📖 Biblical Definition
Drunkenness is the sin of habitual or excessive intoxication — named explicitly in the works-of-the-flesh lists: "drunkenness, revellings, and such like" (Galatians 5:21); "not in rioting and drunkenness" (Romans 13:13); "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" (Ephesians 5:18). It disqualifies a man from the eldership: "not given to wine" (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). Scripture distinguishes drunkenness (sin) from wine itself — Christ’s first miracle produced 120 to 180 gallons of fine wine for a wedding (John 2:6-10), and the Lord’s cup is wine. The line is sobriety; the sin is loss of self-control. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel... to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink" (Proverbs 31:4).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
DRUNK'ENNESS, n.
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1. Intoxication; inebriation; a state in which a person is overwhelmed or overpowered with spirituous liquors. 2. Habitual ebriety, the regular or frequent practice of intoxication, a common cause of misery and depravation.
📖 Key Scripture
Ephesians 5:18 — "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
Galatians 5:21 — "Drunkenness, revellings, and such like... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Proverbs 23:21 — "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty."
1 Corinthians 6:10 — "Nor drunkards... shall inherit the kingdom of God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern progressive Christianity treats drunkenness as preference; Paul listed it as kingdom-disqualifying.
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Galatians 5:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:10 are among the most uncomfortable verses for modern progressive Christianity. Drunkenness is listed alongside fornication, idolatry, and witchcraft as inheritance-disqualifying sin. The list is not a checklist for despair (Paul follows it with and such were some of you, but ye are washed); it is a clear warning that habitual drunkenness is incompatible with kingdom citizenship.
Modern Christianity has often gone soft here. The cultural drift toward wine-loving piety has shaded into wine-excused drunkenness in some circles. Paul's alternative is precise: be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. The verbs are passive-imperative: be filled. The same man who can drink and stop can also be filled with the Spirit; the same man who cannot stop drinking is not yet filled. Sobriety is the foundation; the Spirit's filling is the upgrade.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek methe (G3178); Hebrew shikkor (H7910).
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G3178 — methe — drunkenness; intoxication
G3182 — methusko — to be drunk
H7910 — shikkor — drunkard
Usage
"Modern progressive Christianity treats drunkenness as preference; Paul listed it as kingdom-disqualifying."
"Sobriety is the foundation; the Spirit's filling is the upgrade."
"And such were some of you, but ye are washed — the gospel still applies; just do not call sin grace."