What does the Bible say about drunkenness?
Ephesians 5:18
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The Bible plainly calls drunkenness sin and warns that those who persist in it without repentance will not inherit God’s kingdom. It does not forbid every use of wine, but it does forbid intoxication and the uncontrolled living that accompanies it. God’s alternative is a life governed by the Holy Spirit and marked by self-control.
Drunkenness is sin
Ephesians 5:18 gives the direct command: “Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit”. Drunkenness belongs to dissipation—wasted, uncontrolled living. The Spirit-filled life instead produces worship, thanksgiving and proper submission to one another (Ephesians 5:19-21).
The warning is eternal, not merely practical. Paul names drunkenness among the deeds of the flesh and declares that “those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom” (Galatians 5:19-21). First Corinthians 6:9-10 likewise includes drunkards among the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom. Drunkenness must therefore not be excused as harmless fun, treated as an acceptable Christian lifestyle or hidden behind religious profession.
Wine deceives and drunkenness enslaves
Proverbs 20:1 warns, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 23:29-35 describes the progression vividly: sorrow, strife, confusion, bloodshot eyes, distorted perception and insensibility to injury. “In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper” (Proverbs 23:32). The portrait ends with the drinker waking and saying, “I will look for more” (Proverbs 23:35). Drunkenness distorts judgment, deadens warning signals and pulls a person back into the very thing that is harming him.
Not every use of wine is forbidden
Scripture condemns drunkenness, not every use of wine. Paul can therefore tell Timothy to “use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). This gives no permission for intoxication, and it never cancels Proverbs’ warning about wine’s deceptive power. Abstaining from alcohol can be wise; getting drunk is always sinful.
Christ offers forgiveness and real change
These warnings do not place drunkards beyond the reach of grace. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ died for sinners, including those enslaved to drink.
After naming drunkards among the unrighteous, Paul tells the Corinthian church: “Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). There is forgiveness, cleansing and a new life in Christ. Grace does not leave a person excusing or practising the old sin.
Repentance therefore means turning away from drunkenness, not merely regretting its consequences. The Spirit’s fruit includes self-control (Galatians 5:23), and those who belong to Christ are called to crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts (Galatians 5:24). First Peter 4:3-4 says that enough past time has been spent in drunken binges and carousing; former companions may find the change strange and respond with ridicule. That old pattern must be left behind rather than preserved for the sake of companionship.
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture speaks with unyielding clarity concerning drunkenness: it is sin, a destructive work of the flesh that dissolves self-control and leads to dissipation. Across both Testaments, God warns His people against intoxication while setting forth the enduring positive call to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.
The Law and the Sages
Wine Deceives and Strips the Soul of Wisdom
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1 (NIV)
This proverb diagnoses the deceptive nature of alcohol, declaring that whoever is led astray by strong drink lacks wisdom.
Solomon cuts straight to the deceptive heart of intoxication in Proverbs 20:1: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." From the dawn of redemptive history, Scripture records that ungodly indulgence strips humans of dignity, vigilance, and sound judgment. Immediately after the flood, Noah planted a vineyard, drank of the wine, and lay uncovered in his tent, bringing familial humiliation and grief in Genesis 9:20–23. In Genesis 19:31–36, Lot's daughters exploited his intoxication to commit incest, illustrating how drunkenness obliterates moral discernment. Because strong drink numbs the conscience, God commanded Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 10:8–11 never to drink wine or strong drink when entering the tent of meeting, so that they might distinguish between the holy and the common.
