Drinking alcohol is a topic many wonder about. Today, we’ll see what the Bible teaches about it and how we can make wise choices in this area.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Dressing Up For Church
What Does The Bible Say About Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
Proverbs 20:1
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
This verse highlights the negative effects of alcohol and warns against being deceived or fooled by its allure. It emphasizes the importance of wisdom in making choices regarding alcoholic beverages.
It suggests that excessive drinking can lead to mockery and rage, indicating the potential for alcohol to impair judgment and lead to destructive behavior.
Proverbs 23:20-21
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
This verse cautions against associating with those who indulge in excessive drinking and gluttonous behavior. It warns of the consequences of such choices, including poverty and a lack of material wealth.
Furthermore, it highlights the negative effects of alcohol, linking it to drowsiness and a decline in character, as symbolized by being clothed in rags.
Proverbs 23:29-30
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.”
This verse draws attention to the detrimental outcomes of excessive alcohol consumption. It lists the various consequences, including sorrow, strife, physical harm, and impaired vision.
It suggests that those who indulge in wine and mixed drinks without moderation may experience the negative effects of their choices.
Ephesians 5:18
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
This verse encourages believers to avoid becoming intoxicated with wine and engaging in excessive drinking. Instead, it advocates for being filled with the Holy Spirit, seeking spiritual fulfillment and guidance.
It emphasizes the need to prioritize a relationship with God over the temporary pleasures and potential harms associated with alcohol.
1 Timothy 3:8
“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre.”
This verse provides guidance for church leaders, highlighting the importance of temperance and self-control, particularly in relation to alcohol consumption.
It emphasizes the need for deacons to avoid being indulgent or excessively focused on material gain, including an excessive appetite for wine.
1 Timothy 5:23
“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
This verse suggests that moderate alcohol consumption can have medicinal benefits, specifically in terms of addressing stomach ailments and certain health issues.
It recognizes that in certain circumstances, the moderate consumption of wine can serve a purpose beyond mere indulgence.
Proverbs 31:4-5
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”
This verse advises rulers and leaders, symbolized by kings and princes, to exercise caution when it comes to alcohol consumption.
It warns against the potential for drinking to impair their judgment and compromise their ability to make wise decisions.
Isaiah 5:11
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”
This verse issues a warning to those who prioritize and pursue strong drink or excessive indulgence in alcohol.
It highlights the self-destructive nature of such behavior and the potential for addiction, symbolized by the continuous pursuit of intoxication from morning until night.
Luke 1:15
“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”
This verse refers to John the Baptist, indicating that he would abstain from wine and strong drink as a dedication to his calling, exemplifying a life of piety and spiritual connection with the Holy Spirit.
It highlights the importance of personal choices and commitments when it comes to alcohol consumption, even from an early age.
1 Corinthians 6:10
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
This verse lists various sinful behaviors, including being a drunkard, and highlights the consequences of engaging in such actions.
It emphasizes the incompatibility between a life characterized by excessive drinking and the eternal inheritance promised to believers in the kingdom of God.
Psalm 104:14-15
“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.”
This verse recognizes the blessings and provisions of God, which include the cultivation of wine. It acknowledges the potential for wine to bring joy and gladness to the hearts of individuals.
It emphasizes that when consumed in moderation, wine can be enjoyed as part of God’s provision, alongside other nourishing elements like bread and oil.
Proverbs 21:17
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”
This verse warns against prioritizing pleasure-seeking, specifically in the context of excessive love for wine and indulgence in luxurious elements like oil.
It suggests that a life consumed by such pursuits can lead to poverty and a lack of financial stability.
Proverbs 31:6-7
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”
This verse acknowledges the role of alcohol in providing temporary relief and escape from the hardships and sorrows of life.
It suggests that in certain circumstances, offering strong drink to those in great distress can provide a temporary respite from their difficulties.
Isaiah 28:7
“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”
This verse highlights the dangers of alcohol misuse, even among religious leaders. It emphasizes that excessive drinking can lead to errors in judgment and impair the ability to discern God’s truths.
It serves as a cautionary reminder of the destructive consequences that excessive alcohol consumption can have on individuals, including those in positions of spiritual authority.
Romans 14:21
“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
This verse encourages believers to consider the impact of their actions on others, highlighting the importance of not causing stumbling or offense to fellow believers.
It suggests that abstaining from certain activities, including drinking wine, can be an act of love and respect for others, particularly those who may be struggling with alcohol-related issues.
1 Peter 4:3-4
“For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.”
This verse reflects on the past lifestyles of believers, noting that excessive indulgence in wine and other worldly pleasures characterized their lives before following Christ.
It recognizes the contrast between the choices of believers, who abstain from excessive drinking, and the judgments and criticisms they may face from those still caught up in worldly excesses.
Galatians 5:21
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
This verse includes drunkenness as one of the works of the flesh that is contrary to the character and desires of God’s kingdom.
It emphasizes that engaging in such behaviors can hinder one’s entrance into the kingdom of God, reaffirming the significance of making wise choices regarding alcohol consumption.
Proverbs 31:8-9
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
This verse focuses on the responsibility of believers to be advocates for justice and speak out on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
It indirectly suggests that being under the influence of alcohol can hinder one’s ability to fulfill this role effectively, reinforcing the importance of sobriety and clear judgment.
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
This verse calls believers to live with a constant awareness of bringing glory to God in every aspect of their lives, including their choices regarding food and drink.
It encourages moderation and mindfulness, ensuring that even in matters of alcohol consumption, one’s actions align with the desire to honor and glorify God.
Matthew 24:49
“And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.”
This verse describes a servant who, despite knowing the return of his master, engages in inappropriate behavior, including associating with drunkards.
It serves as a warning against complacency and indulgence, reminding believers to remain vigilant and obedient in anticipation of the imminent return of Christ.
Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
This passage provides a comprehensive list of works of the flesh, which includes drunkenness among other sinful behaviors.
It reinforces the severity of engaging in such actions and emphasizes that those who persist in them will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 23:31-32
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”
This verse warns against fixating on the appearance and allure of wine, cautioning against being enticed by its enticing color and visual appeal.
It likens the destructive consequences of excessive alcohol consumption to the bite of a venomous serpent, highlighting the potential harm associated with indulgence.
Proverbs 31:3
“Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.”
This verse advises against the misuse of one’s strength and resources, cautioning against destructive behaviors that can lead to the downfall of even those in positions of authority and power.
While not explicitly referring to alcohol, it indirectly encourages avoiding the excessive pursuit of pleasure and indulgence, which can include alcohol consumption.
Titus 2:3
“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.”
This verse provides guidance for older women within the faith community, encouraging them to exhibit behavior that reflects holiness and integrity.
It specifically advises against the indulgence in excessive wine, affirming the importance of being examples of virtue and teachers of good principles.
Isaiah 5:22
“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.”
This verse pronounces a woe upon those who possess the strength and ability to consume wine and strong drink in excess.
It serves as a warning against the misuse of power and the potential for destructive consequences that excessive alcohol consumption can bring.