Wine: Admonitions Against the Use of
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The Bible contains numerous admonitions against the misuse of wine, emphasizing the potential for moral and spiritual downfall associated with excessive consumption. While wine is often depicted as a symbol of joy and blessing, Scripture also provides clear warnings about its dangers.

Proverbs and Wisdom Literature

The Book of Proverbs offers several warnings about the perils of wine. Proverbs 20:1 (BSB) states, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." This verse highlights the deceptive nature of wine, suggesting that it can lead individuals away from wisdom and sound judgment.

Proverbs 23:29-35 provides a vivid description of the consequences of overindulgence: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 'They struck me,' you will say, 'but I am not hurt! They beat me, but I do not feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?'" This passage warns of the physical and mental impairments caused by excessive drinking, likening its effects to a venomous bite.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets also caution against the misuse of wine. Isaiah 5:11-12 (BSB) warns, "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. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands." Here, the prophet Isaiah condemns those who prioritize indulgence over reverence for God, illustrating how wine can lead to spiritual neglect.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul provides guidance on the use of wine, particularly for leaders within the church. In 1 Timothy 3:2-3 (BSB), Paul instructs, "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." This directive underscores the importance of sobriety and self-control, especially for those in positions of spiritual authority.

Similarly, in Ephesians 5:18 (BSB), Paul advises, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse contrasts the effects of wine with the filling of the Holy Spirit, suggesting that spiritual fulfillment should take precedence over physical indulgence.

Historical Context and Cultural Considerations

In biblical times, wine was a common beverage, often consumed as part of daily life and religious ceremonies. However, the admonitions against its misuse reflect a broader concern for maintaining moral integrity and spiritual focus. The cultural context of wine consumption in the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world often involved social gatherings where excess could lead to moral compromise.

Conclusion

The Bible's admonitions against the use of wine serve as a cautionary reminder of the potential for excess to lead individuals away from a life of wisdom, self-control, and spiritual devotion. These warnings encourage believers to exercise discernment and moderation, prioritizing their relationship with God above all else.
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Leviticus 10:9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
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Numbers 6:3
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
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Judges 13:4
Now therefore beware, I pray you, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
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Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
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Proverbs 21:17
He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
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Proverbs 23:29-32
Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? who has babbling? who has wounds without cause? who has redness of eyes?
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Proverbs 31:4,5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
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Isaiah 5:11,22
Woe to them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
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Isaiah 24:9
They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
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Isaiah 28:1,3,7
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
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Jeremiah 23:9
My heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
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Jeremiah 35:2-10,14,18,19
Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
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Ezekiel 44:21
Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
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Hosea 4:11
Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the heart.
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Luke 1:15
For 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.
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Romans 14:21
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.
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Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
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Titus 2:3
The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
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Library

De Decretis or Defence of the Nicene Definition
... lepers were cleansed, and the water became wine, and five ... to be the meaning of "godly
admonitions," and "godly ... 5. Against the use of violence in religion, vid. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/de decretis or defence of.htm

The Five Books Against Marcion
... Jacob Against Simeon and Levi; Moses Praying Against Amalek; The ... The Parable of the
Old Wine and the New ... Scripture Abounds with Admonitions of a Similar Purport ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the five books against marcion/

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
... a drunken man, being drunken with the wine of God's ... of an hour, thou art a rebel
against God ... face of thy mother's counsels and thy father's strong admonitions? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/gods barriers against mans sin.htm

Of the Discipline of the Church, and Its Principal Use in Censures ...
... any one either perversely reject such admonitions, or by ... but it was quite tolerable
to swallow wine so as ... the strictest laws were made against fornication, it ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 12 of the discipline.htm

the Use of Humiliation
... and should only show them the bread and wine, and never ... that it is you who are against
it that ... proclaimed, We would have no public admonitions, confessions, or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/section 1 - the use.htm

Perseverance
... These admonitions are necessary to caution believers against carelessness ... whence
is it that we stand against these powerful ... vessel: to make all the wine of his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/10 perseverance.htm

