Early Christians Sober
John of Lycopolis (c. 395 AD) ‘if there is any sharp wine I excommunicate it, but I drink the good.’ (‘The Lusiac History’, Ch. 35, John of Lycopolis)
Catholic
Methodius of Olympus (311 AD) Christian against tasting alcohol
Methodius of Olympus (311 AD) ‘…he who has devoted and offered himself to the Lord shall not take of the fruits of the plant of evil, because of its natural tendency to produce intoxication and distraction of mind. For we perceive from the Scriptures two kinds of vines which were separate from each other, and …
Methodius of Olympus (311 AD) Christian against tasting alcohol Read More »
Early church rules against drinking alcohol
Tertullian (c. 160-220 AD) Tertullian strikingly compared the strong penalty of the Levitical priests to ministers in the Church. ‘For abstinence from wine withal has honourable badges of its own… So true is it, that such as shall have ministered in the Church, being not sober, shall “die”’. (Tertullian, Fasts, Ch. 9, ‘From Fasts Absolute Tertullian …
Catholic Church vs Alcohol
See also: Bible says be sober again and again. Bernard Tolomeo (1272-1348) Tolomeo founded the Olivetan order of Benedictine monks. A late critic asserts: ‘They were also fanatical total abstainers … vineyards were rooted up and the wine-presses and vessels destroyed.’ Olivetans, Catholic Encyclopedia. Benedict himself (480-543) had noted that in earlier times it was …
The advantages of unfermented grape juice for the Lord’s Supper
See also: Bible says be sober again and again. Caution with the vague term ‘wine’ in communion service A minister today needs caution when using unfermented grape juice and simply calling it ‘wine’ during a communion service. Participants may become confused, unless it is specifically stated that it is not the fermented type. They may …
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