Wine

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Q.1.—Is it true that where “wine” is mentioned in connection with our Lord (e.g. Luke 5:37-39; 237And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:37‑39)2 John 22For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. (2 John 2)) in no case does He use the word “wine” as we understand it to mean “fermented juice of the grape,” but that, on the contrary, in every case a word in the original is used showing the Lord to mean unfermented pure juice of the grape?
Q. 2.-Is the word used by the apostle Paul in his advice to Timothy (1 Tim. 5:2323Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23)) the same in the original Greek as that used in connection with the marriage feast, or the institution of the Lord's Supper?
A. 1.-No, it is not true. There is but one word (οἶνος) used throughout the N.T. for “wine” and this, whether here or in the classical writings of antiquity in the general sense of “the fermented juice of the grape.”
There is another word occurring once only (Acts 2:1313Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (Acts 2:13)) translated “new wine,” but in all other cases the word “wine” in our English N.T. is represented in the original by the one word (oinos).
At the supper the word “wine” does not appear but is spoken of by our Lord as “the fruit of the vine"; and in 1 Cor. 11. we find abuse of it gave rise to drunkenness, which could scarcely have been if the Corinthians were using the unfermented fruit of the vine on the occasion Compare Eph. 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18).
A. 2.-The answer is, Yes, and the same word in every case except as already pointed out in the institution of the supper, where it is (not “barley,” “palm,” or “lotus” wine) but specifically “the fruit of the vine", which “wine” properly is (cf. Gen. 9:2020And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: (Genesis 9:20). 21).
I add here where the word “wine” (oinos) occurs in the N.T.: Matt. 9:17; 27:3417Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17)
34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. (Matthew 27:34) Mark 2:22; 15:2322And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. (Mark 2:22)
23And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. (Mark 15:23); Luke 1:15; 5:37, 38; 7:33; 10:3415For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. (Luke 1:15)
37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. (Luke 5:37‑38)
33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. (Luke 7:33)
34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34); John 2:3, 9, 10; 4:463And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. (John 2:3)
9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. (John 2:9‑10)
46So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. (John 4:46); Rom. 14:2121It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. (Romans 14:21); Eph. 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18); 1 Tim. 3:8; 5:238Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (1 Timothy 3:8)
23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23); Titus 2:33The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; (Titus 2:3); Rev. 6; 14:16-19.