The Testament of Reuben Concerning Thoughts.
... Wine and strong drink I drank not, and flesh entered ... the law of God, nor obeying
the admonitions of his ... Therefore ye will be jealous against the sons of Levi ...
/.../i the testament of reuben concerning.htm

The Blessing of God on Filial Piety.
... he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed ... The family of Rechab might
rise up against them and ... of duty would only extort such admonitions from a ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiii the blessing of.htm

On the Management of the Resources Collected for the Support of ...
... fruits of the oil, and of the wine, and of ... of Christ, how dare any man speak against
his bishop ... doctrine, who have confirmed you by their admonitions, who have ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iv on the management of.htm

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
... is.18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is ... in all seriousness if we would secure
ourselves against the craft ... 5. In my admonitions I have often enough urged ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twentieth sunday after trinity the.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol / wine? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol / wine? | GotQuestions.org

What is consubstantiation? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus choose the wedding at Cana for His first miracle? | GotQuestions.org

Wine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Alcohol

Alcoholism

Wine

Wine in Bottles

Wine in Excess: Forbidden

Wine in Excess: Impairs the Health

Wine in Excess: Impairs the Judgment and Memory

Wine in Excess: Inflames the Passions

Wine in Excess: Infuriates the Temper

Wine in Excess: Leads to Remorse

Wine in Excess: Leads to Sorrow and Contention

Wine in Skins (Rv)

Wine in Times of Scarcity, Was Mixed With Water

Wine of Abominations

Wine of Staggering (Rv)

Wine of the Abominations of the Apostasy

Wine of the Blessing of the Gospel

Wine of the Blood of Christ

Wine of the Divine Judgments

Wine of the Joy of Wisdom

Wine of the Joys of Spiritual Matters

Wine of the Wrath and Judgments of God

Wine of Violence and Rapine

Wine Press

Wine Press in Vineyards

Wine Press of the Judgments of God

Wine Press: General Scriptures Concerning

Wine Press: Treading The, of the Sufferings of Christ

Wine Press: Trodden With Joy and Shouting

Wine used at Meals

Wine was Kept in Bottles

Wine was Made of The Juice of the Grape

Wine was Made of The Juice of the Pomegranate

Wine was Stored in Cellars

Wine was Used for Drink offerings in Idolatrous Worship

Wine was Used for Drink offerings in the Worship of God

Wine was Used: As a Beverage from the Earliest Age

Wine was Used: As a Medicine

Wine was Used: At all Feasts and Entertainments

Wine with Corn and Oil, Denoted all Temporal Blessings

Wine: Abstinence from of Daniel

Wine: Abstinence from of the Courtiers of Ahasuerus

Wine: Abstinence from of Timothy

Wine: Admonitions Against the Use of

Wine: An Article of Extensive Commerce

Wine: Banquets of

Wine: Cellars For

Wine: Cheap Wine (Like Vinegar) Given to Jesus at the Crucifixion

Wine: Cheering God and Man

Wine: Commerce In

Wine: Consequence of Putting (When New), Into Old Bottles

Wine: Custom of Giving to Persons in Pain or Suffering, Mixed With

Wine: Custom of Presenting to Travellers

Wine: Denied to the Israelites in the Wilderness, So That They Could Know That the Lord Was Their God