Mosaic law treated habitual dissipation with extreme gravity; Deuteronomy 21:20–21 mandated stoning for an incorrigible, rebellious son characterized as a glutton and a drunkard. In Deuteronomy 29:19–20, the presumptuous sinner who imagines peace while sweeping away thirst with drunkenness faces the unyielding wrath of God. The wisdom literature repeatedly underscores the physical and social ruins of alcohol: Proverbs 23:20–21 cautions believers not to keep company with drunkards lest poverty clothe them in rags, while Proverbs 23:29–35 paints a sobering portrait of redness of eyes, hallucinatory delirium, needless bruises, and the hollow addiction of waking only to seek another drink. Proverbs 31:4–7 warns kings and rulers to avoid wine entirely lest they forget the decree and pervert justice for the oppressed. Israel's historical narratives bear out these warnings: Nabal feasted like a king and became thoroughly drunk before his heart died like stone within him in 1 Samuel 25:36–38; David schemed to disguise his adultery by making Uriah drunk in 2 Samuel 11:13; King Elah was struck down by Zimri while drinking himself drunk in 1 Kings 16:9–10; and Ben-hadad’s drunken carousing in his pavilions brought sudden military catastrophe upon his allied kings in 1 Kings 20:16.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Genesis 9:20-23 | Noah drinks wine, becomes drunk, lies uncovered in his tent, and experiences immediate family shame. |
| Leviticus 10:8-11 | The Lord commands Aaron and priests to drink no wine when entering the tent of meeting. |
| Proverbs 20:1 | Wine is called a mocker and strong drink a brawler, deceiving those who are overcome by them. |
| Proverbs 23:20-21 | Believers are warned not to join drunkards or gluttons, as drowsiness and poverty will overtake them. |
| Proverbs 23:29-35 | A vivid description of the sorrow, wounds, delirium, and compulsive addiction brought on by lingering over wine. |
| Proverbs 31:4-7 | Kings and rulers are warned against wine, lest they drink, forget the law, and pervert justice. |
| Genesis 19:31-36 | Lot's daughters get him intoxicated to lie with him, showing how drunkenness strips moral discernment and leads to tragic sin. |
| Deuteronomy 21:20-21 | A rebellious son characterized as a glutton and a drunkard incurs capital judgment under Mosaic law. |
| Deuteronomy 29:19-20 | Presumptuous sinners who walk in self-will to sweep away thirst with drunkenness face God's fierce anger. |
| 1 Samuel 25:36-38 | Nabal drinks heavily at his feast until very drunk; his heart dies within him after soberness returns. |
| 2 Samuel 11:13 | David makes Uriah drunk hoping to conceal adultery, illustrating drunkenness used for deception. |
| 1 Kings 16:9-10 | King Elah is drinking himself drunk in Tirzah when Zimri strikes and assassinates him. |
| 1 Kings 20:16 | Ben-hadad drinks himself drunk in the pavilions with allied kings, leading to military disaster. |
The Prophets' Warning
Woe to Those Mighty to Drink Wine
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,
Isaiah 5:22 (NIV)
The prophet pronounces divine woe upon those whose supposed heroism is squandered on drinking bouts.
The prophets of Israel leveled fierce denunciations against the spiritual numbness produced by strong drink, declaring divine judgment in Isaiah 5:22: "Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink!" Such carousing was never mere social recreation; it was a brazen refusal to acknowledge the holy works and purposes of God. In Isaiah 5:11–12, a solemn woe falls upon those who rise early to chase intoxicants and linger late inflamed by wine, blind to the deeds of the Lord's hands. Isaiah 28:7–8 exposes the rot at the highest offices of the nation, showing that even priests and prophets reeled with wine and stumbled in giving judgment, filling their sacred tables with foul vomit. In Hosea 4:11, the Lord decries that whoredom, wine, and new wine steal away the understanding of His people.
Because Israel chose the stupor of wine, God repeatedly handed the nations over to an inescapable, metaphorical cup of divine wrath. Habakkuk 2:15–16 proclaims woe to the man who gives intoxicating drink to his neighbor to gaze upon his nakedness, promising that shame will cover his glory. In Isaiah 19:14, the Lord pours out a spirit of confusion over Egypt so that she staggers like a drunkard in vomit; under the weight of judgment in Isaiah 24:9–11, all song ceases and wine turns bitter. Isaiah 56:11–12 castigates self-serving watchmen who invite one another to fill themselves with strong drink while neglecting the flock. Jeremiah 13:12–14 portrays God filling kings, priests, and inhabitants with drunkenness before dashing them against one another in ruin, while Jeremiah 25:27 commands the nations to drink the cup of His fury until they stagger, vomit, and fall to rise no more. Babylon’s mighty revelers are made drunk to sleep an unending sleep in Jeremiah 51:39–40; Samaria and Jerusalem drink the cup of desolation in Ezekiel 23:33–34; Joel 1:5 commands the drunkards to awaken and weep because the sweet wine is cut off; Amos 6:6 condemns those who drink wine by whole bowls while callous to Joseph’s ruin; and Nahum 1:10 promises that drunkards entangled like thorns will be devoured like dry stubble.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 5:11-12 | Woe falls on those who rise early to pursue strong drink while ignoring the Lord's deeds. |
