Is smoking a sin?

TL;DR:

The Bible doesn’t name smoking as a sin, but it clearly violates key biblical principles like caring for our bodies, avoiding addiction, and loving others well. Because smoking undermines all three, believers should avoid it.

what does the bible say?

While the Bible doesn’t label smoking as sin, biblical principles argue against smoking. Smoking shows a disregard for the body God has given us to steward; the Bible speaks of a believer’s body as the “temple of the Holy spirit” that we should glorify God with (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is incredibly destructive to our health, so it is clearly a violation of that instruction. Besides, developing an addiction to smoking is arguably running to idolatry rather than fleeing it like we are commanded to do in 1 Corinthians 10:14. Finally, smoking harms other people in our life. We should always seek to do good by others (1 Corinthians 10:24). Ultimately, all things may be “lawful” for us, but not all things are beneficial; we must not be dominated by smoking or place our identity in anything other than Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

from the old testament

Smoking isn’t specifically addressed in the Old Testament, but the harm of indulging in addictive behaviors is (Proverbs 20:1, 23:20-21, 25:16).

from the new testament

In 1 Corinthians 6:12 Paul says: "'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be dominated by anything." Addictions dominate the people who have them. Starting an addictive habit and continuing under its influence is a sin.
First Corinthians 10:23 says, "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up." Smoking isn’t edifying in any way and physically tears down rather than building up.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Contributing to the destruction of our health through smoking is poor stewardship of the body God has blessed us with. Instead, we must glorify God in our body.
We are to “flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). Most smokers start the habit in their teens, often due to peer pressure, which means they’re trying to find their identity in something other than Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The world’s opinion can be a powerful idol, but we are exhorted to flee from it.
InFirst Corinthians 10:24 says, "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." We are called to love each other, but smoking hurts those around us.

implications for today

The Bible teaches that we are not to be dominated by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12), including an addiction. Addiction is measured by several characteristics, including the severity of withdrawal symptoms, inducement to continue use, the need for more of the substance to reach the same effect, difficulty in quitting, and degree of intoxication. Although studies vary, a 2017 study determined that nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes, is more likely to lead to addiction than opioids and alcohol. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death. In fact, nearly one tenth of deaths worldwide are attributable to tobacco and one fifth in the United States. Knowingly damaging our body flies in the face of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which states that our body is the temple of God and has been bought with the blood of Christ. We are to glorify God with our bodies, not abuse it through addiction. While the Bible is not meant to be a list of do’s and don'ts, it is the living, active Word of God that equips us to determine the best way to love God and love others. Smoking violates several Biblical principles, so we are better off avoiding it altogether.

understand

The Bible doesn’t mention smoking as a sin, but it contains principles that imply it is sinful.
Because smoking is addictive, it violates the biblical principle of Spirit-indwelled believers not being dominated by anything.
Smoking is destructive to the smoker’s physical health and those around him, which violates the biblical principles of stewarding God’s gifts and caring for others.

reflect

How do you evaluate whether any habit in your life—smoking or otherwise—is beginning to dominate you?
How do you respond when you sense that a desire or behavior is harming your body, which the Bible calls the temple of the Holy Spirit?
How do you make choices that prioritize love for others when your actions could affect their health or well-being?

engage

How can we better understand and explain the biblical principles that make habits like smoking spiritually harmful even when they aren’t explicitly named in Scripture?
How can we support each other in resisting addictions and in stewarding our bodies for God’s glory?
How can we address culturally accepted addictions with clarity, grace, and practical help?