"Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." (Proverbs 23:19-21)

""This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "You will drink your sister's cup, a cup large and deep; it will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of ruin and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria." (Ezekiel 23:32-33)

""Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap." (Luke 21:34)

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." (Romans 13:13)

"But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:11)

"Or do you not know that wrongdoers 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 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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 5:19-21)

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)

"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)

"Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain." (Titus 1:7)

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry." (1 Peter 4:3)

"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober [nepho]. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober [nepho], putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8)

"But you, keep your head [nepho] in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5)

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober [nepho], set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." (1 Peter 1:13)

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind [nepho] so that you may pray." (1 Peter 4:7)

"Be alert and of sober mind [nepho]. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

"To be sober-minded, watchful, circumspect (1Th 5:6, 1Th 5:8; 2Ti 4:5; 1Pe 1:13; 1Pe 4:7; 1Pe 5:8). The word does not mean to abstain from the use of alcohol but rather to refrain from the abuse of it which leads to intoxication." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, nepho)

• "Yayin" (Hebrew)
  
  These are some scriptural examples in which the Hebrew word yayin refers to fermented (alcoholic) wine:

  "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine [yayin], he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent." (Genesis 9:20-21)
  
  "Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine [yayin]." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine [yayin] or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD."" (1 Samuel 1:13-15)
  
  "Wine [yayin] is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)
  
  "Do not join those who drink too much wine [yayin] or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." (Proverbs 23:20-21)
  
  "Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine [yayin], because of the LORD and his holy words." (Jeremiah 23:9)

  These are some scriptural examples in which the Hebrew word yayin refers to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice:

  "Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out wine [yayin] at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting." (Isaiah 16:10)
  
  "I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine [yayin], summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over." (Jeremiah 40:10)
  
  "My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. They say to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine [yayin]?" as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers' arms." (Lamentations 2:11-12)

  Isaiah 16:10 (above) makes a reference to "wine" being trodden out at the presses, so this is grape juice being squeezed out of the grapes. In Jeremiah 40:10 (above), people were told to harvest the "wine," meaning "grapes to make wine of" (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Jeremiah 40:10). In Lamentations 2:11-12 (above), children and infants complained that there was no bread and "wine" for them, and they were starving. In these three passages, the implication is that the wine was unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice.

• "Tirosh" (Hebrew)
  
  This is the only scriptural example in which the Hebrew word tirosh appears to refer to fermented (alcoholic) wine:

  "They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution; old wine [yayin] and new wine [tirosh] take away their understanding." (Hosea 4:10-11)

  These are some scriptural examples in which the Hebrew word tirosh refers to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice, which is called "new wine":

  "He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land - your grain, new wine [tirosh] and olive oil - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you." (Deuteronomy 7:13)
  
  "then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine [tirosh] and olive oil." (Deuteronomy 11:14)
  
  "This is what the LORD says: "As when juice [tirosh] is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, 'Don't destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all."" (Isaiah 65:8)
  
  "I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine [tirosh], the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:11)

  In context, the above four passages refer to tirosh as something that the ground produces (fresh juice from grapes, called "new wine"). Alcoholic wine for drinking is produced through a carefully controlled process (see Winemaking ), it's not something that the ground produces, so the above four passages are referring to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice.

• "Oinos" (Greek)
  
  The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The Greek translation of the Old Testament (called the Septuagint ) was completed by 132 BC and is quoted more often in the New Testament than the original Hebrew is (see the above Wikipedia article).
  
  These are some scriptural examples in which the Greek word oinos in the Septuagint refers to fermented (alcoholic) wine (see these same passages under "Yayin" above):

  "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine [oinos], he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent." (Genesis 9:20-21)
  
  "Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine [oinos]." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine [oinos] or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD."" (1 Samuel 1:13-15)
  
  "Wine [oinos] is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)
  
  "Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine [oinos], because of the LORD and his holy words." (Jeremiah 23:9)

  These are some scriptural examples in which the Greek word oinos in the Septuagint refers to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice (see these same passages under "Tirosh" above):

  "He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land - your grain, new wine [oinos] and olive oil - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you." (Deuteronomy 7:13)
  
  "then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine [oinos] and olive oil." (Deuteronomy 11:14)
  
  "I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine [oinos], the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:11)

• John 2:1-10

  "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."" (John 2:1-10)

