Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
The Two Wines: Life or Decay
Scripture speaks of wine in more than one sense, and the difference is not hidden. One wine is produced by fermentation, which is a process of decay. The other is the fresh fruit of the vine, which is a symbol of joy, blessing, and life. English translations use the same word for both, but the context makes the distinction clear. One wine is the result of yeast consuming sugar and dying in its own waste. The other is the pure, God given juice of the grape. One is associated with corruption. The other is associated with the goodness of God. Seeing this distinction removes confusion and reveals the beauty of the gospel with perfect simplicity.
Fermentation begins when the grape is crushed and the juice is exposed to air. Natural yeast begins feeding on the sugars. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. When the alcohol level rises high enough, the yeast dies in its own waste. This is not creation. It is decomposition. Alcohol is not the fruit of life. Alcohol is the byproduct of death.
This is why Scripture uses leaven as a symbol of corruption. Leaven is yeast. Yeast is decay in motion. Paul writes, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened” in 1 Corinthians 5:7. He also warns, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” in Galatians 5:9. Leaven spreads. Leaven corrupts. Leaven transforms by decay. This is why the Passover required unleavened bread. No yeast. No fermentation. No symbol of corruption in the presence of the Lamb.
Scripture also warns plainly against fermented wine. Proverbs 23:31 to 32 says, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” This describes fermentation. The command is simple. Do not even look at it. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Habakkuk 2:15 declares, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink.” Fermented wine is consistently associated with danger, deception, and moral collapse.
Yet Scripture also speaks of wine as a blessing. This is where confusion often arises. The Bible uses the same English word for two different products, but the context makes the meaning clear. Fresh, unfermented wine is a symbol of joy, abundance, and God’s blessing. Isaiah 65:8 says, “Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it.” Wine in the cluster is not alcoholic. It is fresh juice still inside the grape. Proverbs 3:10 says, “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Wine coming out of the press is fresh juice. Joel 2:24 says, “And the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.” Again, this is fresh juice flowing from the press. The Bible uses the same word, but the context shows the meaning.
Fermented wine is produced by decay. It is associated with danger. It is warned against repeatedly. It is a symbol of corruption and the old nature. Fresh wine is produced by life. It is associated with blessing. It is celebrated in Scripture. It is a symbol of joy and the new covenant. These two wines are not the same. They do not come from the same process. They do not carry the same meaning.
This distinction becomes especially important when considering the wine Jesus made at Cana. The wine Jesus made was not the product of decay. It was the product of divine creation. He made it instantly from water. There was no crushing, no exposure, no yeast, no fermentation, and no decay. John 2:7 to 9 records, “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.” The wine Jesus made was pure, fresh, and undefiled. It was a symbol of the joy of the new covenant, not the corruption of the old nature.
The same clarity appears in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus did not call the communion cup “wine.” He called it “the fruit of the vine.” In Matthew 26:29 He said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Fruit of the vine is fresh juice. Wine is the product of fermentation. Jesus chose His words carefully. The cup represents His blood. His blood is pure. His blood is incorruptible. His blood is life. A symbol produced by decay would contradict the meaning.
Scripture presents two wines. One is born of decay. One is born of life. One is the product of yeast consuming sugar and dying in its own waste. One is the fresh, God given fruit of the vine. One is warned against. One is celebrated. One is associated with corruption. One is associated with blessing. One belongs to the old nature. One belongs to the new covenant. Jesus did not create corruption at Cana. He created joy. He created purity. He created a symbol of the new covenant that contains no trace of decay.
This is the testimony of Scripture. This is the testimony of the scholars. This is the testimony of the gospel.
Disclaimer:
This doctrine is ancient.
The truths in this study have been taught by many faithful voices throughout history. I have learned portions of this doctrine over many years, through Scripture, preaching, and conversation. I do not remember every influence that shaped my understanding, and I claim no originality for ideas that others have expressed before me. My purpose is simply to present the teaching clearly from Scripture. I say this because many have written on this subject.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2024 – Free to use with proper attribution.
