Drinking And Drunkeness
The drinking of alcoholic beverages is a plague upon our society. It is practiced and condoned by the majority of worldly people in America. It is estimated that our country has over eleven million alcohol abusers and half of these are
chronic alcoholics. Approximately 70 to 75 percent of the population admits to the use of alcohol. Therefore it is not surprising to hear people in the world defend the use of strong drink. Over the years I have encountered several Christians that
defend the use of alcoholic beverages with the following statement: "The Bible condemns drunkenness but it does not condemn drinking". It is one thing to make this statement but another to prove the statement to be according to truth. What do the
scriptures teach on the subject of drinking and drunkenness (Rom 4:3)?
Any thorough study of strong drink would begin in the Old Testament scriptures. Solomon warned God's people not to look upon the wine when it
is red in the cup, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright (Prov 23:29-35). This and many other texts warn against the use of strong drink in the Old Testament. It will be my purpose to confine this study to the pages of the
New Testament.
First we look at the command of God for the Christian to be sober. The word sober has more than one meaning in the scriptures. Often it means that we are to be serious minded about serious matters.
Three places in the New Testament the word sober is translated from the word NEPHO where the meaning is to be free from the influence of intoxicants. Let us watch and be SOBER (I Thess 5:6). Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be SOBER (I Pet
1:1 3). Be SOBER, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Pet 5:8). The Christian is commanded to be free from the influence of intoxicants. The only safe ground to follow on this
command is to abstain from that which causes intoxication. If the scriptures do not condemn drinking but only drunkenness who will define the limit for us?
The word drunkenness is translated from the Greek word
METHE and is condemned as sin in the scriptures. Paul gave a list of the works of the flesh to the Galatian brethren listing drunkenness as one sin that will keep people from inheriting the kingdom of heaven (Gal 5:19-21). Let us walk honestly, as in
the day; not in rioting and DRUNKENNESS, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (Rom 13:13-14). Jesus warned his disciples to
take heed unto themselves, lest at any time their hearts be overcharged with SURFEITING, and DRUNKENNESS ( Luke 21:34). The word surfeiting is a translation of the Greek word KRAIPALE and is defined in the following lexicons: W.E. Vine says surfeiting
signifies the giddiness and headache resulting from excessive wine-bibbing, a drunken nausea. Bullinger says surfeiting signifies a seizure of the head; and hence intoxication and its consequences, giddiness,
headache, etc. Robinson
defines surfeiting as a seizure of the head, hence intoxication, debauch, giddiness, reveling and drunkenness. Personally I have never encountered anyone in the Lord's church that is willing to defend the sin of surfeiting and drunkenness (METHE) as
defined in these passages of scripture. We universally view this activity as a sin against the God of heaven.
Is this abuse of alcohol the only condemnation in the scriptures of our modern day drinking practices?
The answer is no! Peter mentioned other drinking practices commonly practiced among worldly people before they become Christians. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness,
lusts, EXCESS OF WINE, REVELLINGS, BANQUETINGS, and abominable idolatries (I Pet 4:3). Excess of wine is translated from the word (OINOPHLUGIA). This marks a step in advance of drunkenness (METHE). This is the down and out drunk, the sickening wino,
the gutter drunk. This person practices extreme indulgence, debauchery, and habitual senseless excess. The body, mind, and soul are deadened and finally destroyed. Those who practice excess of wine have destroyed their brain cells and live only to
drink themselves into the grave. Another drinking practice found in this text is revellings. The word revellings is translated from the word (KOMOS) and is a des
cent in intoxication from excess of wine. It is defined in the lexicons
as a revel, carousal, that which accompanies and the consequence of drunkenness. The one who revels is a "Live Wire". He is intoxicated but not to the point that he misses all the fun. Revelling combines intoxication with merry making. It suggests
shouting, singing, dancing, and generally stirring wanton desires with merry companions. This is the drinking practice that the liquor industry spends millions of dollars a year advertising to sell their wares. They do not show the vomiting, headaches,
diseased livers, murders, accidents, and suffering caused by the use of alcohol. Rather they show young healthy men and women drinking, laughing, singing, dancing, and having a good time. Peter yet mentions one other drinking practice called
banqueting. This is a translation of the word (POTOS). This word should not be confused with our modern day usage of the word banquet where we enjoy a social meal with speakers, awards, or entertain
ment. Banqueting (POTOS) is defined
as drinking parties, drinking bouts, and tippling. It suggests drinking, especially continuously in small amounts. Literally, (POTOS) is "a drinking" without reference to the amount. R.C. Trench says it is not necessarily excessive, but it is a
drinking that gives opportunity for excess. This definition would cover your happy hour, social drinking, cocktail party, or just a few drinks with the boys. All serious Bible students should study I Peter 4:3 carefully to discern the truth on the use
of alcoholic beverages.
Paul's letter to the Ephesian brethren provides another text on the use of alcohol. And be not DRUNK with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). The phrase "be
not drunk" is derived from the Greek word (METHUSKESTHE). Those who have studied the Greek language say this word is second person plural, present imperative, passive form of the root word (METHUSKO). Thayer, Robinson, and Bagster define the phrase as
follows: To make drunk, or to grow drunk, an inceptive verb, marking the process of, to become intoxicated. We are not to engage in the process that will make us drunk. Drunkenness comes in stages or by degrees. A parallel to this would be for one to
grow weak, become tired, or to get sleepy. We become drunk by engaging in the process of drinking. In view of these scriptures it is my intention to continue to teach and practice abstinence from the use of alcohol. Any Christian that takes the
position that the scriptures do not condemn drinking but only drunkenness (MET
HE) need to come forward and tell us plainly the meaning of sober (NEPHO), revellings (KOMOS), and banquetings
(POTOS).
Tim Fleeman
July, 1997 Volume 3 Issue
3
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