The Drinking Debate: Bible Answers

Many believers and churches today believe that drinking alcoholic beverages is a no-no for them. Some have said that biblical wine was more like grape juice. What does the Bible say about wine and alcoholic beverages?

Wine in Bible Times

Wine was a staple in bible times. It was the beverage of choice in most cultures. Some sources say that ancient wine wasn’t as strong as today, since they didn’t use sugar or yeast which tend to increase the alcohol content. In addition, they often mixed water with wine to further reduce the alcohol’s effect.

However, people could and did get drunk from their wine and other strong drink in those days. The Bible has a lot to say about wine, mainly as a sign of blessing from God along with olive oil. Psalm 104:14-15 says: “He causes grass to grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth, wine that makes human hearts glad—making his face shine with oil—and bread that sustains human hearts.” The parable of the Good Samaritan describes oil and wine as having medicinal value. However, we know that wine could be abused, just as alcohol is today.

Old Testament Perspectives

The Torah (law) described drink offerings of wine, but also prohibited the priests from drinking wine or beer when entering the tent of meeting.

The first recorded instance of alcohol abuse was in Genesis 9 when Noah got drunk after the flood. The second was in Genesis 19 when Lot’s daughters got him drunk so that they could sleep with him and have children.

Many Proverbs mention wine, such as 20:1, wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise. Proverbs 23:29-35 is a vivid description of someone falling into a drunken stupor. Phrases like “linger over wine”, “seeing strange things and saying absurd things”, “not feeling any pain” describe the experience. The author closes with the addictive question, “when will I wake up? I’ll get another drink”. This may have been Solomon’s description of his own experience since he seems to have sampled everything in life (see Ecclesiastes).

Isaiah mentions wine no less than 25 times, several of them describing the effects of too much wine and beer. He included colorful language like “staggering, stumbling, heroes at drinking wine, being overcome,” and more.

Jesus and Wine

John recorded Jesus’ first miracle in chapter 2, turning water into wine. In fact, the steward implied that people were overindulging. He said, “everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

In Luke 7:33-34, Jesus said “For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

It’s very clear that Jesus and his disciples drank wine. In fact, his opponents accused him of being a drunkard, which implies he wasn’t just drinking unfermented grape juice! Jesus was neither a drunkard nor a glutton, but it’s clear that unlike John the Baptist, he did drink wine. John was likely a Nazarite, (see Numbers 6:1-3 and Luke 1:15) which would have prohibited him from drinking any wine or strong drink.

Paul’s Perspective

Ephesians 5 :18 – Don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled with the Spirit.

1 Tim 3:8-9 – Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 5:23 – (to Timothy), “Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”

Paul tells Timothy, “use a little wine”, while deacons should not drink “a lot of wine”, and no one should “get drunk with wine”.

One more point that Paul makes in Romans 14:21-22, It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

Bottom Line

We can summarize the biblical perspective very simply. Drinking alcohol in moderation is permissible but drinking too much, especially getting drunk and losing control, is not. However, those who feel free to drink should be sensitive to those who don’t. We know a lot more about alcoholism today, which makes Paul’s point in Romans 14 even stronger. In order to “love our neighbor as ourselves” in this area, those who drink in moderation should NOT do so, or even mention that they do, in the presence of those who don’t drink for whatever reason, either from past abuse or a conviction that they are called to abstain.