| Isaiah 5:22 | Woe is declared upon those who boast of strength merely to blend and consume strong drink. |
| Isaiah 28:7-8 | Priests and prophets reel through wine and stumble in judgment, defiling tables with vomit. |
| Hosea 4:11 | Whoredom, wine, and new wine take away the understanding of God's people. |
| Habakkuk 2:15-16 | Woe to anyone who makes his neighbor drink to gaze on his nakedness; disgrace replaces glory. |
| Isaiah 19:14 | The Lord mingles a spirit of confusion in Egypt, making them stagger like a drunkard in his vomit. |
| Isaiah 24:9-11 | Under divine judgment wine loses its joy, strong drink turns bitter, and carousing ceases. |
| Isaiah 56:11-12 | Unfaithful shepherds indulge in wine and strong drink while neglecting vigilance over the flock. |
| Jeremiah 13:12-14 | God fills inhabitants, kings, priests, and prophets with drunkenness as a symbol of impending ruin. |
| Jeremiah 25:27 | Nations are commanded to drink the cup of wrath until drunk, vomiting and falling helpless. |
| Jeremiah 51:39-40 | Babylon's rulers are made drunk in their feast so they sleep an unending sleep and fall. |
| Ezekiel 23:33-34 | Samaria and Jerusalem are warned they will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow from the cup of ruin. |
| Joel 1:5 | Awake, drunkards, and weep; all drinkers of wine must wail because the sweet wine is cut off. |
| Amos 6:6 | Woe to those who drink wine by whole bowls while indifferent to the ruin of Joseph. |
| Nahum 1:10 | Assyrian adversaries entangled like thorns and drunk with their drink are devoured like stubble. |
The Apostolic Warning
Drunkenness Excludes From the Kingdom of God
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:21 (NIV)
Paul places drunkenness squarely among the works of the flesh that bar unrepentant practitioners from God's kingdom.
The apostolic writings present drunkenness not merely as poor judgment, but as an overt manifestation of rebellion against God. Paul issues an unyielding warning in Galatians 5:19–21: "Now the works of the flesh are evident... drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Drunkenness is fundamentally incompatible with the holiness demanded of those who bear the name of Christ. In Luke 21:34, Jesus warns His disciples to guard their hearts so that they are never weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxious cares of this life, lest the Day of the Lord close upon them suddenly like a trap. The Lord repeats this sober admonition in Matthew 24:48–51 and Luke 12:45–46, where the wicked servant who presumes upon his master's delay by eating and drinking with drunkards receives sudden, devastating judgment.
Writing to the church at Rome, the apostle commands believers in Romans 13:13–14 to walk decently as in the daytime, casting off debauchery, orgies, and drunkenness in order to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, Paul mandates strict church discipline, commanding that the local assembly not even eat with someone who claims to be a brother while continuing as a drunkard. He underscores the eternal stakes in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, declaring plainly that neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor drunkards will inherit God's everlasting kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 11:20–22, he sharply rebukes the Corinthians for corrupting the Lord's Supper through selfish indulgence, where one went hungry while another became drunk. Peter echoes this call to radical separation in 1 Peter 4:3–5, reminding the redeemed that sufficient time has already been wasted living as the Gentiles do in passions, drunkenness, and drinking parties; those who wallow in such sin will give an account to the One ready to judge the living and the dead.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 21:34 | Jesus warns believers not to weigh down their hearts with dissipation, drunkenness, and life's cares. |
| Romans 13:13-14 | Believers are commanded to walk decently as in daylight, putting aside wild parties and drunkenness. |
| 1 Corinthians 5:11 | The church must not associate or eat with anyone calling himself a brother who is a drunkard. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Drunkards are listed among the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God. |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Drunkenness and carousing are identified as works of the flesh that forfeit inheritance in God's kingdom. |
| 1 Peter 4:3-5 | Believers have spent enough past time living in debauchery, drunkenness, and lawless idolatry. |
| Matthew 24:48-51 | The wicked servant who eats and drinks with drunkards is caught unawares when his master returns. |
| Luke 12:45-46 | The servant who begins to eat, drink, and get drunk faces sudden reckoning and punishment. |
| 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 | Paul rebukes believers in Corinth for carnal disorder at the Lord's Table, where one is hungry and another drunk. |
The Spirit-Filled Life
Be Filled With the Spirit, Not Drunk
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
