Drunkenness(intoxication, surfeiting, drunkard, winebibber)
Summary
The state of intoxication from excessive wine or strong drink, repeatedly condemned in Scripture as a grave sin with devastating personal and social consequences.
☩Biblical Condemnation
Scripture consistently condemns drunkenness as folly and sin. Noah's drunkenness led to family shame; Lot's led to incest. Proverbs warns that wine is a mocker, strong drink raging, and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The prophets denounced leaders who stagger in judgment and priests who err in vision through drink.
☩Effects and Consequences
Drunkenness brings poverty, strife, and moral ruin. The drunkard's eyes behold strange things; his heart utters perverse things. He lies down as in the midst of the sea or upon the top of a mast—senseless to danger and injury. Those given to much wine are unfit for positions of responsibility; kings are warned not to drink lest they forget the law and pervert justice.
☩New Testament Teaching
Paul lists drunkenness among the works of the flesh that exclude from God's kingdom. Christians are commanded to be filled with the Spirit rather than drunk with wine. Drunkenness is especially unfitting at the Lord's table; the Corinthians were rebuked for allowing some to become intoxicated while others went hungry at their agape feasts.
Related Verses70 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Drunkenness," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Drunkenness," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).