by “not given to much wine” is a phrase Paul uses in 1 Timothy 3:8 that is used today by Christians wanting to justify drinking alcohol. Without a proper study of the Word of God, man has eased his conscience by intentionally excusing sins, resulting in heresy and false doctrine, and even the foundation of cults.
A pretext to this phrase is a little understanding of wine in God’s eyes, and He has much to say:
- Wine is drunkenness in the first Book (Genesis 9:21)
- Wine is a mocker and deceiver (Proverbs 20:2)
- Wine is condemned in 6 woes that provoke God (Isaiah 5:11,22)
- Wine causes errors in judgment (Isaiah 28:7)
- Wine lowers moral standards (Habakkuk 2:15)
- Wine effects the entire body, soul and spirit (Proverbs 23:29-35)
Seeing how harshly God condemns wine, the context of what Paul is saying can have nothing to do with allowing any portion of wine.
Logically think about the phrase “not given to much wine” in comparison to our speech today. We tell our children “Don’t get addicted to drugs.” Does this mean they can do drugs as long as they are not getting addicted? NO! Paul speaks in this same manner when he said, “henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). Here, is Paul saying it is OK to sin as long as you are not serving sin or letting sin be our master? NO! Paul says a few verses later in 6:15, “What then? shall we sin … God forbid.”
Solomon spoke in the same manner in the Old Testament concerning sin, “Be not over much wicked” (Ecclesiastes 7:17). This is not saying we can sin a little as long as it is not too much!
It should be absolutely clear from scripture that “not given TO much wine” is not saying “not given TOO much wine.” If it is, God is in clear contradiction with Himself and His warnings about wine. Some things may not be easy to understand, but is that not where faith steps in? If you are struggling to understand this, then you are actually agreeing there is something not right, something is in contradiction. That something is not God but man, and it is called sin.
This sound doctrine of wine challenges many Christians’ maturity. The question is, where stand ye? With God or with man (Romans 3:4)?