Scripture speaks of wine in more than one sense, and the difference is not hidden. One wine is produced by fermentation, which is a process of decay. The other is the fresh fruit of the vine, which is a symbol of joy, blessing, and life. English translations use the same word for both, but the context makes the distinction clear. One wine is the result of yeast consuming sugar and dying in its own waste. The other is the pure, God given juice of the grape. One is associated with corruption. The other is associated with the goodness of God. Seeing this distinction removes confusion and reveals the beauty of the gospel with perfect simplicity.
Fermentation begins when the grape is crushed and the juice is exposed to air. Natural yeast begins feeding on the sugars. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. When the alcohol level rises high enough, the yeast dies in its own waste. This is not creation. It is decomposition. Alcohol is not the fruit of life. Alcohol is the byproduct of death.
This is why Scripture uses leaven as a symbol of corruption. Leaven is yeast. Yeast is decay in motion. Paul writes, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened” in 1 Corinthians 5:7. He also warns, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” in Galatians 5:9. Leaven spreads. Leaven corrupts. Leaven transforms by decay. This is why the Passover required unleavened bread. No yeast. No fermentation. No symbol of corruption in the presence of the Lamb.
Scripture also warns plainly against fermented wine. Proverbs 23:31 to 32 says, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” This describes fermentation. The command is simple. Do not even look at it. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Habakkuk 2:15 declares, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink.” Fermented wine is consistently associated with danger, deception, and moral collapse.
Yet Scripture also speaks of wine as a blessing. This is where confusion often arises. The Bible uses the same English word for two different products, but the context makes the meaning clear. Fresh, unfermented wine is a symbol of joy, abundance, and God’s blessing. Isaiah 65:8 says, “Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it.” Wine in the cluster is not alcoholic. It is fresh juice still inside the grape. Proverbs 3:10 says, “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Wine coming out of the press is fresh juice. Joel 2:24 says, “And the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.” Again, this is fresh juice flowing from the press. The Bible uses the same word, but the context shows the meaning.
Fermented wine is produced by decay. It is associated with danger. It is warned against repeatedly. It is a symbol of corruption and the old nature. Fresh wine is produced by life. It is associated with blessing. It is celebrated in Scripture. It is a symbol of joy and the new covenant. These two wines are not the same. They do not come from the same process. They do not carry the same meaning.
This distinction becomes especially important when considering the wine Jesus made at Cana. The wine Jesus made was not the product of decay. It was the product of divine creation. He made it instantly from water. There was no crushing, no exposure, no yeast, no fermentation, and no decay. John 2:7 to 9 records, “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.” The wine Jesus made was pure, fresh, and undefiled. It was a symbol of the joy of the new covenant, not the corruption of the old nature.
The same clarity appears in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus did not call the communion cup “wine.” He called it “the fruit of the vine.” In Matthew 26:29 He said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Fruit of the vine is fresh juice. Wine is the product of fermentation. Jesus chose His words carefully. The cup represents His blood. His blood is pure. His blood is incorruptible. His blood is life. A symbol produced by decay would contradict the meaning.
Scripture presents two wines. One is born of decay. One is born of life. One is the product of yeast consuming sugar and dying in its own waste. One is the fresh, God given fruit of the vine. One is warned against. One is celebrated. One is associated with corruption. One is associated with blessing. One belongs to the old nature. One belongs to the new covenant. Jesus did not create corruption at Cana. He created joy. He created purity. He created a symbol of the new covenant that contains no trace of decay.
This is the testimony of Scripture. This is the testimony of the scholars. This is the testimony of the gospel.
Disclaimer:
This doctrine is ancient.
The truths in this study have been taught by many faithful voices throughout history. I have learned portions of this doctrine over many years, through Scripture, preaching, and conversation. I do not remember every influence that shaped my understanding, and I claim no originality for ideas that others have expressed before me. My purpose is simply to present the teaching clearly from Scripture. I say this because many have written on this subject.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2024 – Free to use with proper attribution.