Christian Perspective on Moderate Drinking and Responsibility
The Christian perspective on moderate drinking and responsibility is rooted in biblical teachings and has been interpreted variously across different Christian traditions. The Bible neither condemns nor promotes drinking; instead, it provides guidance on responsible consumption. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul advises Timothy to "use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities," indicating that moderate drinking can be acceptable for health reasons [2].
The book of Sirach, part of the Apocrypha, also supports moderate drinking, stating that "wine drunk with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart" (Sirach 31:36) and that "sober drinking is health to soul and body" (Sirach 31:37) [1, 3]. These passages suggest that moderate wine consumption can be beneficial.
However, the Bible strongly condemns excessive drinking and drunkenness. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul warns against being "drunk with wine, wherein is excess," and in 1 Peter 5:8, believers are exhorted to "be sober and self-controlled" because their adversary, the devil, is seeking to devour them [7, 4]. The dangers of drunkenness are further highlighted in various biblical passages, including Proverbs 20:1, which notes that too much alcohol clouds a person's judgment, and Proverbs 23:29-35, which describes the negative consequences of excessive drinking [8].
Christian traditions have interpreted these biblical teachings in different ways. John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox father, argued that drunkenness arises from intemperance rather than wine itself, emphasizing the importance of moderation [6]. Similarly, John Calvin noted that while the Bible condemns drunkenness, it does not prohibit moderate drinking, citing the example of Moses [5].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, interprets Paul's advice to Timothy as a permission to drink wine in moderation, particularly for health reasons. Gill also emphasizes that ministers should avoid excessive drinking, highlighting the importance of responsible behavior [9, 10].
Sources
- Sirach “Sirach 31:36 (DRC) — Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.”
- 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”
- Sirach “Sirach 31:37 (DRC) — Sober drinking is health to soul and body.”
- 1 Peter “Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. -- 1 Peter 5:8”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 20.15: implied, (so that drunkards may not plead the example of the holy fathers as a pretext for their crime,) but an honorable and moderate liberality. I acknowledge, indeed, that the word has a double meaning, and is often taken in an ill sense; as in Genesis 9:21 , and in similar places: but in the present instance the design of Moses is clear. Should any one object, that a frugal use of food and drink is simply that which suffices for the nourishing of the body: I answer, although food is properly for the supply of our necessities”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: wine unto the bitter in soul.” ( Prov. xxxi. 6 .) And justly, because it can mitigate asperity and gloominess, and drive away clouds from the brow. “Wine maketh glad the heart of man” ( Ps. civ. 15 .), says the Psalmist. How then does wine produce drunkenness? For it cannot be that one and the same thing should work opposite effects. Drunkenness then surely does not arise from wine, but from intemperance. Wine is bestowed upon us for no other purpose than for bodily health; but this purpose also is thwarted by immoderate use. But”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:16: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess,.... The sin of drunkenness here dehorted from, is a custom, or habit, of voluntary excessive drinking of any strong liquor, whereby the mind is disturbed, and deprived of the use of reason: though wine is only here mentioned, that being the usual liquor drank in the eastern countries, yet the same holds good of any other strong liquor, as of that; nor is drinking wine for necessary use prohibited, nor for honest delight and lawful pleasure; but excessive drinking of it, and this voluntary, and with design, and on purpo”
- 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).”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 5:22: Drink no longer water,.... Though it was commendable in him to keep under his body, as the apostle did, by abstemious living, and not pamper the flesh and encourage the lusts of it, and so preserve purity and chastity; yet it was proper that he should take care of his health, that it was not impaired by too much severity, and so he be incapable of doing the work of the Lord. And it seems by this, that his long and only use of water for his drink had been prejudicial to his health: wherefore the following advice was judged proper: but use a little wine; some, by "”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 44:21: Neither shall any priest drink wine,.... That is, to excess, immoderately, so as to be inebriated with it, Lev 10:9, should not be given to it, and greedy of it, and drink it so as to disguise themselves: this is reckoned among the qualifications of a Gospel minister, Ti1 3:3, otherwise it is not forbidden good men, or ministers of the word, to drink wine, for health's sake, and for the refreshment of nature, provided it is done in moderation, Ti1 5:23, and particularly care should be taken that they drink it in such a manner, when they enter into the inner court:”