Strong’s Greek 4213 (πόσις, posis) denotes the act of drinking or that which is drunk. While linguistically simple, its limited New Testament use highlights key theological contrasts between outward ritual and inward reality.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. John 6:55 – Jesus declares, “For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.”
2. Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
3. Colossians 2:16 – “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a new moon, or a Sabbath.”

Theological Themes

• Spiritual Versus Physical Nourishment

John 6:55 sets πόσις in a climactic statement of the Bread of Life discourse. The “real drink” refers to participation in Christ’s atoning work, contrasting temporal refreshment with eternal life. The passage draws on Exodus manna imagery yet transcends it, presenting Christ as the definitive provision.

• Kingdom Reality Over Ritual

Romans 14:17 places πόσις within a pastoral exhortation on disputable matters. Paul’s point is not the abolition of eating and drinking but the subordination of such practices to the Spirit-produced triad of righteousness, peace, and joy. The verse reinforces that kingdom life is measured by moral and relational fruit, not dietary scruples.

• Freedom from Legalistic Judgment

Colossians 2:16 uses πόσις amid warnings against ascetic legalism. By grounding believers’ acceptance in Christ’s triumph (Colossians 2:14-15), Paul disarms regulations that once served as shadows. The reference to drink underscores that even biblically instituted distinctions (Leviticus 11; Numbers 28) find fulfillment in the substance who is Christ.

Old Testament Background

Drinking offerings (Numbers 28:7), covenant meals (Exodus 24:11), and wisdom’s invitation, “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed” (Proverbs 9:5), prepared Israel to see fellowship with God symbolized through shared drink. πόσις picks up this sacrificial and communal thread, now realized in the new covenant.

Jewish and Greco-Roman Context

First-century Judaism debated the purity of cups (Mark 7:4) and abstinence vows (Numbers 6:3). Greco-Roman culture, meanwhile, featured symposia where philosophical and moral discussions accompanied wine. Both contexts heightened the impact of Jesus’ and Paul’s teaching: true spirituality is neither in ceremonial washings nor in social drinking conventions but in union with Christ.

Christological Significance

Calling His blood “real drink,” Jesus prefigured the Lord’s Supper, where the cup signifies the new covenant. The term πόσις therefore invites contemplation of substitutionary atonement, reminding the church that redemption is appropriated by faith, symbolized in the shared cup but effected by the once-for-all sacrifice.

Christian Liberty and Ethical Implications

Romans 14 and Colossians 2 converge to affirm liberty while guarding against two dangers:
• Judging others on non-essential practices.
• Using liberty to indulge the flesh (Galatians 5:13).

Believers, therefore, exercise discernment, guided by love and the edification of the body.

Worship and Sacramental Overtones

Early church gatherings incorporated the cup as central liturgy (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). πόσις anchors the tangible symbol to an ongoing proclamation: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

Pastoral and Practical Application

• Teach that authentic spirituality flows from regeneration, not dietary conformity.
• Encourage congregations to uphold conscience yet avoid imposing personal scruples on others.
• Emphasize the Lord’s Table as a living testimony of Christ’s sufficiency, nurturing unity.
• Counsel believers struggling with addictions that true satisfaction is found in the “real drink” of Christ.

Related Terms and Concepts

• ποτόν (poton, drink) – generic beverage.
• ποτήριον (poterion, cup) – often sacramental.
• κοινωνία (koinonia, fellowship) – the shared participation symbolized in cup and table.

In its three appearances, πόσις quietly but powerfully redirects attention from ceremonial preoccupations to the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ and the Spirit-empowered life of the kingdom.