Alcohol

What The Bible Says About Alcohol

Introduction: The Christian and the Cup

Few topics stir more debate in the church than alcohol. Some treat it as a demonic poison that has no place in a believer’s life. Others toast their liberty in Christ like it’s part of communion. Somewhere in between are confused Christians wondering if they should sip in secret or speak in condemnation.

But Scripture isn’t silent. And it doesn’t hand us a watered-down opinion. The Bible speaks with moral clarity, not cultural panic. This isn’t about absolutes of abstinence or open-bar grace abuse—it’s about wisdom, witness, and the fear of the Lord.

The question isn’t just, “Can Christians drink alcohol?”

It’s “Should Christians drink alcohol—and if so, how?”

Wine in the Bible: From Blessing to Brawling

Wine is all over the Bible. You don’t have to like it, but you can’t ignore it. It was:

• A common beverage in ancient times

• Used in feasts and celebrations

• A symbol of blessing and abundance

• Even part of the Passover and Lord’s Supper

“Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.” — Proverbs 20:1 (NLT)

This passage doesn’t prohibit wine—it warns against being led by it. That’s the consistent theme: alcohol in moderation is tolerated. Alcohol in control is forbidden.

Old Testament: Joy, Warnings, and the Nazarite Vow

Wine was a normal part of life in Israel, including temple sacrifices:

“You must present one quart of wine for a liquid offering with each lamb.” — Numbers 28:7 (NLT)

Wine was used for merriment:

"You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength." - Psalms 104:14-15 (NLT)

And yet, many of the greatest examples of devotion abstained completely:

• Nazarites were forbidden to drink wine (Numbers 6:3)

• Priests were prohibited from drinking when on duty (Leviticus 10:9)

• Kings and rulers were warned that strong drink perverts justice (Proverbs 31:4–5)

This pattern isn’t about sin—it’s about seriousness. Those in spiritual authority or leadership are held to a higher standard. That’s not legalism. That’s Scripture.

Jesus and Wine: Water into What?

Jesus didn’t avoid wine. His first public miracle was at a wedding feast:

“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” — John 2:11 (NLT)

The context is a wedding party. Jesus didn’t just turn water into wine—He turned it into good wine (John 2:10), meaning the real fermented kind, not some sanitized grape juice version. The Greek word used is οἶνος (oinos) – Strong’s G3631 – which always refers to real, fermented wine.

He also drank wine Himself:

“For John the Baptist didn’t drink wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard…’” — Luke 7:33–34 (NLT)

Jesus wasn’t a drunkard—but He wasn’t a teetotaler either.

Merriment and Medicine: Wine in the New Testament

While much of the modern debate around alcohol centers on morality, Scripture presents wine in a wider lens. In the New Testament, wine is shown to serve two notable and legitimate purposes: celebration and healing.

First, celebration. As already noted, Jesus’s first miracle was performed at a wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine—not merely as a party trick, but as a revelation of His glory:

“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” — John 2:11 (NLT)

The setting was a joyful occasion, and the miracle affirmed that celebration—done rightly—is not incompatible with holiness. The wine wasn’t condemned; it was created by the Word made flesh.

But wine also shows up in Scripture as medicine. Paul gives this personal instruction to Timothy:

“Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.” — 1 Timothy 5:23 (NLT)

The Greek word for wine here is again οἶνος (oinos) – fermented wine. Paul wasn’t suggesting fermented grape juice as a metaphor for spiritual joy. He was prescribing a real, practical medicinal solution. In a world without modern antibiotics, wine was known for its purifying properties and was commonly used to treat waterborne illness and stomach ailments.

This instruction also implies something important: Timothy had likely been abstaining. Possibly out of conviction or caution. Paul, knowing his frequent illnesses, tells him to stop avoiding it entirely.

In other words: wine is not merely portrayed as a symbol of judgment or a temptation toward sin—it is also a gift when used rightly. It brought joy at the wedding. It brought healing to Timothy’s body. That’s why Scripture’s approach is nuanced and sober, not reactionary or permissive.

The Sin Is Not Drinking—It’s Drunkenness

Scripture never condemns drinking outright. It repeatedly condemns drunkenness:

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…” — Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.” — Romans 14:21 (NLT)

The Greek word for “drunk” in Ephesians 5:18 is μεθύσκω (methyskō) – Strong’s G3182 – which means to be intoxicated, under the influence, or controlled by alcohol. That’s the line. You don’t have to cross it far to violate it. Scripture draws a hard boundary around the idea of being led by anything other than God’s Spirit.

Drunkenness isn’t just a bad look—it’s a spiritual betrayal. It places another influence in the throne room of your mind.

Wisdom, Weakness, and the Weaker Brother

Paul raises another issue: Christian liberty doesn’t give us the right to ignore others’ struggles.

“You must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.” — 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

In a church culture shaped by trauma, addiction, and new believers, flaunting alcohol is not freedom—it’s foolishness. You may be able to drink without sinning, but you’re not allowed to drink without thinking.

If your “right” to drink damages someone else's walk with Christ, you’re not walking in love—you’re walking in pride. Christian liberty is about love, not license.

Leadership and Alcohol: A Higher Bar

Scripture consistently holds church leaders to a higher standard:

“An elder must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker…” — Titus 1:7 (NLT)

“A deacon must not be a heavy drinker or dishonest with money.” — 1 Timothy 3:8 (NLT)

The Greek phrase μὴ πάροινον (mē paroinon) – Strong’s G3943 – literally means “not addicted to wine” or “not given to frequent drinking.” This isn’t prohibition—it’s precaution. Elders, pastors, and teachers are called to live above reproach. That includes their cup.

If you're called to leadership, you're called to limit liberty for the sake of others' holiness.

Drinking and the Fear of the Lord

This is where most modern Christians fall off the wagon—not in what they do, but how they think about what they do.

If you treat alcohol casually, selfishly, or proudly—you are not walking in the fear of the Lord.

“Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.” — Proverbs 28:14 (NLT)

“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” — Proverbs 3:7 (NLT)

We don’t make drinking decisions in a vacuum. We make them in a world full of temptation, addiction, stumbling blocks, and compromised witness. The fear of the Lord is the lens through which every glass must be viewed.

So... Can Christians Drink?

Yes. But here’s the better question: Why would you?

Are you drinking to unwind—or to escape?

Are you drinking in private—or in pride?

Is it done in the fear of the Lord—or in the name of Christian liberty?

Paul says:

“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial.” — 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT)

We are not slaves to the bottle, the bar, or even our brothers’ opinions. We are slaves to Christ. And for many of us, the wisest, most God-honoring choice will be abstinence—not out of fear of sin, but out of a desire to stay sober-minded, Spirit-filled, and stumbling-block free.

Conclusion: Not Legalism—Lordship

This is not about rules. It’s about reverence. It’s not about judging others—it’s about judging your heart.

If you drink, let it be done in moderation, humility, and discernment. If you abstain, do it not out of pride, but for purity and protection. And whether you eat or drink, do it all to the glory of God.

In a world drunk on self, the church should stand out—not just by what’s in our cup, but by what’s in our hearts.