Wine
in the New Testament
Unfermented Wine - Used 67 Times
Genesis 14:18 (KJV) And Melchizedek king
of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high
God.
Numbers 6:20 (KJV) And the priest shall wave them for a wave
offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and
heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.
Fermented Wine - Used 72 Times
Genesis 9:21 (KJV) And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he
was uncovered within his tent.
Isaiah 5:11 (KJV) Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,
that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame
them!
In the New Testament, the word "oinos" appears 33 times and like "yayin" the
interpretation is according to it's usage.
Unfermented - 17 Times
Revelation 6:6 (KJV) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four
beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a
penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Fermented - 13 Times
Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;
but be filled with the Spirit;
Not Certain - 3 Times
Luke 10:34 (KJV) And 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.
John 2:9-10 (KJV) When 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, {10} And
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.
Now as to the first miracle of our Lord at Cana. The Lord did not create
fermented wine but He created unfermented wine because drunkenness is not in
view. It takes about 10-15 days for fermentation to take place. It
can be as much as 4 weeks up to a year. A wedding normally lasted about 7
days and Jesus came in the midst of the third day. If they were drinking
fermented wine, what condition do you think the guests would have been in?
They were not fallen down drunk but were still cognizant of their surroundings.
Too many Christians use the wedding at Cana as their excuse to drink alcohol and
that is "missing the mark"!