Page 663 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WINEBIBBER - WINKETH

conclude otherwise than that this wine was non- gives the privilege, if not a command, of using alcoholic
alcoholic. wine as a medicine. However, this cannot possibly be
In closing, we must consider two things. One referring to alcoholic wine, because he specifically says
passage, we have already seen. Romans 14:21 clearly that it is to be taken for Timothy’s stomach. He
teaches that Christians should totally abstain, the reason obviously had some kind of stomach disease and any
being that it is good “neither to eat flesh, nor to drink doctor will tell you that such a person must abstain from
wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or alcoholic beverage. This author has had much stomach
is offended, or is made weak.” We have already seen trouble through the years and has consulted various
that people may be potential alcoholics. By the social doctors, observing various dietary restrictions. In every
drinking of alcohol, one might encourage a person to case, they warned against drinking any alcoholic
start drinking, who would not be able to stop. beverage whatsoever. If we know that today, surely the
Missionaries and tourists to foreign countries, where Holy Spirit of God knew that when He inspired this
alcohol is a common table beverage, should remember verse! We do not know what Timothy’s specific
this. We should also wake up and realize that, in such infirmities were, nor do we know what kind of healing
countries, alcoholism is also rampant. Let us totally properties there were in grape juice. Maybe Paul was
abstain, so that we might not encourage someone to saying that Timothy should not drink the water, since in
drink and go down the road to alcoholism. many parts of the world it is not pure and would cause a
The last consideration is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Here, healthy person to have trouble from amoebas, etc. One
the Bible teaches that drunkenness will send a person to who already had stomach problems would only multiply
hell. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit them by drinking impure water. Paul might have been
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither recommending that Timothy drink grape juice only. In
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor any case, we can be positive that he was not telling him
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, to put alcohol in a bad stomach!
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, Is It Acceptable for a Christian to Drink Moderately?
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1) No, even slight drinking impairs one’s thinking and
This does not mean that a drunkard can never be lowers alertness to spiritual danger (1 Pe. 5:8-9). (2)
saved, because the next verse says that some of the No, Christians are not to be controlled by liquor (Ep.
Corinthians committed these very acts before they were 5:18). (3) No, Christians are priests, and the Bible
converted. A person can be gloriously set free from forbids priests to drink (1 Pe. 2:9; Le. 10:8, 11). (4) No,
drunkenness, by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Christians are not to touch the unclean thing (2 Co.
Saviour and by following His teachings. Many people 6:17 -- 7:1). (5) No, Christians are to abstain from every
have experienced such a release! But the tragedy is that form of evil (1 Th. 5:22). (6) No, Christians who drink
if a person continues in drunkenness, refusing to let cause others to stumble (Ro. 14:21). (7) No, wine is a
Jesus be the Lord, preferring rather to let king alcohol mocker and a deceiver (Pr. 20:1). No man who takes an
rule, that one can look for nothing but a drunkard’s alcoholic beverage to his lips knows exactly where it will
grave and eternity in the lake of fire. “Be not deceived,” lead. [See Drunkenness, Sober, Strong Drink,
the Bible says “the unrighteous shall not inherit the Temperance.]
kingdom of God.” WINEBIBBER. Wine drinker; one given to wine;
If you are having trouble with this sin, let me drunkard (Pr. 23:20; Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34). [See
encourage you to realize that you can ask Jesus Christ Drunkenness, Strong Drink, Wine.]
to be the Lord of your life and Saviour from all your WINEFAT. The vat or vessel into which juice flows
sins, and to set you free. You can know what it means to from a wine press (Is. 63:2; Mk. 12:1).
be free in Christ! The Bible says, “If the Son shall make WINK AT. Overlook (Ac. 17:30).
you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). Realize that WINKETH. To wink the eyes is to use the eyes to
you are a sinner in God’s sight, “For all have sinned and signify or to hint at something. In Scripture it refers to
come short of the glory of God” (Ro. 3:23). Repent of wicked men expressing and sealing evil deeds with a
your rebellion against God, surrendering to His wink (Ps. 35:19; Pr. 6:13; 10:10). “Deceivers are
authority. “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise winkers, professing kindness to their neighbors, by a
perish” (Lk. 13:3). Receive Christ as your Lord and wink of the eye they give a hint to their accomplices to
Saviour. “As many as received him, to them gave he the cheat or rob. Sly and artful men are referred to. A man
power to become the sons of God” (Jn. 1:12). who does his work by looks or words, hints and
What about 1 Timothy 5:23? “...drink no longer innuendoes, rather than by words like the ‘prating fool,’
water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and such a man ‘causeth sorrow.’ He destroys social
thine often infirmities.” Many insist that here the Bible confidence, he slackens and snaps the bond of

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 663