Is it Okay For Elders To Drink in Moderation?
January 7, 2007
One of the qualifications for an elder is “not given to wine” (1 Tim. 3: 3; Tit. 1:7). Just what does that mean? Can one be an elder for a local congregation and drink socially or moderately?
It is interesting to note that Old Testament priests were forbidden the use of wine because of their work in the Tabernacle (Lev. 10:8_11). Today, the office of a bishop and the drinking of alcoholic beverages do not mix any better than water does with oil. John the Baptist who was sent with a special mission by God was not to drink any wine or liquor. As the angel instructed Zacharias, "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother's womb."
Then there is the example of Paul instructing Timothy to use wine in 1 Timothy 5:23."No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments (NASV)." Could Paul be restricting the use of wine among the elders and encouraging its use by Timothy in the same epistle? First, we would have to assume that this was intoxicating wine as opposed to water? The Greek word used here is "oinos" which can be grape juice or alcoholic wine as we know it today. Ferrar Fenton in his book THE BIBLE AND WINE said, "'stomach wine' or wine for the stomach; the old writers upon Greek medicine tell us, was grape juice, prepared as a thick, unfermented syrup, for use as a medicine for dyspeptic and weak persons, and there cannot be a doubt but that was the wine for the stomach; the apostle told his friend to use." Furthermore, Timothy had known the sacred writings from childhood (2 Tim. 3:15), and his knowledge and attitude as a Christian was such that he wouldn't even touch the stuff as medicine until Paul commanded him to do so. Timothy had been a total abstainer. If it was intoxicating wine it would have been according to custom a highly diluted with water and of low alcoholic content. The purpose of Timothy using a little “wine” was for its therapeutic and antiseptic value in the promotion of health. Modern medications often include alcohol in small amounts, but fewer and fewer doctors prescribe alcohol as medication. One must be careful not to prescribe medicine without a license.
Could this restriction simply mean that elders could not be drunkards or alcoholics? Of course, no Christian can be a drunkard, so Paul cannot be simply saying that they cannot be drunkards. If he wished to say that he would have used the Greek word "methe." The key to passage is the translation of the Greek word, "paroinos", which is only used twice in the whole Bible. Paroinos is a compound word "para" meaning "at the side of" or "along side". "Oinos" simply means wine either fermented or unfermented. Literally, this qualification means that elders are not to be found along side of wine. An elder who is seen along side of wine can destroy his influence with those both inside and outside of the church. A deacon defended his right to drink "moderately" in the privacy of his own home. Perhaps, he never drank to excess; certainly he never became a drunkard, but his teenage son did.
Still others ask, “Would this qualification prohibit a man who drinks socially from serving as an elder?" All levels of drinking, even social drinking, are condemned in 1 Peter 4:3. "For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” Three drinking practices are here condemned as "desire of the Gentiles" and those that do such are living "in the lust of men." In contrast, Christians are those who have ceased from sin and live "to the will of God" (vv. 1,2).
There are three words in descent or digression in strength used in Peter’s passage. "Drunkenness" is from the Greek word "oinophlugia." The word for drunkenness in Galatians 5:21 is "methe" which refers to habitual intoxication, deep drinking, drunken bouts. Oinophlygia indicates habitual intoxication, but it is more. It marks a step in advance of methe. The one who practices oinophlugia stagers, stumbles, or even sleeps in his stupor. If he swings his fist, he is the one likely to get hurt. If he drives, he is more dangerous to himself than to others. In fact, he is likely to drive right up a tree.
The second level of intoxication is seen in the Greek word for "carousals" which is "komos." Komos illustrates a live wire. He is intoxicated, but not as much as the one signified by oinophlugia so that he misses all the "fun." He's flying "high." Komos combines intoxication with merrymaking. With komos there is shouting, singing, and generally stirring wanton desires with merry companions with drinking or as a result of it. "Wine, woman, and song" is the modern way of saying komos.
The final level is drinking parties which is translated from "potos." Potos is in contrast to drunken parties which would be illustrative of komos. The New English Bible says "tippling." That is, drinking continuously in small amounts. Vine tells us that it is literally a drinking without reference to amount (p. 162). I had a fellow brother look this word up in Vine's and argue "Look, it doesn't say how much one is drinking." "That is precisely my point,” I responded. “Drinking in any amount is thus being condemned." Trench in his scholarly work SYNONYMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT wrote, "Not of necessity excessive, but it gives opportunity for excess" (p. 211). Potos would condemn all other types of drinking, especially social drinking, such as, cocktail parties, wine tasting, "having a few drinks with the boys", etc. Brother Guthrie Dean (from whom most this material was adapted) says the Bible condemns "drunken, half_drunken, and drinking" all in one verse. Thus, the bottom line is: don't even consider appointing a man to the eldership who is even a social drinker.
Again, keep in mind the Greek phrase ma paroinos translated “not given to wine” literally means “never, at any time, found alongside of wine.” The only conclusion we can deduce is: no one wishing to be an elder can be a drinker of alcoholic wine at any time or at any level.