"Given to Wine" Verses "Given to Much"

Micah Webb
02/01/25 - Sin

When discussing drinking for recreational purposes, one may raise the question, “If you cannot drink, then why are elders not to be ‘Given to wine’ but deacons are not to be ‘Given to much wine’?”  This is a valid question. Of all of the arguments raised about recreational drinking from the scriptures, this is by far the strongest.  For a few moments let us consider how to answer this question. 

Two Possible Wines 

1. Alcoholic Wine - This is what we think of when we hear the word “wine.”  We think of the wine that can we see drank on television. The kind that “Takes the edge off” and can lead to one getting drunk (Ephesians 5:18).  
2. Non-Alcholic Wine (Grape Juice) - In the scriptures there are two types of wine considered.  Isaiah says that “New wine is found in the cluster” (Isaiah 65:8).  Jesus uses the Greek word oinos to refer to “New wine” in Matthew 9:17 and Mark 2:22.  It is the word oinos that is used in 1 Timothy 3:8 when discussing deacons as well Ephesians 5:18 when discussing being drunk.  Thus, oinos can refer to either alcoholic or non-alcoholic wine.  

The First Century Party With Unfermented Wine 

One argument raised concerning 1 Timothy 3:3 and 8 is that the wine under consideration is non-alcoholic.  What the passage is thus considering is not getting drunk but rather the engorging of one’s self.  In the first century it was not uncommon for their to be large banquets thrown in which the party goers would drink excessive amounts of wine, even to the point of making oneself sick.  The wine that was used was non-alcoholic, so as not to make drunk the party goers.  With that in mind, it is possible that what is under consideration is these large banquets thrown for gluttony. Elders should should not partake at all (v.3) and deacons should not over indulge themself (v.8) in wine like the party goers do.  This certainly fits with other principles found in the scriptures concerning gluttony (Proverbs 23:20-21).  

The Meaning of the Word Rendered “Given to Wine” And “Given to Much...”

What if the wine is alcoholic? Well, that does not mean that deacons can drink wine well elders cannot. The reason that the two phrases are translated differently is because two different Greek words are used in these verses.  In verse 3 it is the word paroinon and in verse 8 it is the phrase “prosechontas pollō oinos.” 

1. Paroinon - It is from the root word paroinos which is a compound word.  The later half of the word is oinos, Greek word for wine.  The first half is the word para - meaning “at” or “beside”. Lexicographer BDAG says of this word “pertaining to one who is given to drinking too much wine, addicted to wine, drunken.” 
2. Prosechontas Pollō Oinos- First, prosechontas means to “be concerned about, care for, take care; pay attention to, give heed to, follow; occupy oneself with, devote; apply oneself to” (BDAG).  This is the rendered rendered “given” in the NKJV.  The word pollō means  “much” as it is translated. As already mentioned, Oinos is the Greek word translated “wine” The point is that one serving as a deacon should not care about much wine or give heed to much wine. 
3. They Are Synonymous - As we look at the definitions of these Greek words, they are different words making the same point. One who is “drinking too much wine” is one “concerned about” or “occupying oneself” with wine. Both terms are making the same point - to not give yourself over to wine/drunkenness.  

This Does Not Condone Recreational Drinking 

The whole argument used from this text is to justify recreational drinking. Again, the argument is that elders are not “given to wine” while deacons are not to be “given to much wine”, thus you can drink as long as it is not much or you are not an elder.  However, this does not teach such. Forbidding the extreme does not condone the lesser.  The Bible condemns murder (Galatians 5:21). Does this mean one can hate? No, the Bible tells us to love even those who hate us (Matthew 5:43-44).  The Bible condemns fornication and adultery (Galatians 5:19). Does this mean one can lust or have sexual fantasies of another? No, that is condemned (Matthew 5:28).  The Bible condemns drunkenness (Galatians 5:21).  Does this mean one can drink as long as they do not get drunk?  No, we are to stay sober (1 Peter 1:13, 5:8) and are not to partake in “drinking parties” (1 Peter 4:3 - better translated “Drinking” in Geneva Bible). Thus we cannot partake in recreational drinking. 

Conclusion

Does “given to much wine” mean we can drink since elders are told not to be “given to wine”?  The answer is no. We have seen how these two phrases are synonymous in meaning and how to Bible tells us to be “sober” and not partake in “drinkings.”  Hopefully we are now better prepared to answer the questions we may be asked about drinking from 1 Timothy 3:3 and 8.  

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