Pacesetters Bible School: Bible Questions

Question 15: Having a Dram? Where does it say in the Bible, "A dram (occasional) drinker is worse than a drunk." Someone asked me, but I have searched high and low and can't find that anywhere. I honestly don't think it says that in the Bible! Can you help? Thank you! A: You are quite right. You can't find that saying because it is not in the Bible. Indeed, it does not reflect the Biblical teaching on the use of alcoholic beverages. It sounds like a proverb, but I can't find it in any reference offhand.

The Bible does warn against drinking to excess (Proverbs 20:1, and various comments in the letters of Paul), but it does not reject drinking. Jesus made wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2), Paul recommended wine to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23), and even more importantly wine and beer were allowed and even encouraged in celebrations in ancient Israel (Deuteronomy 14:26). On the other hand, there are warnings against it, such as for the priests when they served in the Temple (Leviticus 10:9).

The reason I want to say more about this than merely to answer your question (it's not in the Bible), is that this proverb reflects a way in which we humans try to protect against violation of the law. It has been happening since the first sin.

(16) And YHWH God commanded the human saying, "From all the trees of the garden you may certainly eat, (17) but from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you may not eat from it, because in the day you eat from it you will definitely die." -- Genesis 2:16-17 (Author's Translation)

But what does Eve say in response to the serpent? "God has said, 'You shall not eat from it, *neither shall you touch it,* lest you die'" (Genesis 3:3, Author's Translation). We think we protect ourselves from violation by making the command stronger, when actually we can detract from it.

I happen to choose not to drink alcoholic beverages at all. But that is a choice based on how I believe I would react to drinking and also on my influence on others. I would like to make it clear that others can say no to all drinking and that's OK. But I would also emphasize that the Bible does not command this; it is my way of obeying the command to be sober. If someone else is capable of drinking for pleasure and not taking it to excess, that is their decision, and they should not be judged for it.

Asking a new Bible Question

Email questions@biblepacesetter.org with your Bible question. Answers will be posted to our Bible Questions mailing list, and then added to our archive of questions here on the Pacesetters Bible School web site.

Subscribing to our Bible Questions List

Pacesetters Bible School Bible questions e-mail list: