Much Wine?

by Tracy Dugger

In giving the qualifications of elders, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that an elder is not to be, "…given to wine…" (I Timothy 3:3). Then in I Timothy 3:6, Paul stated of deacons, "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine…" This alleged difficulty is sometimes used to support a moderate use of alcohol for recreational purposes. The objections go like this: "Paul taught that elders were not allowed any wine, but deacons could indulge in a little, as long as it wasn’t a lot. Doesn’t this show that we cannot make a blanket condemnation against social drinking?"

Friends, consider this for a moment. Given the multitude of Bible warnings and prohibitions against alcohol (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; Isaiah 5:11-12; 28:7; Habakkuk 2:15-16; Galatians 5:19-21; I Peter 4:3-4), do we really think that God is permitting an officer in the church to imbibe? One who is set up as an example? One whose life is to be pure from the lusts of the flesh? In the jargon of our youth, "I don’t think so!"

The word "much" in I Timothy 3:8 is defined according to Thayer as "abundant, plenteous." Paul is condemning excess in this verse. He is saying, in essence, "Don’t engage in a bunch of drinking. Don’t get out here and get plastered."

Please do not miss the point: Just because a Bible writer condemns excess, it does not mean that he is allowing moderation. For instance, if you were to sit down with your kids and tell them, "Now don’t go out there and smoke a bunch of pot," would they understand this to mean that they could take a few small puffs off of a joint? Or, if you told them, "Don’t go out there and get pregnant, or get someone else pregnant," would this mean they could fornicate as long as they used protection? Obviously not!

Numerous Bible examples condemn excess without condoning a moderate engagement.

• In 2 Kings 21:6, speaking of the evil king Manasseh, the Bible says, "…he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD." Do you suppose that Manasseh would have been acceptable in God’s eyes if he had just engaged in a moderate amount of wickedness?
• Solomon wrote, "Be not over much wicked" (Ecclesiastes 7:17). Did Solomon’s admonition permit one to engage in a small amount of wickedness just as long as it was not "much?"
• Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:21 by saying, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Is one to understand this to permit the practice of evil as long as one is not "overcome" with it?
• James stated, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness" (James 1:21). The word "superfluity" means "overflowing" (ASV). Does this permit us to engage in little naughtiness as long as it does not become overflowing?
• Peter says, "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot" (I Peter 4:4). Can I indulge in some riot as long as it is not too much?
• Peter continues in his second epistle, "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin" (II Peter 2:14). Can I engage in mental adultery (Matthew 5:28) just as long as my eyes are not too full of it?

One can surely see the point. Apply this same principle to I Timothy 3:6, and the passage is not so difficult. Somebody has well said it: "The Bible is its own best commentary." Amen!

Can Deacons Drink Alcohol?

Does I Timothy 3:8 prove that you can drink a little as long as you do not drink to excess? Is the text also teaching that if you want to drink alcohol, do not become an elder, as they are forbidden from drinking? From a Christian perspective, something seems odd about these conclusions.

Let’s first establish that the wine in this text is fermented. It would seem out of place for Paul to write that deacons should not be given to much unfermented grape juice. If deacons were told not to be given to much, are they allowed to have a little? If there is danger in consuming much alcohol, though, why would they be permitted to take a little?

Perhaps Paul’s instruction to Timothy might have a bearing on this. It was clear that Timothy did not (or would not) drink any wine that was fermented. Timothy would not even drink it for medicinal reasons. However, he was told by Paul that he should take some for his stomach’s sake (I Timothy 5:23). This begs the question: Why would Timothy, at least up to this point, not take wine for his ailment? Obviously, Timothy was aware of an issue when it came to consuming wine that contained alcohol. He needed to be told that it is okay to use it for sickness.

Getting back to deacons, the phrase in I Timothy 3:8 “not given to much wine” could also be phrased as “to say not paying attention to.” This is hardly a text to support the idea of drinking socially (non-medicinal). Saints are to keep themselves unspotted from the world by being sober and righteous (James 1:27; I Peter 5:8; Titus 2:12). Therefore, with all the dangers and abuses connected with alcohol, it would be a stretch to use this text to support the consumption of wine that is fermented to satisfy thirst merely.

"Be Not Given to Much Wine" (Titus 2:3)

Many times in the world, we find people confused about their “role.” Society has tried to redefine the roles of men and women, and even some religious groups have done a poor job concerning what men and women are to do. God is the creator of all things (Genesis 1-2). The Bible claims to be His word, and there is sufficient evidence to believe that the Scriptures are the word of God. Therefore, we may turn to the sacred writings to learn about the roles of men and women.

One passage that effectively summarizes the roles of men and women is the second chapter of Titus.

"But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine: that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience: that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (to be) sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed: the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:" (Titus 2:1-6).

How should people get along with one another? How should people act towards one another? These verses give us specific information that is easy to follow. We want to concentrate on just one item: “enslaved to much wine.” Paul said “aged women” are to be “reverent in demeanor” and not “enslaved to much wine.” The KJV and the NKJV say “not given too much wine.” The NIV translators chose “addicted to much wine.”

The key term behind these translations is the Greek word douloo. Readers may be interested in examining some of the other instances of this term in the New Testament. For instance, the word is used in Acts 7:6 and is translated “bondage.” Peter used this word in II Peter 2:19 when he described the “bondservants of corruption.” Paul used it twice in Romans 6 to describe “servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18) and “servants to God” (Romans 6:22). It is wrong for Christians to be slaves to booze or anything else that is addictive.

Someone might say, “I know that being ‘given to wine’ is wrong, but what if someone just ‘drinks a little.’ Is this okay? What is usually meant by this is “social drinking.” Is it okay for a Christian to be a “social drinker?”

The expression “not given to much wine” does not justify drinking an amount of alcohol that is less than an addictive amount. A parallel expression easily demonstrates this. If we are told it is wrong to be “addicted to speeding,” that does not mean we are allowed to “speed a little bit.” If the Bible said we cannot be “addicted to lying” or “given to lying,” that would not mean it is okay to “lie a little.” This expression means the subject being discussed is inconsistent with the Christian faith and must be avoided.

Imagine someone saying, "Do not be addicted to illegal drugs." Would this mean it is permissible to use illegal drugs occasionally? The expression in Titus 2:3 means Christians are to abstain from alcohol. It is part of the world and its lusts, and Christians are to live a life so they are like "salt and light."

I Timothy 3:3,8 “Not Given to Wine,” and “Not Given to Much Wine”

In listing the qualifications of elders and deacons, Paul states that an elder is not to be “given to wine” (I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7), and that deacons are not to be “given to much wine” (I Timothy 3:8).

• Those who insist there is nothing wrong with social drinking use (I should say misuse) these verses to support their contention. Why should the apostle say not to be given to wine, or not to be given to much wine, if even small amounts would be sinful? To these, the condemnation of excessive drinking is justification for drinking moderate (?) amounts. “Don’t get drunk!” means it is perfectly alright to drink a little bit.
• Argument refuted: To be consistent, those advocates would have you affirm: “Be not over much wicked” (Ecclesiastes 7:17), which means it is alright to be moderately wicked! “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” (Romans 6:12) means there is nothing wrong with sin, so long as it does not take control of one’s life! “Be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2) means that worldliness in moderate amounts is alright, but it would be wrong for one to be completely conformed to this world!

If drinking any amount of alcoholic beverages is wrong, then why didn't Paul say that elders and deacons should not drink wine at all? Because such would most certainly have been misunderstood — the word wine meaning what it does in the Bible. Paul did not intend to prohibit drinking wine, but remember that wine in the Bible can simply refer to the juice of the grape. Under the law of Moses, the Nazarite could not drink wine (grape juice) at all. He could not eat grapes, even if they were dried (Numbers 6:3). This is not what Paul was enjoining upon elders and deacons in the Lord’s church. That is why he did not forbid drinking wine, period.

The expression, “not given to wine" in I Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 in the King James version, translates the Greek word paroinos, which means literally “by or beside wine.” A marginal note says, “ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine.” The American Standard Version renders the word “no brawler,” instead of “not given to wine.” The use of this particular Greek word lends absolutely no support to the idea that drinking alcoholic beverages in small amounts is acceptable.

The expressions, “not given to wine,” and “not given to much wine,” differ more in the Greek than they do in the English. The former seems to be, in the Greek, a reference to the brawling disposition which results from drinking alcoholic beverages; the latter seems to refer to the hold which alcohol has on those who have imbibed it freely. The distinction between the two expressions is certainly not a distinction between the amounts of alcoholic beverages to which elders and deacons, respectively, can be addicted.

One other observation regarding these verses is in order. If the social drinker’s argument is any good, then what he has proved is not merely that one can drink moderately, but that he can be moderately addicted. If “not given to much wine” means one can drink a little bit, then it also means one can be a little bit addicted. Is the social drinker ready to accept this logical conclusion of his argument? What proves too much proves nothing.