Qualities of Deacons and Members

No. 3

By

Shelby G. Floyd

March 11, 2009

3.

Deacons Must Be Not Given To Much Wine

The third attribute or quality of deacons and also members of the church is also a negative one. “Deacons in like manner must be…not given to much wine.” (1 Timothy 3:8, ASV) The verb with the negative prefix, “Not given to” is translated from [mh...prosecontas--me prosecontas]. This verb is a present participle from [prosecw--proseco]. It literally means that a deacon must keep on not be addicted, applied, attached, or hold himself to “much wine.” How much is much? In the Bible the word wine [oinos—oinos] is used in three ways: (1) Wine while it is still on the vine; (2) unfermented wine comparable to fresh grape juice; and (3) fermented or intoxicating wine. When fermented wine is referenced in the scriptures it is always condemned. A deacon should set a good example and stay away from alcoholic drink. The old saw still holds true, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” And alcohol is a “poison.” That is what is meant by “intoxicated.” Wine and other forms of alcohol are toxic to the human body, soul and spirit—“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV).

Members of the Church Must Be Not Given To Much Wine

The prohibited use of wine for the deacon holds true for every member of the body of Christ. Fermented wine and strong drink was explicitly condemned in the Old Testament by the inspired writers. Wise Solomon declared:

Proverbs 23:29-32

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.

NKJV

Such plain teaching about the destructive nature of wine and strong drink can be multiplied from both the Old and New Testaments. However, we shall adduce only one or two from the inspired apostles of Jesus Christ to prove that every member of the church should abstain from wine, strong drink, social drinking parties and any degree of drunkenness. Peter commanded the Christians of his day to leave their former lifestyle and be sober and controlled:

1 Peter 4:3

“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” [NKJV, Emphasis—SGF]

Deacons	Attribute	Christians
“Deacons in like manner must be not given to much wine” –1 Tim. 3:8 ASV	Total Abstinence No Social Drinker —1 Tim. 3:8	“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” (1 Pet. 4:3 NKJV).

Let all Christian people as well as the deacons turn from the debilitating and sinful practices of addiction to drugs and alcohol that is rampant in our society today. Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved