1. 1 Peter 4:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is “drunkenness”?

1 Peter 4:3 (ESV)

3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

The term Peter uses here is literally overflow of wine. Scripture says repeatedly that there is nothing wrong or sinful in wine itself. Abundance of wine is listed as a blessing (Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:13–14; Joel 2:18–19). But uncontrolled use of wine (or of anything) is sin before God. This is what Peter is describing here.