Alcoholism is a consuming issue, impacting the lives of millions across the globe. According to the Christian faith and the Bible, this behavior is not only detrimental to one’s health, but also to one’s spiritual well-being. Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly use the term “alcoholism,” it contains numerous verses that advise against over-drinking and indulgence in worldly pleasures. These verses caution believers against drunkenness, guide towards responsible drinking, and proffer wisdom on the perils of excessive alcohol.
What The Bible Says About Alcohol Consumption?
The Bible acknowledges that wine and alcoholic drinks are a part of human life. Nonetheless, it consistently discourages excessive drinking and the resulting drunkenness. Several verses warn about the dangers of alcohol and the ruinous path it can lead people down. They illustrate that excessive alcohol consumption can cloud judgement, lead to poor decisions, and cause harm to oneself and others. The Bible promotes moderation and self-control, urging believers to abstain from drunkenness, which can hinder a close walk with God.
Why Alcoholism is Considered Harmful?
The Bible portrays alcoholism as a destructive force, with multiple references to the harm and tribulation it causes. Alcohol is shown to weaken the body and cloud the mind, leading to immoral behavior, strife, and ruin. More distressingly, it creates a barrier between the believer and the divine. It robs people of the self-control and soberness needed to lead a balanced and virtuous life. It emphasizes that those who engage in such behavior will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Who Is Called to Combat Alcoholism?
According to the Bible, every believer has the responsibility to eschew the behaviour of excessive drinking. The call to combat alcoholism isn’t exclusive to those struggling with it. Churches, families, and communities are encouraged to support those battling this addiction. The Bible advises believers to bear one another’s burdens, highlighting the significance of collective responsibility and solidarity in overcoming personal struggles such as alcoholism.
When Does Drinking Become a Sin?
While the Bible doesn’t outlaw drinking alcohol, it strongly condemns drunkenness. The line is drawn when consumption becomes excess, leading to loss of control, irresponsible behaviour, and harm to self and others. Drinking becomes sinful when it causes one to stray from God’s path, disrupts relationships, or leads to neglect of responsibilities. The Bible discourages the reliance on worldly substances for comfort, instead advocating reliance on God’s faithfulness and love.
Where Do We Find Guidance and Healing?
The Bible provides guidance for those ensnared by alcoholism and points to God’s power for ultimate rescue. It promises that one is never alone in their struggle and that God offers strength to those who seek Him. The Bible also underscores the role of prayer and the church community in finding healing. By turning to God, believers battling addiction can discover the strength and determination to overcome, reminding them of their worth and the promise of a life full of God’s grace and blessings.
Below is the full list of bible verses on alcoholism (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Alcoholism
Proverbs 20:1
“1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Related Themes: Holiness Addiction Health Quitting Indulgence
Ephesians 5:18
“18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Related Themes: Holy Spirit Health Indulgence Drugs Self-Control
Isaiah 5:11
“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!”
Related Themes: Addiction Self-Control Drugs
Galatians 5:19-21
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,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.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Bitterness Adultery
Galatians 5:21
“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.”
Related Themes: Morality Morals Self-Control Adultery Substance Abuse
1 Timothy 5:23
“23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
Related Themes: Health Moderation Healing
Isaiah 5:22
“22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:”
Luke 21:34
“34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
Proverbs 23:29-35
“29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”
Related Themes: Complaining Lust
James 4:7
“7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Related Themes: Lust Bitterness Addiction Satan Surrender
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Abomination
1 Timothy 3:8
“8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”
Related Themes: Reputation Leadership
Romans 14:21
“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.”
Romans 13:13
“13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”
Related Themes: Dating Lust Drugs Indulgence
1 Corinthians 6:10
“10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Related Themes: Stealing Money Lust Trespassing Quitting
Psalm 104:14-15
“14 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;15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.”
Luke 1:15
“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.”
Related Themes: Greatness
Ecclesiastes 9:7
“7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”
Numbers 6:3
“3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.”
Isaiah 28:7
“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.”
Related Themes: Repentance Self-Control
Isaiah 55:1
“1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Related Themes: Earth Water Life Restoration Money
Leviticus 10:9
“9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:”
Hosea 4:11
“11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.”
Related Themes: Adultery Self-Control Drugs
Proverbs 23:20
“20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:”
Related Themes: Gluttony Indulgence Lust Health
1 Corinthians 6:12
“12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Related Themes: Addiction Technology Freedom Gluttony Sports
1 Corinthians 8:9
“9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”
John 2:1-11
“1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
Proverbs 23:31-32
“31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”
Titus 2:3
“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;”
Judges 13:4
“4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:”
