All Things Expounded

In my first post in this series, I gave a survey of Biblical voices that advocated the legitimacy of moderate consumption of alcohol for the Christian. The view being put forward here is that Christians have a legitimate choice to either individually abstain from alcohol or consume it responsibly. If a particular believer decides to abstain from alcohol, this is acceptable. But the movements which attempt to put forward prohibition or mandatory abstention are not only un-biblical, but also a-historical.  If you wish to see what Biblical characters had to say about this, please refer to Part One.

This part will focus on witnesses in post biblical times.

Witness One: John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

John Chrysostom was the archbishop of Constantinople, and perhaps one of the most eloquent preachers.

wine is the work of God, but drunkenness is the work of the devil. Wine makes not drunkenness; but intemperance produces it. Do not accuse that which is the workmanship of God, but accuse the madness of a fellow mortal

(from First Homily on the Statutes)

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Witness Two: Justin Martyr (100-165AD)

Justin Martyr was an early Christian apologist.

“There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he, taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at his hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying ‘Amen.’ This word ‘Amen’ is the Hebrew for ‘so be it.’ And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those of us who are called deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and the wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion”

(The First Apology; 65)

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Witness Three: John Calvin (1509-1564)

John Calvin was a great French/Swiss Protestant reformer, and an excellent Bible expositor.

We are nowhere forbidden to laugh, or to be satisfied with food…or to be delighted with music, or to drink wine

(from Institutes of Christian Religion)

Nature would certainly be satisfied with water to drink; and therefore the addition of wine is owing to God’s superabundant liberality…we gather from his words that it is lawful to use wine not only in cases of necessity, but also thereby to make us merry. This mirth must however be tempered with sobriety, first, that men may not forget themselves, drown their senses, and destroy their strength, but rejoice before their God

(from John Calvin’s commentary on Psalm 104:15)

Calvin so enjoyed God’s wine that he was given barrels for a sallary allowance!..”the substantial annual salary of 500 florins, together with twelve measures of wheat and two bassets (perhaps 250 gallons) of wine”

(from Drinking with Calvin and Luther, Jim West, p53)

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Witness Four: Clement of Alexandria (150-215AD)

Clement was a distinguished teacher and church member in Alexandria.

The Scripture, accordingly, has named wine the symbol of the sacred blood

(The Instructor; Book II, ch. II)

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Witness Five: Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Martin Luther was a great German theologian known for being the “father of protestantism”.

“Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women? The sun, the moon, and the stars have been worshipped. Shall we then pluck them out of the sky?

while I sat still and drank beer with Phillip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a might blow

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Witness Six: William Farel (1489-1565)

William Farel was a great French evangelist.

When William Farel was in Switzerland, a Catholic friarappeared at Aigle against him to beg in behalf of his convent some barrels of what the Church historian Merle D’ Aubigne calls
“the most exquisite wine in all Switzerland.”

(Drinking with Calvin and Luther, Jim West, p68)

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Witness Seven:John Murray (1898-1975)

John Murray was a Scottish theologian and preacher, who helped to found Westminster Theological Seminary.

On one occasion, Westminster Professor John Murray attended a conference of ministers..and debated a Dr. Clarence Bounma who argued that demon alcohol was mastering, if not killing, thousands. Murray countered that abstinence was a lawful choice, but that moderation was also a lawful choice. When the discussion ended, the aggressive Dutchman determined to test Murray’s sincerity. Would he then and now receive a glass of wine or whiskey?  The purpose may have been to pin down and embarass the great exegete. Murray’s poker-faced answer is classic: “Yes, if it’s good stuff”. Van Til reported that the audience howled, but that “John blinked nary an eye”.

(Drinking with Calvin and Luther, Jim West, p115)

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Witness Eight: Increase Mather (1639-1723)

Increase Mather was an early American Puritan minister, and the father of Cotton Mather.

Drink is in itself a good creature of God, and to be received with thankfulness, but the abuse of drink is from Satan; the wine is from God, but the drunkard is from the Devil.(In Woe to Drunkards – 1673)

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Witness Nine: Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

Richard Baxter was a Puritan leader and writer, perhaps best know for writing “The Saints Everlasting Rest” and “Reformed Pastor”. He’s known as “the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen”

“beer as hot as my throat will endure, drunk all at once, to make me sweat”
(Baxter commenting on one of his remedies, from Reliquiae Baxterinae)

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Witness Ten: Hugh Latimer (1485-1555)

Hugh Latimer was one of the best known English Protestant martyrs.

Hugh Latimer had a goblet of spiced ale with his supper before he was burned alive

(From The Secret Life of Beer, Alan D. Eames)

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Witness Eleven: Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll is the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church.

Historically, God’s people have greatly enjoyed alcohol. In the European world one of the most Christian drinks was beer.

(Mark Driscoll on Mars Hill Bible Churce’s Website)

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Witness Twelve: Abraham Kuyper (1509-1564)

Abraham Kuyper was a great dutch Reformed theologian. He is most well-known for developing the idea of “common grace” within the Reformed world-view.

Uilenspiegel, rarely proper, says of banqueting that the Reformed are not the sort to water down their wine. That’s true. From the chocolate kettle and the milk and water bottle arises no race of bold Calvinists.”

(Quoted in J. de Bruijin, Abraham Kuyper: leven en werk in beeld)

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Witness Thirteen: Ken Gentry

Ken Gentry is a Reformed theologian, best known for his views on theonomy and eschatology.

It would seem abundantly clear, then, that the Scriptures do allow the moderate partaking of alcoholic beverages. There is no hesitancy in Scripture in commending wine, or embarrassment in portraying its consumption among the righteous of Biblical days. Wine is set before the saints as blessing and gladness

(from an article by Ken Gentry)

Witness Fourteen: Gerhard Kittel (1888-1948)

Gerhard Kittel was the editor of the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

It is obvious … that according to custom Jesus was proffering wine in the cup over which He pronounced the blessing; this may be seen especially from the solemn genema tes ampelou [fruit of the vine] … which was borrowed from Judaism

(from Vol. V, p. 164)

Witness Fifteen: Leon Morris (1914-2006)

Leon Morris was a widely respected New Testament scholar

Jesus took a cup, and though Matthew does not mention the contents specifically … the meaning is a cup containing wine

(From The Gospel of Matthew, 1992, p.660)

Witness Sixteen: William Hendrikson

William Hendrikson..

By speaking of ‘the fruit of the vine’ Jesus undoubtedly refers to wine. Note close relation between ‘vine’ and ‘wine’ in Isa. 24:7. See also Num. 6:4; Hab. 3:17. At this time of the year (April), and under conditions then prevailing in Judea, it is hard to think of anything but fermented grape juice, that is, wine, the kind of wine used at Passover; hence, diluted or paschal wine

(The Gospel of Matthew, 1973, p.991)

The next post will continue this theme, listing more post-biblical sources.