The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Communion wine

I remember reading months ago in a Hendriksen's commentary book that he wrote that the wine used in Communion in early Christianity was diluted. Now, I cannot find where he made that statement.

Can anyone tell me where he made the statement, and expound on the use of wine in Communion. IOW, is he correct on that or am I completely confused on what I read?

If I can find some spare time, I'll browse through my copy of Hendriksen on passages where he might deal with the issue of wine used for the Lord's Supper. It doesn't sound like something Hendriksen would write but rather something a fundamentalist Baptist would argue.

Thanks. It wasn't 1 Corinthians as Kistemaker wrote that commentary, not Hendricksen. So, it must be one of the Gospels; probably John as we were studying it the last few months. I'll take another look myself.

I found it. Matthew 26:29 (page 911)

"By speaking of 'the fruit of the vine' Jesus undoubtedly refers to wine. . . . . . . At this time of the year (April), and under conditions then prevailing in Judea, it is hard to think of anything but fermented grape juice, that is, wine, the kind of wine used
at Passover; hence, diluted or paschal wine."

So, what is he referring when he says diluted or paschal wine?

I have Hendriksen's New Testament Commentary as well. I just noticed John quoting him from the book of Matthew. I was a bit surprised, at his saying diluted wine.

As for your comment on "fundamentalist Baptists", that is correct. However, in Reformed Baptist circles (those who are influenced by the 1689 LBCF, not Dispis), what I am finding, slowly but surely real red wine is being used. Many of them offer both grape juice and red wine.

Tom

Our church (1689 LBC) does offer both wine and grape juice.

I found what I believe is more than a reasonable explanation and much more concerning the wine used in Protestant churches, etc. The author provides links to salient articles dealing with the subject of wine and the Church.

Go here: “Fruit of the Vine”: Three Parts Water, One Part Wine.

I see Tom jumped in this discussion and mentioned the ongoing debate whether it is even appropriate (biblically warranted) to use actual wine in the N.T. Church today. One of the salient articles I referred to above is found there which I truly appreciated. Here is a link to that one particular article: Objections to Wine Use Answered.

ENJOY!