restraint -

Drunkenness is a "lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:21). We in Christ Jesus "walk in the Spirit"; in the Spirit we will not "fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Gal.5:16).

A fruit of the Spirit is "temperance" (Gal.5:23). We who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Gal.5:24).

In Christ we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor.6:11 below).


Merriam-Webster Dictionary -
Main Entry: tem·per·ance
Function: noun
1 : moderation in action, thought, or feeling : RESTRAINT


Pat (ndbpsa ©)

Answer 9

Read Closley. The Bible does not tell we can't drink alcohol. The Bible says not to be consumed with it. ( Not to get drunk) Where did you read that people were drunk? My Bible reads that people drunk the wine (past tense of drink) but I see no where that they consumed to excess (got drunk)

Answer 10

There is nothing wrong with alcohol, but using it in high quantities has consequences that might not be looked upon as being good or rightious.