Doesn't the Bible teach that wine was non-alcoholic—that the Jews drank grape juice?
This can be a contentious issue, especially where conservative Christians teach, or have been taught, that to touch alcohol is a sin. In my opinion, teetotalism is overly strict. Moreover, it matches poorly with the evidence of Scripture (both testaments).
Rather than launch into a comprehensive study of the issue, let me make one point, then direct you to a thorough—and highly readable—exploration of the topic, recently published.
In the Bible, wine is considered a blessing from God—not a blight on humankind. It features in the Jewish feasts. In the temple, it was offered as a libation to God. Wine is mentioned in Scripture hundreds of times—usually in a positive light. Even if itwas often watered down, it remained and intoxicant.
Yet some readers of the Bible assume that "new wine" is not yet fermented. Yet in fact wine begins to ferment almost immediately, once pressed from the grape. (Sometimes it even ferments while still on the vine!) The mockers surrounding the apostolic band at Pentecost accused Peter and the others of being full of "new wine" (Acts 2:13). Peter counters that they are not drunk (Acts 2:15)—an odd response if they were being derided for drinking grape juice.
In short, the arguments that tirosh (Hebrew for wine) was grape juice do not convince.
If this topic is important to you, or you're intrigued, you may appreciate John Anthony Dunne's recent work. I was frankly amazed by how much the Bible illuminates the topic. Dunne's book is nicely done and the visually appealing—well worth getting hold of a copy.
The thorough study I refer to was published in 2025, and is The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine: A Biblical Theology of Alcohol .
