Drunk

The first recorded instance of drunkenness in Scripture is Noah's intoxication after the flood (Gen. 9:21), an episode that led to the cursing of Canaan. The Old Testament consistently portrays drunkenness as a cause of shame, poor judgment, and moral failure: Lot's daughters made him drunk to commit incest (Gen. 19:32–35); Nabal's drunkenness on the night before his death preceded Abigail's intervention (1 Sam. 25:36–37); the prophets condemn the leaders of Israel and Judah as drunkards incapable of governing justly (Isa. 28:1–8). Proverbs 20:1 warns that strong drink is a brawler and that being led astray by it is folly.

The New Testament is equally clear: Romans 13:13 includes drunkenness in conduct incompatible with living in the light of the gospel; 1 Corinthians 6:10 places drunkards among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God; Galatians 5:21 lists drunkenness among the works of the flesh. Ephesians 5:18 draws the explicit contrast: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." Paul's rebuke of the Corinthians for drunkenness at the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:21) shows how seriously the early church took this failure of conduct.