The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible speaks about gluttony not just as overeating, but as a deeper issue of a lack of self-control and misplaced priorities. It is often linked with other forms of self-indulgence and is presented as a destructive behavior that leads to negative consequences, both physical and spiritual.

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Here's what the NIV says about gluttony, with some key scriptures:

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1. A Lack of Self-Control and a Path to Ruin

 

The book of Proverbs, in particular, offers a strong warning against gluttony, often linking it with drunkenness and laziness.

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• Proverbs 23:20-21 (NIV):  "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."  This verse clearly states that gluttony, like drunkenness, leads to poverty and laziness.  It is a sign of a person who has lost control and is focused on immediate gratification rather than responsible living.

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• Proverbs 23:2 (NIV): "and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony." This is a powerful and vivid metaphor. It's not a literal instruction, but a stark warning that giving in to gluttony is as dangerous and self-destructive as putting a knife to your own throat. It underscores the severe consequences of being ruled by one's appetite.

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2. The Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit

 

The Apostle Paul addresses the broader issue of self-control and treating one's body with respect, as it is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.  This concept provides a theological framework for why gluttony is a sin.

 

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV):  "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies."  Gluttony dishonors God because it harms and abuses the very body that belongs to Him. A Christian's body is meant to be used for God's glory, not for reckless indulgence.

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3. Misplaced Worship: "Their God is Their Stomach"

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One of the most profound condemnations of gluttony in the NIV is the idea that it can become a form of idolatry, where a person's appetite becomes more important than God.

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• Philippians 3:18-19 (NIV):  "For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things." This passage is a severe warning. Paul describes people whose focus on food and their physical appetites is so all-consuming that it makes them "enemies of the cross of Christ."  Their ultimate allegiance is to their own desires, not to God.

 

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4. Part of the "Works of the Flesh"

 

Similar to envy, gluttony is a manifestation of the sinful nature (the "flesh") that stands in opposition to a life led by the Spirit.

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• Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV):  "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

 

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."  While gluttony isn't explicitly listed in the NIV in this passage, it is often included in the broader categories of "drunkenness" and "orgies," which speak to a lack of control and excessive indulgence.

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In summary, the Bible presents gluttony as a serious spiritual issue.   It is more than simply eating too much; it is a symptom of a heart that lacks self-control, is focused on earthly desires, and has made its appetite an idol, ultimately leading to destruction and a life that dishonors God.

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A set of principles and "antidote scriptures" that address the root causes of gluttony: a lack of self-control, misplaced desires, and a failure to honor God with one's body.