Publisher's Synopsis
It is not the purpose of this work to scrutinize the arguments that are offered by those who condemn any and all use of fermented beverages, nor is it to promote even the moderate use thereof; rather, its objective is to examine what the New Testament has to say, both explicitly and implicitly, about wine and its consumption and thereby to determine whether it contains tacit condemnations of its use in moderation (there are no categoric condemnations of such use); in other words, this text is intended to be a conservator of New Testament teachings on the subject of wine and its consumption in this manner. Of course, arriving at an understanding of this position does not come without some difficulty since, with the exception of Paul's admonition to Timothy, there are no New Testament passages that either explicitly condemn or condone the moderate consumption of wine; therefore, an examination of those sections that discuss the attitudes of Jesus and Paul relative to the use of wine in social settings, as a part of diet, by those holding Church offices, and for medicinal purposes, will follow in order to determine the implicit perspective thereof. Several pertinent questions will be answered during the course of this investigation: 1. Did Jesus create fermented wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee?; 2. Did Jesus' diet include fermented wine?; 3. How did Paul address the use of wine by bishops, deacons, and aged women, and what does that suggest about the character of the beverage he was considering?; and4. Did Paul prescribe fermented wine to Timothy for his ailments? By answering these questions, those at the heart of this study will be resolved: was the wine of the New Testament unfermented or fermented, and was its use regulated or prohibited?
