Catholic Drinking Habits and Biblical Guidance
Biblical texts present a nuanced view of alcoholic beverages, acknowledging their role in celebration and worship while strongly condemning drunkenness. Wine, often made from grapes, is mentioned as early as Genesis 9:20-21, where Noah becomes intoxicated [4, 11]. This first instance of drunkenness in scripture highlights the perils of excessive consumption [6, 11].
Despite this, wine is also depicted as a gift from God, symbolizing blessing and used in worship ceremonies and celebrations [11, 12]. For example, drink offerings consisting of wine were poured around the altar daily, on the Sabbath, and on feast days in ancient Israelite worship [3]. The Old Testament does not prohibit drinking wine in moderation [13].
The New Testament similarly reflects this balanced perspective. Jesus himself transformed water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) and instituted the Lord's Supper with wine (Matthew 26:27) [11, 12]. The Apostle Paul advised Timothy, "Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Timothy 5:23) [2, 5]. This instruction suggests that wine had medicinal uses and that strict asceticism regarding alcohol was not universally endorsed [7, 8].
However, the Bible consistently and strongly condemns drunkenness. Passages such as Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and Ephesians 5:18 explicitly warn against the sin of intoxication [6]. Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35, and 1 Corinthians 6:10 indicate that excessive drinking is a perilous sin that clouds judgment [11, 13]. The concept of "intoxicating drink" or "cup of staggering" is also used metaphorically in scripture to represent God's judgment (e.g., Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15) [9]. Furthermore, drunkenness is associated with wanton and immoral behavior in nations (e.g., Jeremiah 25:27; Revelation 17:2) [10]. Believers are exhorted to be "sober" (1 Peter 1:13), a call for clear-mindedness and self-control [1].
Sources
- I Peter “I Peter 1:13 (DRC) — Wherefore, having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Timothy “Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. -- 1 Timothy 5:23”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Drink-offering — Consisted of wine (Num. 15:5; Hos. 9:4) poured around the altar (Ex. 30:9). Joined with meat-offerings (Num. 6:15, 17; 2 Kings 16:13; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14), presented daily (Ex. 29:40), on the Sabbath (Num. 28:9), and on feast-days (28:14). One-fourth of an hin of wine was required for one lamb, one-third for a ram, and one-half for a bullock (Num. 15:5; 28:7, 14). "Drink offerings of blood" (Ps. 16:4) is used in allusion to the heathen practice of mingling the blood of animals sacrificed with wine or water, and pouring out the mixture in the worship o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wine — First mention of -- Ge 9:20,21. Was made of The juice of the grape. -- Ge 49:11. The juice of the pomegranate. -- Song 8:2. First mode of making, notice -- Ge 40:11. Generally made by treading the grapes in a press -- Ne 13:15; Isa 63:2,3. Refining of, alluded to -- Isa 25:6. Improved by age -- Lu 5:39. Places celebrated for Canaan in general. -- De 33:28. Possessions of Judah. -- Ge 49:8,11,12. Lebanon. -- Ho 14:7. Helbon. -- Eze 27:18. Assyria. -- 2Ki 18:32; Isa 36:17. Moab. -- Isa 16:8-10; Jer 48:32,33. Many kinds of -- Ne 5:18. Sweet, esteemed for flavour ”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 5:23 (BSB) — Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Drunk — The first case of intoxication on record is that of Noah (Gen. 9:21). The sin of drunkenness is frequently and strongly condemned (Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:7, 8). The sin of drinking to excess seems to have been not uncommon among the Israelites. The word is used figuratively, when men are spoken of as being drunk with sorrow, and with the wine of God's wrath (Isa. 63:6; Jer. 51:57; Ezek. 23:33). To "add drunkenness to thirst" (Deut. 29:19, A.V.) is a proverbial expression, rendered in the Revised Version "to destroy the moist with th”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 5:23: no longer--as a habit. This injunction to drink wine occasionally is a modification of the preceding "keep thyself pure." The presbyter and deacon were enjoined to be "not given to wine" (Ti1 3:3, Ti1 3:8). Timothy seems to have had a tendency to undue ascetical strictness on this point (compare Note, see on Ti1 4:8; compare the Nazarene vow, Num 6:1-4; John the Baptist, Luk 1:15; Rom. 14). Paul therefore modifies the preceding words, "keep thyself pure," virtually saying, "Not that I mean to enjoin that kind of purity which consists in asceticism, ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 24.3: counsels at all times separated from theirs, so that you may keep yourself pure.” If any prefer to view it as a general statement, let him enjoy his opinion; but, for my own part, I reckon it to be more suitable to limit it to the present context. 23 No longer drink water There are some who conjecture that this sentence, which breaks off the train of thought, was not written by Paul. But we see that Paul was not so anxious about keeping up the close connection of a discourse, and that it was very customary with him to intermingl”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 12:2: 12:2 intoxicating drink (literally bowl of reeling or cup of staggering): The cup of alcoholic drink is a metaphor for God’s judgment (Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15; Hab 2:16; Matt 26:39, 42; Rev 14:10; 16:1). Jerusalem would be instrumental in God’s judgment on the nearby nations.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 17:2: 17:2 Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16; Judg 2:17; Hos 2). • drunk by . . . her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3, 9; Jer 25:27; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33).”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 9:21: 9:21 wine . . . became drunk: Wine is a gift from God (Deut 14:26; Ps 104:15; Isa 55:1; see Luke 22:14-20; John 2:1-11). Scripture is clear, however, that excessive consumption of alcohol is a perilous sin (Prov 23:20-21, 29-35; 1 Cor 6:10).”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 14:26: 14:26 Both wine and other alcoholic drink were used in worship ceremonies (Gen 14:18; 35:14; Exod 29:40-41; Matt 26:27) and in celebrations; they signified God’s blessing (Gen 27:25, 28; 49:11; 1 Chr 12:40; Ps 104:15; Song 4:10; 5:1; Isa 25:6; Matt 26:29).”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 20:1: 20:1 Too much alcohol clouds a person’s judgment. The Old Testament is not against drinking wine in moderation (3:10; 9:5; Ps 104:14-15), but it adamantly opposes excessive drinking (Prov 21:17; 23:29-35; 31:4-5).”