Wine: Fermented

Wine: First Fruits of, to be offered to God

Wine: First Mention of

Wine: First Mode of Making, Notice

Wine: Forbidden to Kings

Wine: Forbidden to Nazarites

Wine: Forbidden to Nazarites During Their Separation

Wine: Forbidden to Priests While on Duty

Wine: Forbidden to the Priests While Engaged in the Tabernacle

Wine: from Pomegranates

Wine: Generally Made by Treading the Grapes in a Press

Wine: Given by Melchizedek to Abraham

Wine: Given in Abundance to the Jews when Obedient

Wine: Gladdening the Heart

Wine: Improved by Age

Wine: Inflames the Eyes

Wine: Intoxication from the Use of

Wine: Intoxication From: Ahasuerus

Wine: Intoxication From: Amnon

Wine: Intoxication From: Falsely Charged Against the Disciples

Wine: Intoxication From: Joseph and his Brothers

Wine: Intoxication From: Kings of Israel

Wine: Intoxication From: Lot

Wine: Intoxication From: Nabal

Wine: Intoxication From: Noah

Wine: Kept in Jars

Wine: Made by Jesus at the Marriage Feast in Cana

Wine: Made from Grapes

Wine: Making Mirthful

Wine: Many Kinds of

Wine: Medicinal Use of

Wine: New

Wine: Offered With Sacrifices

Wine: Often Spiced to Increase Its Strength

Wine: Old

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Assyria

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Canaan in General

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Helbon

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Lebanon

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Moab

Wine: Places Celebrated For: Possessions of Judah

Wine: Recommended by Paul to Timothy

Wine: Red, Most Esteemed

Wine: Refined

Wine: Refining of, Alluded To

Wine: Sacramental Use of

Wine: Samson's Mother Forbidden to Drink

Wine: Sometimes Mixed With Milk As a Beverage

Wine: Strengthening

Wine: Sweet, Esteemed for Flavour and Strength

Wine: Symbolical of the Blood of Jesus

Wine: The Jews Frequently Deprived of, As a Punishment

Wine: The Jews Frequently Drank, to Excess

Wine: The Love of Christ to be Preferred To

Wine: The Rechabites Never Drank

Wine: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Wine: Water Miraculously Turned Into

Related Terms

Wine-skins (7 Occurrences)

Wine-press (11 Occurrences)

Wine-servant (8 Occurrences)

Wine-vat (7 Occurrences)

Wine-drinking (4 Occurrences)

Wine-presses (4 Occurrences)

Wine-vats (2 Occurrences)

Wine-vine (2 Occurrences)

Wine-servants (2 Occurrences)

Wine-bottles (2 Occurrences)

Wine-crusher (2 Occurrences)

Wine-drinker (2 Occurrences)

Wine-tank (1 Occurrence)

Wine-store (1 Occurrence)

Wine-flasks (1 Occurrence)

Wine-offerings (1 Occurrence)

Wine-cup (1 Occurrence)

Wine-bibber (2 Occurrences)

Wine-cellars (1 Occurrence)

Wine-fat (1 Occurrence)

Wine-crushing (1 Occurrence)

Wine-cakes (1 Occurrence)

Wine-bibbers (1 Occurrence)

Wine-skin (2 Occurrences)

Bottles (12 Occurrences)

Vat (7 Occurrences)

Burst (33 Occurrences)

Beer (15 Occurrences)

Skins (27 Occurrences)

Vinegar (11 Occurrences)

Pours (21 Occurrences)

Presses (12 Occurrences)

Strong (736 Occurrences)

Bottle (28 Occurrences)

Stagger (20 Occurrences)

Safe (388 Occurrences)

Spilled (6 Occurrences)

Bacchus

Saved (183 Occurrences)

Spice (25 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Preserved (27 Occurrences)

Plentiful (17 Occurrences)

Bunches (7 Occurrences)

Addicted (9 Occurrences)

Scent (6 Occurrences)

Split (36 Occurrences)

Sour (15 Occurrences)

Spilt (2 Occurrences)

Awaking (24 Occurrences)

Pouring (21 Occurrences)

Bitter (203 Occurrences)

Agape

Vine-gardens (41 Occurrences)

Quarter (33 Occurrences)

Bowls (47 Occurrences)

Shouts (34 Occurrences)

Poured (155 Occurrences)

Appetite (22 Occurrences)

Victuals (32 Occurrences)

Summer (28 Occurrences)

Younger (39 Occurrences)

Pomegranate (11 Occurrences)

Mirth (18 Occurrences)

Bread-maker (8 Occurrences)

Brawler (3 Occurrences)

Clusters (12 Occurrences)

Contributions (19 Occurrences)

Cracked (6 Occurrences)

Adulteries (10 Occurrences)

Storerooms (10 Occurrences)

Cana (4 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Vineyards (55 Occurrences)

Basins (33 Occurrences)

Vines (39 Occurrences)

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Provisions (41 Occurrences)

Wine: Abstinence from of Timothy
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