  The above passage says that the wedding guests had finished off all of the wine that was provided for the wedding, so if that wine was alcoholic then the guests who drank it were not necessarily sober at this point. When Jesus turned the water into wine, do we really believe that He was providing as much as 180 gallons of alcohol to the guests, enabling them to get quite drunk? This would seem to be out of character for Jesus because earlier we saw that the Bible strongly condemns drunkenness. Therefore, the wine that Jesus made was most likely non-alcoholic, and in fact non-alcoholic (or minimally alcoholic) wine was considered to be the "best" wine in ancient times:

  "Pliny, Plutarch, and Horace describe wine as "good," or mention that as "the best wine," which was harmless or "innocent" - poculo vini "innocentis." The most useful wine - "utilissimum vinum" - was that which had little strength; and the most wholesome wine - "saluberrimum vinum" - was that which had not been adulterated by "the addition of anything to the 'must' or juice." Pliny expressly says that a good wine was one that was destitute of spirit (lib. iv. c. 13). It should not be assumed, therefore, that the "good wine" was "stronger" than the other: it is rather to be presumed that it was milder." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible, John 2:10)

  As this Bible commentary points out, wine that was described as good or best in ancient times was non-alcoholic or minimally alcoholic. So when the master of the banquet told the bridegroom that the wine (which Jesus had made) was best, this is an indication that the wine probably had very little or no alcohol.
  
  However, some Bible commentaries express the opinion that the wine Jesus made was alcoholic. Since we can't be certain if the wine was alcoholic (and since there were no Christians at this wedding because Jesus had not yet died to atone for our sins), this passage doesn't help us answer the question of whether or not Christians are allowed to drink alcohol.

• Romans 14:20-23

  "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:20-23)

  Here the apostle Paul said that it's better (or "good" or "right") not to drink wine if it will cause issues for a Christian brother or sister. This is not likely to be a reference to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice because Christians are not likely to have any concerns over drinking non-alcoholic drinks. So Paul indicated that drinking alcohol is acceptable (but not to the point of drunkenness because of the passages we saw earlier) if we have faith that it's acceptable, unless it causes concerns for any Christians around us.

• 1 Corinthians 11:20-22

  "So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!" (1 Corinthians 11:20-22)

  In this passage, Paul said that some of the Christians in Corinth were getting drunk when they came together to eat the Lord's Supper. So they were intending to eat the Lord's Supper (otherwise there would have been no reason for Paul to mention it), but they weren't doing it properly. The Greek word translated as "drunk" in this passage is used six other times in the New Testament, and it always has the meaning (or the implication) of being drunk or intoxicated. (Here are the references: Matthew 24:49, John 2:10, Acts 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:7, Revelation 17:2, 6.) This indicates that some or all of the Christians in Corinth were drinking alcoholic wine for the Lord's Supper. We've seen that drunkenness is condemned in the Bible, so these Christians were in error for getting drunk, but it's significant that Paul did not rebuke them for drinking alcoholic wine. Paul chastised or corrected them for numerous issues throughout the book of 1 Corinthians, and this was a perfect opportunity for him to make it clear that Christians must not drink alcohol even in moderation, yet he did not chastise or correct them for drinking alcohol. He specifically rebuked them for the way that they were drinking (getting drunk), not for the fact that they were drinking alcohol.

• 1 Timothy 3:2-3

  "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)

  The Greek word translated as "self-controlled" means:

  "Discreet, sober, temperate, of a sound mind...; self-disciplined in one's freedom, self-restrained in all passions and desires" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, sophron)

  The Greek word translated as "not given to drunkenness" means:

  "Pertaining to wine, drunken. The word does not include the responsible and temperate usage of alcohol, rather, it has in view the abuse or incessant use of it. The word-picture is that of an individual who always has a bottle (or wineskin) on the table and so signifies addiction" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, paroinos)

  Notice that Paul did not say that an overseer must never drink alcohol. Instead, the Greek words that he used specifically indicate that an overseer must be self-controlled and responsible if he or she drinks alcohol.

• 1 Timothy 3:8

  "In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain." (1 Timothy 3:8)

  This passage is not likely to be referring to unfermented (non-alcoholic) grape juice because there's no reason for deacons to be limited in the quantity of non-alcoholic liquids that they drink. In fact, after Paul said that an overseer must not be given to drunkenness in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (partly quoted above), he immediately said that in the same way, deacons must not indulge in much wine. This further confirms that Paul was referring to alcoholic wine in 1 Timothy 3:8 (above). Notice that Paul did not say that a deacon must never drink alcohol. Instead, the Greek words that he used specifically indicate that a deacon must not indulge in "much" alcohol.

