| | Wines, like beer, come in a variety of types with different bouquets (aromas) and [[flavor]]s. In ancient times there were many gods of wine that were worshipped<ref>[http://www.wineintro.com/history/religion/index.html Wine, Religion, and Gods], ''Wineintro.com''</ref> (Bacchus, Dionysus, and Geshtin for example). As wine was part of the holy traditions in both Jewish and Christian customs it was important that this wine was not blessed for other gods (which would make it unclean). Kosher and sacramental wine was watched to be sure that it was properly handled and no idolatry was performed with it.<ref>[http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000033155.htm What Makes a Wine Kosher?], ''Gems in Israel''</ref> Roman Catholics believe that wine was transformed (and continues to be transformed) into the blood of Christ during [[communion]].<ref>Augustin Joseph Schulte, [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01358a.htm "Altar Wine." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 1. (1907)].</ref> | | Wines, like beer, come in a variety of types with different bouquets (aromas) and [[flavor]]s. In ancient times there were many gods of wine that were worshipped<ref>[http://www.wineintro.com/history/religion/index.html Wine, Religion, and Gods], ''Wineintro.com''</ref> (Bacchus, Dionysus, and Geshtin for example). As wine was part of the holy traditions in both Jewish and Christian customs it was important that this wine was not blessed for other gods (which would make it unclean). Kosher and sacramental wine was watched to be sure that it was properly handled and no idolatry was performed with it.<ref>[http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000033155.htm What Makes a Wine Kosher?], ''Gems in Israel''</ref> Roman Catholics believe that wine was transformed (and continues to be transformed) into the blood of Christ during [[communion]].<ref>Augustin Joseph Schulte, [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01358a.htm "Altar Wine." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 1. (1907)].</ref> |
| − | Jesus not only served wine at the Last Supper but performed his first miracle by turning water into wine during the wedding reception at Cana (John 2:1-11). Wine is mentioned 185 times in the Old Testament and 26 times in the New Testament. | + | There is debate about whether the wine mentioned in the [[New Testament]] in most modern translations was really grape juice. Jesus served it at the Last Supper and performed his first miracle by turning water into wine (or grape juice) during the wedding reception at Cana (John 2:1-11). Wine is mentioned 185 times in the Old Testament and 26 times in the New Testament in a modern translation. |
| − | As the ''Evangelical Dictionary of the Bible'' (1984) concludes, "No evidence whatsoever exists to support the notion that the wine mentioned in the Bible was unfermented grape juce." <ref>See Pierard (1984); [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.w.vi.html I> benzinger, "Wine, Hebrew" ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911) v 12 pp 382-3]</ref> Some Muslims argue that Jesus—since he was a good Muslim prophet—would have converted water into grape juice because God forbids alcoholic drink. These Muslims find it "inconceivable" that Jesus would have produced a beverage that they blame for the "social and moral bankruptcy" of the West. | + | As the ''Evangelical Dictionary of the Bible'' (1984) asserts, "No evidence whatsoever exists to support the notion that the wine mentioned in the Bible was unfermented grape juice."<ref>See Pierard (1984); [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.w.vi.html I> benzinger, "Wine, Hebrew" ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911) v 12 pp 382-3]</ref> Some Muslims argue that Jesus—since he was a good Muslim prophet—would have converted water into grape juice because God forbids alcoholic drink. These Muslims find it "inconceivable" that Jesus would have produced a beverage that they blame for the "social and moral bankruptcy" of the West. But some Christians are also skeptical about whether it modern-day wine that Jesus used. |