Jasher

Did the Apostles and Disciples drink real wine or just grape Juice?

JesusReignsForever

Wine

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Boanerges

There are a variety of opinions on this- I believe it was indeed wine- Paul mentions to Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach- the scripture does not tell us not to drink but to "be not drunk but be ye filled"- that being said I lost all desire to drink, drug or any of the things that marked my messed up life before Jesus- one good look at my Lord and I simply was't interested in those things anymore!

ezskratch

Wine - as it did have some alcohol from a light fermentation process. Nothing like the science that goes into producing Mad Dog and others today.

My experience with the drug - and yes it is a drug - is a sad tale, but part of my story. They say if you provide alcohol to 100 people only a small percentage will develop a dependency. For me it was a reliance on God that removed that from me, and I give Him all the praise. Many struggle with this issue, as in today's society drinking has become so accepted. Of course the billions in tv advertisements had something to do with that.

I know many Christians who stick firmly to the teaching not to become drunk with wine. Many do this sucessfully and never have any troubles as a result. I was unable to do that, and choose to no longer take a drink. Remember, it is the first drink that gets you drunk.

Regards,

Skratch

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Live for the line...

Boanerges

Hi Skratch welcome and thanks for that testimony- another reason I don't drink is to " obstain even from the appearance of evil" and I would always like to err on the side of caution rather than " cause my brother to stumble"- have an awesome day in His presence- your brother Larry

A brother in Christ

eph 5:18 word for wine do not be drunk with wine
is the same every where...

JesusReignsForever

Lightly Fermented??? How in the world do you know? Have you found the wine stash from back in Jesus's days? If you have let me know!

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JesusReignsForever

To add a little further the bible says wine. It dosent say lightly fermented or highly fermented it simply says wine. What the big deal with Jesus and them drinking wine I dont know. The bible dosent say it is a sin to drink it is a sin to become a drunkard. But exactly what the line is that you cross over into drunkardness IDK so it best to just stear clear. Although I will admit I like a glass of wine every once in a blue moon.

1. Matthew 9:17
   Neither 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 9:16-18 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)
2. Matthew 11:19
   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 is justified of her children.
   Matthew 11:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 11 (Whole Chapter)
3. Matthew 21:33
   Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
   Matthew 21:32-34 (in Context) Matthew 21 (Whole Chapter)

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Jasher

Hi Guys,
I have heard that one person in ten is vulnerable to the addiction of drink. Alcoholism really riddled my mothers family in the 40's and 50's.

The denomination of my youth (AOG) went to great effort to try to prove that the people in the New Testament only drank grape juice (Sweet Wine) and not fermented wine. The historical record indicates otherwise. The yeast that caused the fermentation was already active on the grapes before they were even pressed by foot in an ancient winepress. So it was impossible to keep the juice from fermenting. The hot climate of that area also accelerated the process as well. Grape juice as we know it was only possible for probably a day or two. So, they drank real wine so far as I know.

However, there are also extenuating historical circumstances. For example: It was really taboo to be a drunkard in the Jewish culture of that day - there was a lot of social pressure to abstain from excess. Also, the custom of that day was to mix one to two parts water with the wine, which diluted it down significantly. Some say that the water was bad, which precipitated this practice. This diluted wine was traditionally drunk with meals, which further reduces the effect of the alcohol.

For sure you cannot equate first century practices with ours today. Today we have distilleries, which can raise the alcohol concentration to almost pure alcohol. There is excessive abuse of concentrated alcoholic beverages today in this country. This is why I think that the Church almost always chooses to use grape juice in communion out of consideration for children and people who have had drinking problems at some point in their lives. Abstinence is a Church tradition that developed in this country due to the destructive and excessive practices extant in our culture. I think those who abstain for this reason have good motives as long as it doesn’t degrade into legalism. But neither is it wrong to drink in the same manner as Jesus and his disciples had done in their culture.

Dusty

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

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