• 1 Timothy 4:1-5

  "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

  In this passage, Paul was saying something similar to what he said in Romans 14:13-23 (partly quoted above):

  "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:13-23)

  In these two passages (1 Timothy 4:1-5 and Romans 14:13-23), Paul essentially said that all food and drink is "good" and "clean" and "not to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" because "everything God created is good." Notice that he specifically mentioned wine in his discussion of food being "clean." If you recall, we saw that Paul indicated that drinking alcoholic wine is acceptable (but not to the point of drunkenness because of the passages we saw earlier) if we have faith that it's acceptable, unless it causes concerns for any Christians around us (Romans 14:20-23, above). In 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (above), Paul harshly condemned those who "forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods." So it's wrong to try to prevent people from eating (or drinking, based on Romans 14:13-23 above) certain things, but at the same time we should choose to abstain from eating or drinking certain things if it causes concerns for any Christians around us. Many Christians believe that drinking alcohol is a sin, even in moderation, and these passages tell us that it's perfectly fine for those Christians to choose to abstain from alcohol. But these passages also make it clear that it's unacceptable for those Christians to pass judgment on Christians who choose to drink alcohol in moderation, or to try to stop Christians from drinking alcohol in moderation. This issue of not judging other Christians is so important that Paul made this point repeatedly:

  "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." (Romans 14:1-6)
  
  "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5)
  
  "Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:25-31)
  
  "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." (Colossians 2:16)

  So nothing edible or drinkable needs to be rejected by Christians if it's received with faith and thanksgiving. We're free to eat and drink whatever we choose to (unless it will cause concerns for any Christians around us), and we're free to abstain from any foods or drinks if we choose to. But we must not judge other Christians for their choices of food or drink. Consider that the sins of gluttony and drunkenness in the Bible are not based on what we eat or drink, they're based on the quantity that we eat or drink. This is why Paul said not to indulge in, or be addicted to, "much" alcohol in 1 Timothy 3:8 (above) and Titus 2:2-3 (below).

• 1 Timothy 5:23

  "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." (1 Timothy 5:23)

  Christians who believe that drinking alcohol is a sin, even in moderation, tend to say that in this verse the apostle Paul said that drinking a small amount of alcoholic wine is not a sin as long as it's done for medicinal purposes. But can you imagine Paul telling people that if they're sick then they should steal the medicine that they need, because stealing is not a sin as long as it's done for medicinal purposes? Or that murdering someone to get their medication is not a sin because it's done for medicinal purposes? If you think about it, having a motive of "medicinal purposes" doesn't justify committing a sin. If something is a sin in the Bible then it's a sin. There's no pattern in the New Testament which teaches that "medicinal purposes" turns a sin into a non-sin. Timothy had clearly made a choice to drink only water, and Bible commentaries tend to refer to him as an "ascetic" (one who practices strict self-denial). The reason why Paul was allowed to tell Timothy to drink some wine for medicinal purposes is because drinking alcohol in moderation is not a sin in the New Testament.

• Titus 1:7-8

  "Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined." (Titus 1:7-8)

  Here Paul used the same two Greek words that we saw in 1 Timothy 3:2-3 (above). Again, notice that Paul did not say that an overseer must never drink alcohol. Instead, the Greek words that he used specifically indicate that an overseer must be self-controlled and responsible if he or she drinks alcohol.

• Titus 2:2-3

  "Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good." (Titus 2:2-3)

  Once again Paul used the same Greek word for "self-controlled" that we saw in 1 Timothy 3:2-3 (above) and in Titus 1:7-8 (above). In this passage, and in 1 Timothy 3:2-3 (above), he also used a Greek word translated as "temperate," which means:

  "Sober, temperate, self-controlled, especially in respect to wine. Used metaphorically, meaning sober-minded, watchful, circumspect" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, nephaleos)

  Again, notice that Paul did not say that people must never drink alcohol. Instead, the Greek words that he used specifically indicate that they must be self-controlled and not be addicted to "much" alcohol (similar to what he said in 1 Timothy 3:8, above).

• 07/06/2024 - Added an update in the Introduction section.

• 05/20/2024 - Added a section called "Passages on Being Sober."

• 12/25/2022 - The Lord told me (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance) to delete a personal story in the Conclusion section.

• 07/23/2022 - Modified my closing statement.

• 11/03/2021 - Made the font size a bit bigger and added a fish symbol as a favicon (which is displayed in the browser tab).

• 09/14/2021 - New article.