The English versions of the Bible say Jesus made and drank wine.
But, did the original word mean “wine” as the alcoholic beverage we drink today? Since their beginnings, some denominations have advocated temperance. These denominations seem to deny carrying around fruit juice in warm flasks could have resulted in fermentation.
Yet other large denominations, like the Catholics, enjoy thinking the word “wine” was literal wine.
In all of this theological debate one thing is omitted. Since the beginning of human history, there has been this problem of how to preserve abundant calories harvested at the end of the growing season to be used later when calories are scarce. Fermentation allowed preservation and must have been discovered very early.
One could guess fermentation was not understood so was attributed to a super natural force. Thus, the god would be given thanks for fermented calories, especially if they gave people a happy buzz.
But, along comes the link below by a temperance theologian. He explains the Bible’s Greek word, “oinas” was generic for all beverages, not just wine. While, he admits, it could have referred to alcoholic wine, Jesus would not have condoned such a harmful and sinful drink. He thinks it referred to fresh grape juice or wine with the alcohol boiled off.
This unlikely interpretation is typical of the field of literal apologetics. Take current conventional wisdom and twist the Bible’s meaning to fit it, even it the Bible actually says something else.