DID JESUS SANCTION THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES? ANALYSIS OF THE WORD ποτήριον IN MARK 10:38

Abstract

Due to religious pluralism, which is attributed to globalization, there are a number of current issues that need to

be examined in light of God’s word as a guide for morality. One such much debated issue is whether the cup

referred to in Mark 10:38 alludes to consumption of an alcoholic beverage. There are Christians across board

who believe that Jesus sanctioned the use of alcoholic wine and this undoubtedly influences the drinking habits

of millions of Christians around the world. Often times many view this cup as a drinking vessel, while others

associate it with wine, water, Holy Communion, baptism, salvation or God’s wrath. The thrust of this paper is

to shed light on what Jesus meant in reference to the’ cup’ (ποτήριον) within the larger context of the passage.

It also endeavors to examine the significance of this word in this pericope and its parallelism within the range of

its. Literary context will play a critical role in examining the author’s intended meaning of the word and then its

contribution to the overall meaning of the passage in view of the contemporary society today. It is hoped that

by the end of this review, the reference or its sense will be established and thus the right exegetical context will

add value to the understanding of the text by the reader.