Scripture directly contrasts the dissipation of drunkenness with the continuous, soul-governing filling of the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament does not stop at prohibitions; it sets forth the vibrant, Spirit-governed life that replaces the carnal impulse toward intoxication. The governing imperative is unveiled in Ephesians 5:18: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." Rather than surrendering one's mind, speech, and bodily actions to the erratic influence of alcohol, the believer is commanded to remain continually submitted to the life-giving control of the Holy Spirit. This total devotion was foreshadowed in the life of John the Baptist; according to Luke 1:15, he drank neither wine nor strong drink, being consecrated unto God and filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
When the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples at Pentecost in Acts 2:13–17, mocking bystanders cynically assumed they were drunk on sweet wine. Peter immediately refuted the slander, explaining that their bold speech and praise were not the fruit of natural wine, but the direct fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy concerning the outpoured Spirit of God. True spiritual fullness is marked by righteousness and faith, just as Scripture records of Barnabas in Acts 11:24 that he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8, Paul grounds ethical vigilance in the believer's true identity: those who sleep and those who get drunk do so at night, but believers are sons of light and sons of the day, called to be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of hope. True Christian freedom never indulges the flesh, but manifests the supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit recorded in Galatians 5:22–23, which culminates in the quiet, God-honoring crown of self-control.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 1:15 | John the Baptist is set apart to drink no wine or strong drink, filled with the Spirit from birth. |
| Acts 11:24 | Barnabas is described as a good man, remarkably full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. |
| Ephesians 5:18 | Paul commands believers not to get drunk with wine, which leads to dissipation, but to be filled with the Spirit. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 | Sons of light are told to remain sober and watchful, unlike those who get drunk at night. |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | The fruit of the Holy Spirit specifically includes self-control, directly countering fleshly indulgence. |
| Acts 2:13-17 | Mockers accuse apostles of being drunk on sweet wine; Peter clarifies they are filled with the Promised Spirit. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:7 | Those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night, contrasting darkness with daylight sobriety. |
Sober Stewardship
Qualifications for Overseers and Godly Believers
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
1 Timothy 3:2-3 (NIV)
Spiritual leaders must be clearheaded and temperate, disqualified if they are addicted to wine.
In 1 Timothy 3:2-3, the Apostle Paul establishes that an overseer in Christ's church must be above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, and not given to drunkenness. Spiritual leadership demands clearheaded vigilance, for an impaired shepherd cannot faithfully guide or protect the flock of God. This standard is not unique to elders alone; 1 Timothy 3:8 requires that deacons likewise be dignified and not addicted to much wine, guarding the integrity of their service. Similarly, Paul instructs Titus in Titus 1:7 that an overseer, as God's household steward, must be blameless and not enslaved to drink, while Titus 2:2-3 charges older men to be sober-minded and older women to avoid enslavement to wine, modeling reverent holiness for the entire congregation.
Scripture distinguishes between the moderate, lawful use of God's physical gifts and the sin of intoxication. In John 2:1-10, the Lord Jesus began His public ministry by turning water into fine wine at a wedding feast, revealing His sovereign glory and affirming legitimate festive joy. Later, in 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul urged Timothy to drink a little wine for medicinal purposes, explicitly addressing his frequent stomach ailments. Yet throughout redemptive history, the Lord has honored voluntary total abstinence as an act of singular consecration and discipline. Under Numbers 6:1-4, those undertaking a Nazirite vow separated themselves unto the Lord by completely abstaining from wine, strong drink, and all grape products. In Jeremiah 35:5-8, God praised the steadfast obedience of the Rechabites, who faithfully kept their ancestral pledge never to drink fermented beverages.
Ultimately, Christian liberty is constrained by self-control and love for the body of Christ. In Romans 14:21, believers are exhorted to forgo wine or any other practice if it causes a fellow brother or sister to stumble. Furthermore, spiritual warfare requires perpetual alertness: 1 Peter 5:8 commands every believer to be sober-minded and watchful, because the adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| John 2:1-10 | Jesus miraculously turns water into fine wine at the wedding in Cana, manifesting His glory. |
