Q: Where does the Bible talk about not drinking alcohol? Also, concerning Jesus turning water into wine—I have heard some preachers say that it was unfermented wine. What is the difference between "wine" and "strong drink" as mentioned in the Bible?

A: Technically, we are permitted to consume alcohol but drunkenness is not condoned in the Bible (cf. Eph. 5:18). The Bible warns, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Prov 20:1). One of the qualifications that Paul provided for overseers was that they not be given to wine (1 Tim. 3:3) meaning that an overseer should not be one who is addicted to it. In John 2, Jesus performs a miracle by turning water into wine. The wine served was subject to fermentation, however, in the Ancient Near East, wine was normally greatly diluted with water in order to quench thirst and due to a lack of water purification systems was actually healthier than drinking water alone. Thus wine was typically anywhere between 1/3 to 1/10 of its initial potency.

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