A drunkard is a person who habitually drinks alcohol to the point of intoxication.
In the Bible, people are repeatedly warned against drinking wine in excess. The Old Testament warns that drunkards will become “a laughingstock and an object of scorn” (Proverbs 23:29). The New Testament also warns against drunkenness, saying that it will lead to punishment (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). However, it also says that if you are “drunk with wine,” then you are not guilty of breaking any laws (Romans 14:21).
Right here on Churchgist, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on WHAT IS A DRUNKARD ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, The Bible says drunkenness is a sin (Galatians 5:21). But is occasional social drinking okay for Christians, Bible Verses About Drunkenness, Did Jesus drink wine/alcohol and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.
What is a Drunkard According to the Bible
In the Bible, a drunkard is defined as someone who habitually consumes excessive amounts of alcohol, leading to drunkenness and a lack of self-control. This behavior is often condemned in the Scriptures as it can lead to detrimental consequences both spiritually and physically.
Relevant Bible Verses
- Proverbs 20:1 – “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” This verse warns against the deceptive nature of alcohol and the foolishness of falling into its trap.
- Ephesians 5:18 – “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” This verse emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit rather than succumbing to the excesses of alcohol.
- Galatians 5:21 – “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.” This verse includes drunkenness among the works of the flesh that can ultimately disqualify a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.
Stories from the Bible
One of the most well-known stories in the Bible that deals with the consequences of drunkenness is the account of Noah found in Genesis 9:20-27. After the flood, Noah became drunk and uncovered himself in his tent, causing disgrace. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the loss of dignity that can result.
In another story, Lot’s daughters got him drunk and committed incest with him, resulting in the birth of Moab and Ammon, who became the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites. This tragic event underscores the destructive consequences that drunkenness can have on relationships and families.
Overall, the Bible paints a clear picture of what it means to be a drunkard, highlighting the negative effects of alcohol abuse on individuals and their surroundings. It serves as a reminder to exercise self-control and moderation in all aspects of life, including the consumption of alcohol.
The Bible says drunkenness is a sin (Galatians 5:21). But is occasional social drinking okay for Christians?
Astrong>Although alcohol is by no means a central scriptural issue, the Bible alludes to its use. The problem emerged in Jewish experience after the conquest of Canaan. The land of Canaan flowed not only with milk and honey but with wine as well. The hills of Judea were ideal for vineyards, and so the Hebrews, whose nomadic past had shielded them, had to come to terms with alcohol as a part of ordinary life. In general, they regarded wine as a gift, and they praised God for it (Psalm 104:14-15), but saw excessive drinking as foolish (Proverbs 20:1).
It is fair to say that both total abstinence and moderate use were acceptable to Jesus. Following the parable of the children at play (Matthew 11:16-19, NRSV), Jesus added these words: “For John [the Baptist] came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'” Clearly, Jesus intended the parable to show what he thought of debates about eating and drinking. They were petty and distracting. They drew attention from the real issues facing the nation.
The apostle Paul warns repeatedly against drunkenness. A candidate for the office of deacon must not be addicted to much wine (1 Timothy 3:8). He admonished members of the church at Corinth not to keep fellowship with a member who is a drunkard (1 Corinthians 5:11). But Paul was prepared to accept as brothers and sisters those who drink and those who do not drink. He also spoke favorably of using wine for medicinal purposes (1 Timothy 5:23).
The principle governing his attitude appears at the conclusion of a section in 1 Corinthians where Paul addresses himself to varying attitudes toward eating, drinking, and marriage: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (10:31).
But what about current attitudes and practices? Shall we simply extend the biblical advocacy of moderation to our present times? To the contrary, certain scientific, historical, and cultural conditions make personal and corporate decisions regarding drinking more complicated than in antiquity. Attitudes today must be informed by both contextual and theological considerations.
For one thing, a significant difference between alcoholic drinks of the first century and of today has come with the advent of distilled liquors. In New Testament times the main alcoholic substance was wine (sometimes watered as a substitute for plain drinking water). Today, alcoholic drinks can be much more potent. Very often, such substances are not drunk as a beverage for the sake of taste and refreshment but as a highly concentrated drug taken for “the effect.”
