Biblical perspectives on the prohibitionist view of alcoholic beverages.
The Nazirite Vow described in Numbers 6:1-21 is frequently referenced to support the prohibitionist view. Any who would dedicate himself to the Lord must abstain from alcoholic beverages. This can be answered on two fronts. First, the argument fails a simple consistency check. Second, the Nazirite Vow is not as simple as the prohibitionists’ superficial […]
Recently, someone directed my attention to the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (ISBE), specifically the contents of its entry on wine related to the Hebrew word shekar. This was offered as evidence that shekar was not necessarily alcoholic. Here is the relevant part of the ISBE entry Wine; Wine Press: (7) ש×כר, sheÌ„khaÌ„r (22 times), translated […]
Some prohibitionists cite Jeremiah 35:1-19 as an example of people being praised for abstaining from alcoholic beverages. In that passage God told Jeremiah to give wine to the Rechabites, but when Jeremiah does so, the Rechabites refuse to drink. They explain that their father commanded them to drink no wine, build no houses, sow no […]
A prohibitionist claimed: There is no way around Proverbs 20:1. So, let’s take a look at this verse that will absolutely prove the prohibitionist correct: Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The first two clauses are offered as absolute proof that any alcohol […]
Prohibitionists have an interesting way of dealing with these two passages: Matthew 11:18-19: 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom […]
Let’s revisit the claim that wine was diluted to a water-to-wine ratio of Twenty To One. This ratio comes up in support of the claim that the only use for wine in biblical times was for purifying water. Citing this ratio as support shows not only the absurdity of the claim, but also reveals the […]
Below are links to a two-part article written by John MacLean in 1841. Dr. MacLean was Professor of Ancient Languages at the College of New Jersey at the time. In this two-part article, John MacLean examines the claims made in two articles: Bacchus, by Ralph Barnes Grindrod Anti-Bacchus, by Rev B. Parsons In John MacLean’s […]
There seems to be some remaining confusion about what exactly the Levitical priests were forbidden to do, thanks to some prohibitionists’ poor handling of Leviticus 10:8-9. The passage is referenced in an attempt to show that God forbade all alcohol consumption by the priests. Let’s look at the passage: And the LORD spake unto Aaron, […]
1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 both include “not given to wine” (KJV) in the qualifications for a bishop. Some prohibitionists interpret these verses to say that church leaders must abstain from alcoholic beverages. Some even say that the Greek word translated as “given to wine”, παÌÏοινος, comes from παÌÏα οινος, meaning “next to wine”, […]
One argument that is supposed to prove that the wine used by Jesus to institute the Lord’s Supper was just grape juice, is that leavening was forbidden to be used in the Passover, also called The Feast of Unleavened Bread. I read one claim that Jews were forbidden to partake of anything that contained any […]