The Bible directly condemns drunkenness and intoxication, but it does not contain a universal prohibition against drinking wine in every circumstance. Wine is described in Scripture both as a gift that gladdens the heart and as a danger; the New Testament calls for self-control, warns against drunkenness, and urges believers not to cause others to stumble. Many Christians consciously abstain from alcohol, and Scripture permits this choice.
What the Bible Says About This
- Scripture urges us not to get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery (Eph 5:18); drunkenness is among the works of the flesh, and drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal 5:19–21; 1 Cor 6:9–10; Rom 13:13).
- Wine is mocker, and whoever is led astray by it is unwise (Prov 20:1); its consequences are described in detail (Prov 23:29–35).
- A church overseer must not be a drunkard or addicted to wine (1 Tim 3:2–3).
- Wine is called God’s gift that gladdens the heart (Ps 104:14–15); Jesus made wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11); Timothy was advised to use a little wine for his ailments (1 Tim 5:23); Jesus was criticized for eating and drinking (Luke 7:33–34).
- If this causes a brother to stumble, it is better not to drink wine (Rom 14:21); a similar principle regarding food is found in 1 Cor 8:9–13.
- Conclusion: Scripture does not contain a universal prohibition against drinking wine, but it warns against drunkenness, addiction, loss of self-control, and causing another person to stumble. A Christian may abstain completely, and this decision does not contradict Scripture (Rom 14).
- Application: If alcohol leads to addiction or harm to oneself and others, the principles of self-control and love for one’s neighbor support abstinence; those struggling with addiction need help.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
13 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Ephesians 5:18
And do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery; instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Galatians 5:19–21
19 The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, [murder,] drunkenness, wild parties, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Romans 14:13–21
13 Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather decide not to put a stumbling block or cause of offense in our brother’s way. an occasion for stumbling or offense. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to anyone who considers something unclean, to that person it is unclean. 15 But if your brother is grieved because of food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and worthy of approval from people. 19 Therefore, let us pursue what makes for peace and mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat in a way that causes offense. 21 It is better not to eat meat, drink wine, or do anything that causes your brother to stumble, be offended, or become weak.
Psalm 104:14–15
14 You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth, 15 and wine that gladdens the human heart, oil that makes the face shine, and bread that sustains the human heart.
Proverbs 23:29–35
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has grief? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger long over wine, who come to search out wine mixed with spices. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly: 32 in the end, it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder; 33 your eyes will look upon strange women, and your heart will speak perverse things; 34 you will be like one sleeping in the midst of the sea, and like one sleeping at the top of a mast. 35 [And you will say:] “They struck me, but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I felt nothing. When will I wake up? I will seek it again.”
Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not giving ourselves over to wild parties and drunkenness, not to sexual immorality and debauchery, not to dissension and jealousy;
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Timothy 3:2–3
2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money,
John 2:1–11
1 On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, what does this have to do with Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars standing there, used according to the Jewish custom of purification, each holding two or three measures. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. 8 “Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so. 9 And when the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine—though he did not know where this wine had come from, only the servants who had drawn the water knew—he called the bridegroom 10 and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheaper wine after the guests have drunk freely. But you have saved the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus performed this first sign at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Luke 7:33–34
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
1 Timothy 5:23
From now on, drink not only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
1 Corinthians 8:9–13
9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, sitting at the table in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? 11 So the weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