Alcohol consumption in North America clearly has reached disastrous proportions. Millions of Americans use alcohol as a drug. It is used by many not to “gladden the heart” (Psalm 104), but to escape reality.
Alcohol is the depressant of choice for millions who find it difficult to cope with life. Increasingly, youth use alcohol as an alternative to illicit drugs. Yet its total effect is possibly more disastrous than that of hard drugs.
Our society has failed to institutionalize drinking in a way that would place it within a healthful setting and define its limits. Many who drink at bars, parties, and even in the home are separated from the positive elements of life. Alcohol has become both a symbol of tragic loneliness and a factor contributing to it.
One’s attitudes toward alcohol are seldom objective, even if one tries to be tolerant. One can be sure that a refined, cultured, gentleman from Burgundy is not likely to be an abstainer. And a wife of an alcoholic is not likely to be convinced that any policy of moderation is wise.
Christians who do not commit to a principle of total abstinence should follow a guideline that would represent both discernment and Christian freedom by allowing limited use, now and then, within the context of family, friendship, religious celebration, and diplomatic protocol.
These limits need not imply the strictness of an absolute principle. Still, they should be taken seriously. Such a policy offers the practical advantages of sobriety, the personal advantages of responsible maturity, and the theological advantages of biblical wisdom.
Bible Verses About Drunkenness
1. Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:7
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
3. 1 Samuel 1:15
And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
4. Galatians 5:21
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.
5. Isaiah 5:22
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
6. Luke 21:34
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.
7. Habakkuk 2:15
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
8. John 2:10
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.
9. Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
10. Acts 2:15
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
11. Luke 5:39
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
12. Genesis 19:36
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
13. Genesis 9:24
And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
14. Isaiah 51:21
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
15. Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
16. Romans 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.
17. Genesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
18. 1 Corinthians 6:10
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
19. Genesis 9:21
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
20. Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
21. Isaiah 28:7
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.
22. Proverbs 31:4
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
23. 1 Peter 4:3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
24. Isaiah 5:11
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
25. 1 Timothy 3:3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
26. Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
27. Proverbs 23:29
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
28. Jeremiah 25:27
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
29. Proverbs 23:20
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Did Jesus drink wine/alcohol?
Christ’s first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana almost certainly involved a fermented beverage. According to Jewish wedding tradition, fermented wine was always served at weddings; if Jesus had provided only grape juice, the master of the feast would have complained. Instead, he said the wine was better than what was previously served; it was apparently a “fine” wine (John 2:10–11).
The Greek word for “drunk” in John 2:10 is methuo, which means “to be drunken” or intoxicated. It is the same word used in Acts 2:15 where Peter is defending the apostles against accusations of drunkenness. The testimony of the master of the feast is that the wine Christ produced was able to intoxicate.
Of course, just because Jesus turned water into wine doesn’t prove that He drank the wine at the wedding, but it would have been normal for Him to do so. What it does prove is that Jesus doesn’t condemn drinking wine any more than He condemns eating bread. Sinful people abuse what is not inherently sinful. Bread and wine are not sinful, but gluttony and drunkenness are (Proverbs 23:2; Ephesians 5:18).
In Luke 7:33–34, Jesus said, “For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (emphasis added). In verse 33 Jesus is making a contrast between John the Baptist’s “drinking no wine” and His own practice. Jesus goes on to say the religious leaders accused Him (falsely) of being a drunkard. Jesus was never a drunkard, any more than He was a glutton. He lived a completely sinless life (1 Peter 2:22); however, Luke 7 strongly suggests that Jesus did indeed partake of alcoholic wine.
The Passover celebration would also have commonly included fermented wine. The Scriptures use the term “fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:27–29; Mark 14:23–25; Luke 22:17–18). Of course, Christ participated in drinking from the Passover cup (Mark 14:23).
All Christians would agree drunkenness is sinful, and Christ Himself warns against it (Luke 12:45). However, a biblical view of wine is that it is given as something to delight in (Psalm 104:14–15). There are plenty of warnings against alcohol abuse, in texts like Proverbs 20:1, because sinful men are more likely to abuse wine than to use it in moderation. Those who try to use Jesus’ probable use of wine to excuse their drunkenness should heed the warning in Luke 12:45. Christians who want to keep a biblical view of drinking wine should either drink in moderation, never to drunkenness, or abstain totally.