Paul’s teaching on the use of alcohol and its implications for the church in Nigeria

Solomon O Ademiluka

doi:10.4102/ids.v54i1.2571

Abstract

The topic of alcohol consumption is very relevant in contemporary Nigeria not only because alcohol is heavily consumed in the country, but because it is also commonly abused. Relating the issue of alcohol to Nigerian Christians is also significant, because the question of the proper Christian attitude to alcohol is always a public discourse; and whereas most Christians are not knowledgeable on the accurate teaching of the Bible on alcohol consumption, most denominations do not have any faith-based statement on it. Hence, the article examined the implications of Paul’s teaching on alcohol for the church in Nigeria regarding a Christian attitude to alcohol consumption. The target groups are the church in Nigeria, and Nigerian Christians who are confused regarding the correct Christian attitude to alcohol consumption. The article employs the exegetical and descriptive methods. It found that the Greek word oinos (wine) in the New Testament (NT) refers to fermented grape juice; this was very commonly used and was usually well diluted with water before drinking, in order to reduce its alcohol content. The article also discovered that Paul did not command total abstinence from alcohol. He only warned Christians in general and church leaders specially against drunkenness. The relevance for Nigerian Christians therefore resides in the context of widespread alcohol abuse, which is a challenge to the church. The article recommends that the church should develop a Bible-based theology in her attitude to alcohol. In line with Paul’s teaching, rather than ordering total abstinence, the programme should encourage Christians to avoid drunkenness.

Highlights

Several scholars have studied the subject of alcohol in Nigerian context. Obot (2007) examines the production and consumption of alcohol in Nigeria, Dumbili (2013) the changing patterns of alcohol consumption, and Nelson (2014) studies the attitude of the Pentecostal churches to alcohol drinking, to mention only a few
In Nigeria, the question of the correct Christian attitude to alcohol is always a public discourse, and whereas most Christians are not knowledgeable on the accurate teaching of the Bible on alcohol consumption, the various denominations do not have a common position on the issue
The target groups are the church in Nigeria, and Nigerian Christians who are confused on the position of the Bible on alcohol consumption

Summary

Introduction

Several scholars have studied the subject of alcohol in Nigerian context. Obot (2007) examines the production and consumption of alcohol in Nigeria, Dumbili (2013) the changing patterns of alcohol consumption, and Nelson (2014) studies the attitude of the Pentecostal churches to alcohol drinking, to mention only a few. The view that Paul taught total abstinence from alcohol, is hinged on a restricted interpretation of the words methais [drunkenness] and paroinos [not given to wine], and a generic consideration of the meaning of oinos. Unlike in the NT times when wine was mostly drunk as a beverage for the sake of taste and refreshment, today alcohol is often taken purposely for its intoxicating effect, which explains the enormous spread of the habit of excessive drinking ‘among the common people’ (Edwards 2019) This scenario is very much true of the Nigerian context; the first implication for the church in Nigeria is that there is the need to develop a response from the Christian perspective to the problem of drunkenness with its attendant social problems. This is the kind of attitude that [leads to] positive and progressive change’ (Njoku 2012:72)

Conclusion

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