| 1 Timothy 3:2-3 | An overseer must be sober-minded, self-controlled, and not a heavy drinker or violent. |
| 1 Timothy 3:8 | Deacons must likewise be dignified, upright, and not addicted to much wine. |
| 1 Timothy 5:23 | Paul counsels Timothy to use a little wine medicinally for the sake of his stomach and ailments. |
| Titus 1:7 | An elder, as God's steward, must not be arrogant, quick-tempered, or given to drunkenness. |
| Titus 2:2-3 | Older men and older women are commanded to be sober, reverent, and not enslaved to much wine. |
| Numbers 6:1-4 | The Nazirite vow requires total voluntary abstention from wine, fermented drink, and grape products to remain holy to God. |
| Jeremiah 35:5-8 | The Rechabites obey their forefather's command never to drink wine, serving as an enduring pattern of steadfast fidelity. |
| Romans 14:21 | It is right neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything that causes a brother to stumble. |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | Believers are exhorted to be sober-minded and alert, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking prey. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 2 · Genesis 9:20-23, Genesis 19:31-36 |
| Leviticus | 1 · Leviticus 10:8-11 |
| Numbers | 1 · Numbers 6:1-4 |
| Deuteronomy | 2 · Deuteronomy 21:20-21, Deuteronomy 29:19-20 |
| 1 Samuel | 1 · 1 Samuel 25:36-38 |
| 2 Samuel | 1 · 2 Samuel 11:13 |
| 1 Kings | 2 · 1 Kings 16:9-10, 1 Kings 20:16 |
| Proverbs | 4 · Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20-21, Proverbs 23:29-35, Proverbs 31:4-7 |
| Isaiah | 6 · Isaiah 5:11-12, Isaiah 5:22, Isaiah 28:7-8, Isaiah 19:14, Isaiah 24:9-11, Isaiah 56:11-12 |
| Jeremiah | 4 · Jeremiah 13:12-14, Jeremiah 25:27, Jeremiah 51:39-40, Jeremiah 35:5-8 |
| Ezekiel | 1 · Ezekiel 23:33-34 |
| Hosea | 1 · Hosea 4:11 |
| Joel | 1 · Joel 1:5 |
| Amos | 1 · Amos 6:6 |
| Nahum | 1 · Nahum 1:10 |
| Habakkuk | 1 · Habakkuk 2:15-16 |
| Matthew | 1 · Matthew 24:48-51 |
| Luke | 3 · Luke 21:34, Luke 12:45-46, Luke 1:15 |
| John | 1 · John 2:1-10 |
| Acts | 2 · Acts 11:24, Acts 2:13-17 |
| Romans | 2 · Romans 13:13-14, Romans 14:21 |
| 1 Corinthians | 3 · 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 |
| Galatians | 2 · Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 5:22-23 |
| Ephesians | 1 · Ephesians 5:18 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 2 · 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:7 |
| 1 Timothy | 3 · 1 Timothy 3:2-3, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 5:23 |
| Titus | 2 · Titus 1:7, Titus 2:2-3 |
| 1 Peter | 2 · 1 Peter 4:3-5, 1 Peter 5:8 |
The story in order
- Noah's drunkenness and shame (c. 2300 BC) · Genesis 9:20-23 · Early instance of drunkenness leading to family disgrace.
- Priests forbidden to drink wine (c. 1450 BC) · Leviticus 10:8-11 · Holiness requires sobriety for sacred service.
- Rebellious son judged (c. 1450 BC) · Deuteronomy 21:20-21 · Drunkenness associated with rebellion and judgment.
- David uses drunkenness for deception (c. 1000 BC) · 2 Samuel 11:13 · Drunkenness employed to cover sin.
- Prophets reel from wine (c. 700 BC) · Isaiah 28:7-8 · Spiritual leaders corrupted by drink.
- Jesus turns water into wine (c. AD 30) · John 2:1-10 · Jesus' first sign, showing His glory.
- Jesus warns against dissipation (c. AD 30) · Luke 21:34 · Call to vigilance, avoiding drunkenness.
- Apostles filled with the Spirit (AD 30) · Acts 2:13-17 · Contrasting Spirit-filling with drunkenness.
- Drunkards excluded from God's kingdom (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 · Grave warning about the eternal consequences.
- Be filled with the Spirit (c. AD 60) · Ephesians 5:18 · Positive command to be Spirit-filled, not drunk.
- Overseers must be sober (c. AD 65) · 1 Timothy 3:2-3 · Leadership qualification includes sobriety.
- Believers must be sober (c. AD 65) · 1 Peter 5:8 · Spiritual alertness contrasts with drunkenness.
Key words
- Drunkenness (shikkor (Hebrew), methus (Greek))
- Intoxication by alcoholic beverages, leading to loss of self-control and reason. · Proverbs 20:1
- Dissipation (asotia (Greek))
- Wasteful living, debauchery, excessive indulgence. · Luke 21:34
- Filled with the Spirit (plēroō (Greek))
- Controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, resulting in godly character and actions. · Ephesians 5:18
- Sober (nephelō (Greek))
- Exercising self-control, clear-minded, temperate, and watchful. · 1 Peter 5:8
- Works of the flesh (erga tēs sarkos (Greek))
- Sinful actions originating from human nature apart from God's Spirit. · Galatians 5:19-21
God’s clear prohibition of drunkenness is not a denial of joy, but a protection against spiritual ruin and reckless living. For those bound by intoxication or recovering from its deceit, the gospel offers forgiveness, total cleansing, and the supernatural fruit of self-control through the Holy Spirit.
54 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Ephesians 5:18
- Proverbs 20:1
- Ephesians 5:15-21
- Galatians 5:19-25
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- Proverbs 23:29-35
- 1 Timothy 5:23
- Romans 5:8
- 1 Peter 4:3-4