Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4434 drinking  »  4436 drinking, abstention from

Scripture indicates that the abuse of drinking, such as drunkenness, is unacceptable. It also indicates the advantages of abstention from drinking in certain situations.

For some, at certain times, total abstinence is right

Leviticus 10:8-9; Ezekiel 44:21 priests; Numbers 6:1-4,20 Nazirites; Judges 13:2-5,7,13-14; Proverbs 31:4-5; Isaiah 22:12-13; Jeremiah 35:1-14; Daniel 1:5-16

John the Baptist:

Matthew 11:18; Luke 1:15 Matthew 27:34 Jesus Christ; Romans 14:21 the Christian who does not want to give offence

Warnings against the abuse of alcohol

Isaiah 5:11 See also Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:22; Habakkuk 2:15; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Corinthians 11:20-21; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:7-8; Titus 2:3

Christian leaders are to be sober

1 Timothy 3:2-3 See also 1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:7

Examples of drunkenness

Genesis 9:20-21; Genesis 19:30-35; 1 Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 11:12-13; 1 Kings 16:9; Kings 20:16; Esther 1:10; Isaiah 28:7; Isaiah 56:10-12; Matthew 24:49 pp Luke 12:45

Some accusations of drunkenness were unfounded

1 Samuel 1:13-15; Matthew 11:19 pp Luke 7:34; Acts 2:13-15 the disciples on the day of Pentecost

See also

5850  excess
5947  shame
6106  addiction
7734  leaders, spiritual
8339  self-control
8430  fasting
8821  self-indulgence