Bible Verses About Addiction

Scripture meets addiction with both honesty and hope. These verses about addiction speak to the struggle, the slavery, and the freedom that Christ offers.

“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” — John 8:34 (KJV)

Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin — Jesus answers people who had just insisted they were never in bondage. The diagnosis is given to those denying it.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36 (KJV)

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Freedom is described as granted from outside rather than achieved.

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” — Romans 7:15 (KJV)

What I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Paul describes the split will in the first person, which is why the passage is quoted so often in recovery.

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” — Romans 7:24-25 (KJV)

O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me — the cry is a question about rescue, not a resolution to try harder. The answer given is a person.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)

Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price — written to a congregation in a city famous for its vices. Ownership is the argument, not shame.

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” — 2 Peter 2:19 (KJV)

Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage — a definition of addiction in a sentence. It appears in a passage about promised liberty that enslaves.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” — Proverbs 20:1 (KJV)

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Deception is named as the mechanism rather than weakness.

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” — Proverbs 23:29-32 (KJV)

At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder — the passage is a detailed description of a hangover and its causes. Scripture is unusually specific here.

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” — Ephesians 5:18 (KJV)

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. A substitution is offered rather than only a prohibition.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” — Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again. Entangled again concedes that relapse is the danger addressed.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” — Isaiah 61:1 (KJV)

To proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison — the text Jesus read aloud to open his ministry. Captivity is the condition the mission names first.

“Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.” — Psalm 107:13-14 (KJV)

They cried unto the LORD and he brake their bands in sunder — said of people sitting in darkness because they rebelled. The rescue follows the crying, not the deserving.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” — Romans 8:2 (KJV)

The law of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the law of sin and death. One power is described as displacing another, which is different from resolve.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” — 1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall — placed immediately before the promise about temptation. Confidence is named as its own risk.

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” — Micah 7:8 (KJV)

When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. The falling is stated as a matter of when.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Completion is credited to the one who started it.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about addiction?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on addiction: John 8:34, John 8:36, Romans 7:15, Romans 7:24-25, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Peter 2:19, Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:29-32, Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:1, Isaiah 61:1, Psalm 107:13-14, Romans 8:2, 1…

What is a good Bible verse about addiction?

John 8:34 is the passage most often quoted on addiction, with John 8:36 and Romans 7:15 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these addiction verses?

You can read all of these verses about addiction — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.