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1But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance, 3and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, 4that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.

6Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded. 7In all things show yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.

9Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, 10not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

15Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Wine

Wine

Passage Study | Titus 2:3 | Hershel Wayne House

The "wine" spoken of in this passage is with little doubt fermented since the word is oinos (οἶνος), a translation of the Hebrew word yayin (יַ֜יִן). The word for "grape juice" (thus not fermented) is trux (τρύξ), a word not found in the New Testament. The limited use of grape juice may relate to the rapid fermentation of grape juice in the climate of Israel. It was common, however, to mix two to three parts water with wine in the first century, a practice that came from Greece with the Hellenizing influence that came from Alexander the Great's entrance into Semitic culture in the middle of the 4th century B.C. This was largely done in order to lessen the cost of wine rather than for sterilizing the water, which is sometimes posited as the reason.

You may read a more extensive study of wine in my article on wine at [H. Wayne House], "Wine," Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 2, J-Z, Walter A. Elwell, Gen. Ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), 2145-2148.