Addiction to alcohol—like any substance abuse—brings pain and brokenness, but what does the Bible say about recovery and rehabilitation? Let’s delve into scripture to uncover the principles of repentance, redemption, and renewal that offer hope and healing to those struggling with alcoholism, as we extend grace and support to all who seek freedom and restoration in Christ.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Alcohol Consumption
What Does The Bible Say About Alcohol Rehab
Proverbs 20:1 – The Dangers of Intemperance
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
1 Corinthians 6:10 – Alcoholism and Inheritance of the Kingdom
“Nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Our Bodies Belong to God
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Romans 14:21 – The Stumbling Block to Others
“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
Proverbs 23:20-21 – The Consequences of Excess
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
Galatians 5:19-21 – Works of the Flesh and Drunkenness
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Isaiah 5:11 – Woe to Those Who Pursue Strong Drink
“Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.”
Proverbs 23:29-35 – The Woes of Wine and Alcohol
“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. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you will say, ‘but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?'”
Proverbs 23:32 –The Warning Against Alcohol Addiction
“In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”
Proverbs 20:1 – The Dangers of Drunkenness
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Proverbs 23:35 – The Aftermath of Alcohol Abuse
“When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
Proverbs 31:4-7 – The Responsibility of Leaders to Avoid Drunkenness
“It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
1 Peter 5:8 – Being Sober and Vigilant Against the Enemy
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Proverbs 31:6-7 – The Call to Stand Up for the Afflicted
“Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
Ephesians 5:18 – Being Filled with the Spirit, Not Wine
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Proverbs 23:19-21 – Moderation and Wisdom
“Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
Proverbs 21:17 – Love for Pleasure and Poverty
“Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.”
Isaiah 28:7 – The Effects of Drunkenness
“And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.”
1 Timothy 3:3 – Requirements for Church Leaders
“Not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”
Titus 2:3 – Teaching Self-control and Sobriety
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.”
Proverbs 31:4 – Kings and Leaders Avoiding Strong Drink
“It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer.”
Luke 21:34 – Avoiding Debauchery and Distractions
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”
Romans 13:13 – Walking in the Light, Not in Revelry
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissensions and jealousy.”
Proverbs 23:33 – Warning Against the Result of Drunkenness
“Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.”
1 Peter 4:7 – Being Sober and Self-controlled
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.”
Isaiah 28:1 – The Woe of Ephraim’s Drunkenness
“Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley— to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!”
Proverbs 23:30-34 – Wine as Deceptive and Addictive
“Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.”
Isaiah 5:22 – Warning Against Justifying Wickedness
“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks.”
Proverbs 20:1-2 – Avoiding Alcohol’s Deceit
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.”
Proverbs 31:6 – The Use of Strong Drink
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”
Isaiah 28:3 – The Pride of Drunkards Will Be Trampled
“That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.”
Ephesians 5:18 – Being Filled with the Spirit, Not Wine
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Habakkuk 2:15 – The Consequences of Drunkenness
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!”
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and Pray, Avoiding Temptation
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Proverbs 31:4-5 – Leaders Being Undermined by Strong Drink
“It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.”
1 Peter 5:8 – Being Sober and Watchful
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 1:13 – Preparing Minds for Action, Being Sober-minded
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
Proverbs 20:1 – The Deception of Wine
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Luke 21:34 – Avoiding the Burden of Carousing and Drunkenness
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”
Proverbs 23:29-30 – The Consequences of Excess
“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.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – Being Alert, Sober, and Ready
“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”
Proverbs 23:32 – The Warning Against Alcohol Addiction
“In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”
Proverbs 23:33 – The Effects of Drunkenness
“Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.”
Proverbs 21:17 – Love for Pleasure and Poverty
“Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.”
Proverbs 31:4-7 – The Responsibility of Leaders to Avoid Drunkenness
“It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
Proverbs 31:6-7 – The Call to Stand Up for the Afflicted
“Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
Proverbs 23:20-21 – The Consequences of Excess
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”