Water Into Alcohol? By: Zach Collins Question: In the first miracle that Jesus performed, in John 2, how do we know that Jesus did not turn water into alcoholic wine? Recently, a person submitted this question that I want to address via an article. In the English language, the term “wine” has come to carry the connotation of alcoholic drink, nothing more and nothing less. As a result, for centuries, many have utilized this passage to promote social drinking amongst Christians, by saying, “If Jesus turned water into wine, it must be permissible to drink wine in a social setting.” But, let me pose you a question of consideration. Is the wine referenced in John 2 fermented or unfermented wine?  The Greek word for “wine”, found in the New Testament, is oinos. The word “wine”, in the Bible, is more akin to the word “drink” in our culture. If I say, “I need a drink”, what kind of drink would I be talking about? Well, to determine the “drink” I am referencing, you would first need context of my statement. Such is the case for “wine” in the Bible. Unlike the English language, the word “wine”, in the Greek, can either refer to fermented or unfermented drink. To determine its usage, we must examine the context of the passage.  Let’s begin with a little background. In John 2, we find the account of Jesus at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Amid this traditional celebration, an embarrassment, according to tradition occurs, when the wedding host runs out …