Were the apostles drunk when Christ was in the Mt. of Olives?

[hfyouth]

In all Gospel accounts (except John–which doesn’t expound about this topic), it states the apostles were “sleeping” when Jesus comes to them–is there any other texts which may point to them being drunk at this time?

 

[adnauseum]

hfyouth:

In all Gospel accounts (except John–which doesn’t expound about this topic), it states the apostles were “sleeping” when Jesus comes to them–is there any other texts which may point to them being drunk at this time?

All I can contribute is that I’ve been to a passover seder meal, and I don’t drink alcohol, but let me just say all in attendance were - shall we say filled with the spirit - by the end of the evening.

It’s not a put down, but there are many, many glasses of wine served during the ritual.

 

[Ghosty]

adnauseum:

All I can contribute is that I’ve been to a passover seder meal, and I don’t drink alcohol, but let me just say all in attendance were - shall we say filled with the spirit - by the end of the evening.

It’s not a put down, but there are many, many glasses of wine served during the ritual.

Try Purim sometime

The Jewish faith is not a religion of drunkeness by any means, but the amount of alcohol consummed at religious events is quite above what many non-Jews, especially Protestants, are used to.

While I wouldn’t put the Apostles off as necessarily schnockered, the amount of food and wine consummed at the Seder would definately put a dent in their ability to stay awake. It’s like a 3-4 hour long Thanksgiving feast with plenty of wine and lots of song and prayer. It’s also important to remember that drinking alcohol is part of the ritual of the Seder, so it’s not just an excuse to get drunk.

Peace and God bless!

 

[tjmiller]

St. Luke (22:45) reports that they were “sleeping from grief”. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have never slept from grief - indeed, quite the opposite! Grief for me has been a thief of sleep. However, I have in fact slept from imbibing due to grief. This may be to what Luke refers.

The Greek term here is lupe, which can signify not only sorrow, but also pain, affliction, or annoyance. For
'drunk", Luke elsewhere uses (e.g., 12:45) the Gk. term methusko - intoxicated. Thus, it would seem that the Apostles were not drunk per se, but quite likely that they were “under the influence”, having perhaps consumed somewhat excessively due to the stress of their Master’s imminent dparture.

 

[NotWorthy]

There are four cups served during the Seder, if I’m correct ( a little Scott Hahn trivia there). But wine, back then, was typically watered down, was it not?

Notworthy

 

[Ghosty]

There are four cups served during the Seder, if I’m correct ( a little Scott Hahn trivia there). But wine, back then, was typically watered down, was it not?

I don’t know anything about early alcohol making, but I doubt there was much distilling or watering down. Wine occurs naturally, after all, so I would think it would just be the natural kind. That being said, we can’t really say if the yeast that fermented the juice was robust, providing more alcohol percentage, or easily killed by the alcohol. I’m not sure we really have any way of knowing that kind of detail.

Of course, I’m just shooting in the dark. Don’t take anything I say here as authoritative. I just drink the stuff

 

[NotWorthy]

Ghosty:

I don’t know anything about early alcohol making, but I doubt there was much distilling or watering down. Wine occurs naturally, after all, so I would think it would just be the natural kind. That being said, we can’t really say if the yeast that fermented the juice was robust, providing more alcohol percentage, or easily killed by the alcohol. I’m not sure we really have any way of knowing that kind of detail.

Of course, I’m just shooting in the dark. Don’t take anything I say here as authoritative. I just drink the stuff

I know at that time that the Roman frequently watered down their wine, especially during meal times.

Notworthy

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I doubt that they were drunk. However, a rich meal with four glasses of wine, and Jesus was noted for supplying very good wine, would relax one quite well.

 

[Ghosty]

NotWorthy:

I know at that time that the Roman frequently watered down their wine, especially during meal times.

Notworthy

Good to know! My anecdotal experiences with Jewish festival would seem to suggest that watering down is not an option, but things aren’t necessarily now what they were then.

 

[Joysong]

For a Jewish feast, wine was essential. “Without wine,” said the Rabbis, “there is no joy.” It was not that the people were drunken, but in the East wine was an essential. Drunkenness was in fact a great disgrace, and they actually drank their wine in a mixture composed of two parts wine to three parts water.

 

[donosti]

hfyouth:

In all Gospel accounts (except John–which doesn’t expound about this topic), it states the apostles were “sleeping” when Jesus comes to them–is there any other texts which may point to them being drunk at this time?

I doubt they were drunk.The most logical reason is they finished the Last supper and the celebration too late in the evening,when they arrived at Gethsemane probably was around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.and they were tired and sleepy.

 

[NotWorthy]

I got to tell you, though, at the end of the song, "Look at All My Trials and Tribulations" in Jesus Christ Superstar, they sure sounded drunk!

Notworthy

 

[Melchior]

hfyouth:

In all Gospel accounts (except John–which doesn’t expound about this topic), it states the apostles were “sleeping” when Jesus comes to them–is there any other texts which may point to them being drunk at this time?

I grew up in a half Jewish home and can tell you that the Seder will make anyone extremely tired. The large amount of food, wine and a long ceremony at the meal will wipe you out. Think how you feel two hours after Thanksgiving dinner and that should give you some perspective.

Mel