God's
Word from the Scriptures
versus
Man's Doctrine on
the issue of Alcohol
Scripture Index
| Genesis 9:20-27 | A ”man of distinction” and the tragic consequences of his drunkenness. |
| Genesis 19:30-38 | Drinking results in Lot’s debauchery of his own daughters. |
| Leviticus 10:8-11 | The Lord commanded Aaron and his sons not to drink either wine or strong drink while rendering service for God. |
| Numbers 6:3 | The vow of the Nazarite excluded drinking wine and strong drink. |
| Deuteronomy 21:20 | "Drinking is one of the attributes of a stubborn, rebellious, and disobedient son." |
| Judges 13:4, 7, 14 | Samson’s mother was expressly commanded by the angel of the Lord not to drink wine or strong drink. |
| I Samuel 25: 36-38 | "Nabal, an evil, drinking man was smitten by the Lord." |
| II Samuel 11:13 | "By the use of strong drink, David led Uriah into a fatal trap." |
| II Samuel 13:28-29 | "Amnon, on a drinking spree, was murdered by the servants of his brother, Absalom." |
| I Kings 16:8-10 | "While Elah, King of Israel, was ”drinking himself drunk,” one of his captains, who had conspired against him, killed him." |
| I Kings 20:13-21 | "While Ben-hadad, King of Syria, and thirty-two other kings were drinking themselves drunk in their pavilions, a small band of Israelites fell upon the Syrians and put them to flight." |
| Esther 1:5-22 | "After a week’s feasting and drinking King Ahasuerus drunkenly tried to subject Vashti, his queen, to the beastly gaze of the inebriated people and princes." |
| Proverbs 20:1 | No wise person will allow himself to be deceived by wine which is a mocker or by strong drink which is raging. |
| Proverbs 21:17 | Drinking leads to poverty. |
| Proverbs 23:20-21 | Winebibbers in poverty. |
| Proverbs 23:29-30 | "Strong drink produces sorrow, woes, contentions, babbling, wounds without cause and redness of eyes." |
| Proverbs 23:31-35 | Look not – drink not. |
| Proverbs 31:4-5 | Officials with the responsibility of human life on their hands should not imbibe. |
| Ecclesiastes 2:3 | "The writer of Ecclesiastes tried strong drink but in the end admitted that this too was vanity. (Eccl. 2:11, 12:8)" |
| Ecclesiastes 10:17 | That nation is blessed whose leaders eat for strength and refrain from drunkenness. |
| Isaiah 5:11-12 | Woe is pronounced on those who give themselves to strong drink. |
| Isaiah 5:22 | Further woe is pronounced upon the drunkards. |
| Isaiah 22:13-14 | Drinking often goes with carnal living and is classified as iniquity. |
| Isaiah 28:1, 3 | A woe is pronounced upon the drunkards of Ephraim who shall be trodden under foot. |
| Isaiah 28:7 | Prophets and priests become incapable of spiritual leadership because of their drinking. (Ezekial 44:21) |
| Isaiah 56:12 | Drinking accompanies foolish optimism and the sinner’s vain hope that his sins will not find him out. |
| Jeremiah 35:5-8, 14, 19 | Rechabites who steadfastly held to total abstinence assured of God’s continued blessings. |
| Daniel 1:5, 8, 16, 20 | Daniel who refused to drink the king’s wine was especially blessed by the Lord. |
| Daniel 5:1-4 | A tragic example of a king who drank and who led his people to do likewise: desecrating the sacred; turning to idolatry. |
| Hosea 4:11 | Strong drink and immorality go hand in hand. |
| Hosea 7:5 | The king by his drinking was not only made sick but became scornful. |
| Joel 3:3 | Young women were sold for the price of a drink. |
| Amos 4:1 | "Dissolute women, oppressors of the poor, call for their drink." |
| Amos 6:3-6 | "The evil, idle rich who were given to imbibing wine were not concerned about the affliction of the poor." |
| Habakkuk. 2:5 | Arrogance is inflamed by drink. |
| Habakkuk 2:15-16 | It is wrong to lead another to drink. Drink leads to shame and humiliation. |
| Matthew 24:48-51 | Drinking is not consistent with alertness. (Luke 12:45-46) |
| Luke 1:15 | Greatness of John the Baptist linked with his total abstinence. |
| Luke 21:34 | Drinking prevents men from being prepared for the judgment day. |
| Romans 13:13 | "All are admonished to walk honestly, not in rioting and drunkenness." |
| Romans 14:21 | Christians are admonished not to drink lest a brother be caused to stumble. |
| I Corinthians 5:11 | Christians forbidden to keep company with drunkards. |
| I Corinthians 6:10 | No drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom of God. |
| I Corinthians 11:21 | The Lord’s Supper no time for drunkenness. |
| Galatians 5:21 | Drunkenness prevents men from inheriting the Kingdom of God. |
| Ephesians 5:18 | Christians commanded not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit. |
| I Timothy 3:3, 8 | Church leaders should not be ”given to wine |