Drinking

Smoky said:

There was no juice in the past really. We take things like refrigeration and pasteurization for granted, these did not exist back then.

The only method at the time is to squeeze the grape juice and preserve it by having it undergo controlled fermentation.

Actually, we underestimate the ability of the ancients to preserve juice along with other fresh fruit. They knew how to prevent fermentation by boiling, several processes of filtration, and placing it in cool, damp places under the ground. Detailed explanations of how to preserve fruit and juices can be found in ancient classical literature. In fact, it was the unfermented juice that was said to be best because it didn't bite or cause the head to swim. When the Bible talks about "good wine" which does it mean? Healthy grape juice or fermented wine that causes hangovers?

Click to expand...

Smoky said:

If this is referring to Proverbs 31:6, how can we equate giving a sedative to a dying person with recommending drinking to forget ones troubles. Proverbs 31:6 (NRSV)
Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress; There are much better drugs than alcohol for that in this day and time!
Also consider: Proverbs 23:29 (NRSV)
Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes? How does adding "woe" "sorrow" and "strife" to ones life qualify as things that would cause one to forget his troubles?

Well, again there are scriptures that show that wine is more than a fermented beverage. Gen. 49:11; Isaiah 16:10; Jer. 40:10; Jer. 48:33. If I want something for a merry heart, it's not going to be something that causes: "woe" , "sorrow", "strife", "complaining", "wounds without cause" and "redness of eyes". I think grape juice would be better for that. It's not so unusual for one word to have different connotations in the Bible depending on context. Years ago, wine could refer to either fermented or unfermented grape juice even in our language, and was given those definitions in dictionaries. To this day "cider" has those meanings!

Well, I agree we should not bend the scriptures to our preferences but I think being Pharisaical means that we give lesser emphasis to the "weightier matters of the law" like justice, mercy and faith. Math. 23:23. But again it says that the lesser was not to be left undone! The Bible and not tradition should be the determining factor in deciding right from wrong. Moderation is recommended for things not condemned, total abstinence for those that are. Consider the effects of alcohol today when most of us drive an automobile every single day. It's been determined that only a small ammount affects our driving ability. Even if you're right about it being rediculous to suggest the Bible excludes drinking, don't you think common sense and moderation would exclude it in modern times?

Click to expand...

stray bullet said:

Yes, once the fermenting process ends, wine is aged and then served (without bubbling).

Click to expand...

Also the bible says that if it offendsyour brother then to stop doing it......well you drinking and callingyourself a christian offends me. so stop it already.

Click to expand...

lastly. the wine of biblical days was only grape juice anyway not fermented because the fermenting process required levening and they drank "wine" during the feast of unleavening. so there fore even when it says wine in the bible it meant grape juice.

Click to expand...

And when paul told timothy to drink wine he meant grape juice also. If you ask any doctor if you have stomache problems do you drink wine he will tell you no. However grape juice is good foryour stomach and it has alot of anti oxidants in it to help heal .............

Click to expand...

Smoky said:

Actually, we underestimate the ability of the ancients to preserve juice along with other fresh fruit. They knew how to prevent fermentation by boiling, several processes of filtration, and placing it in cool, damp places under the ground.

Click to expand...

Detailed explanations of how to preserve fruit and juices can be found in ancient classical literature. In fact, it was the unfermented juice that was said to be best because it didn't bite or cause the head to swim. When the Bible talks about "good wine" which does it mean? Healthy grape juice or fermented wine that causes hangovers?

Click to expand...