The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine - (Biblical Theology for Life) by John Anthony Dunne (Paperback)

About the Book

Following the familiar structure of the BTFL series, John Anthony Dunne examines the use of the alcohol motif throughout Scripture, reflecting on how alcohol and its related imagery practically play a part in the life of the Christian in light of the priorities of the Kingdom of God.

Book Synopsis

What does the Bible say about alcohol?

Evangelical Christianity has a complicated relationship with alcohol. For years, many believers have welcomed it as a gift from God, while others have rejected it as a definite, Spirit-quenching sin. But what does the Bible actually say about alcohol and its use?

Alcohol is a pervasive theme throughout the Bible. In The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine, John Anthony Dunne offers an exhaustive exploration of the references to alcohol and its related imagery within the Old and New Testaments. His biblical-theological approach allows for the nuance of the genres and historical periods of the Bible to shed light on how we are to approach the topic.

In his thorough account, Dunne argue that the symbolism of wine and other fermented drinks in the Bible is multifaceted and complex--as a good vintage itself would be. We must be attuned to the various ways in which biblical authors deploy this motif, dripping with theological symbolism, when they speak of creation, covenant, kingdom, wise decision-making, and more. The Bible's kingdom-oriented imagery communicates a call for wisdom in the everyday life of the Christian disciple with an overarching vision that what Christians think about alcohol, regardless of position, has significant impact on community life.

Review Quotes

Dunne has produced a work that is rich and detailed as he explores the biblical traditions around alcohol. In a work that is both scholarly and pastoral, The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine offers an insightful theology of alcohol that invites the reader to move beyond typical taboos around whether Christians should or should not drink. Dunne opens the ancient world and the biblical text to demonstrate that wine and alcohol provide a critical thread running through the Bible that relates to God's engagement and love for the world. This is a book that challenges unfounded negative assumptions about alcohol and celebrates the gift of wine as a critical theological sign and symbol of God's kingdom.----MARK W. SCARLATA, Senior Lecturer in Old Testament, St Mellitus College, author of Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament

If, as the psalmist observes, wine makes the human heart glad, then so also will reading John Anthony Dunne's discussion of its place in Christian Scripture. He is rigorous and informative without being dull and pedantic. In short, Dunne has produced a sober analysis of an intoxicating topic!----COURTNEY FRIESEN, Professor of Religious Studies and Classics at the University of Arizona and author of Reading Dionysus

In this book, Dunne provides a valuable resource for understanding the many ways that Scripture alludes to alcohol use, especially the many theological points that use this imagery. Dunne is both informative and poetic in his approach to the topic.----MADISON N. PIERCE, Associate Professor of New Testament at Western Theological

John Anthony Dunne does an excellent job of describing alcoholic drinks in the biblical world, how alcohol is portrayed in biblical imagery, and even the relevance of things like 'new wine' for Christian hopes about the future. At the same time, he provides an uncompromising exposition of biblical prohibitions against drunkenness and recognizes the gravity of abusing alcohol as well as the risks of alcoholism. Dunne provides a sane and sober analysis of what is for many a difficult topic of the Bible: alcohol and the Christian life.----REV. DR. MICHAEL F. BIRD, Deputy Principal at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

John Anthony Dunne has brewed up for us a rich and refreshing biblical theology of alcohol, a theme that is as vital as it is (until now) underexplored. His distillation of the technical, cultural, and theological aspects of fermented drinks is sure to gladden the hearts of many. Three cheers for the author!----REV. DR. ANDREW JUDD, Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia and author of Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies

Lay person, seasoned theologian, and would-be archaeologist alike will benefit from John Dunne's up-to-date and very lucid exposition of the many biblical passages that revolve around a fermented beverage, preeminently grape wine. He unlocks the metaphorical complexity and richness of this ethereal beverage in God's covenant with Israel and the Last Supper's foreshadowing of the heavenly banquet promised by the prophets and in the book of Revelation.----PATRICK McGOVERN, Scientific Director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health, University of Pennsylvania Museum, author of Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture, and Ancient Brews: Rediscovered and Re-Created

The Mountains Drip Sweet Wine is a brilliant addition to the growing collection of work that focuses on alcohol and drinking in the Bible. Dunne provides thorough detail on every aspect of viticulture and also does not ignore the important role of beer that was consumed widely in the ancient world. Insightful exegesis of a range of relevant biblical passages is illuminating for all readers, whether new to the study of alcohol in biblical texts or well acquainted. What comes across most strikingly is how central alcohol was to the ancient cultures that Dunne explores, saturating nearly all aspects of life from the social and religious to the economic and political. Despite the distance of many centuries, alcohol still plays a prominent role in our own lives, and it is therefore intellectually vital that we reflect on how biblical texts and their interpretation have shaped our contemporary attitudes and preferences surrounding alcohol consumption. In doing this, Dunne challenges our assumptions and misconceptions regarding wine and beer and provides us with a way to appreciate the many references to alcohol that are spilt across the pages of the Bible.----REBEKAH WELTON, Lecturer in Hebrew Bible, University of Exeter, author of "He Is a Glutton and a Drunkard" Deviant Consumption in the Hebrew Bible

This is more than a book to help Christians determine whether to drink or not to drink. It is more than an encyclopedia of every mention of alcoholic beverages in the Bible (although it is thorough in its scope). It is more than even a book about wine in the Bible. In this volume, Dunne explores how the biblical authors employ images--literal and figurative--of beer, wine, wine growing, and winemaking. He helps us see the wide-ranging use of such images to signal variable theological themes, including exile, judgment, restoration, blessing, and eschatological abundance. If you wonder if there is all that much to say about wine in the Bible, there is! And you'll find it here. I highly recommend this comprehensive and accessible book.----JEANNINE K. BROWN, The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota

What I love about this rich biblical theology of the symbolism, production, and use of alcohol is the theologically mindful posture that Dunne gifts to us--whether you imbibe or not--that is aware of how alcohol represents both the goodness of God as well as the responsibilities of his people. John Dunne doesn't merely tackle the modern debates about alcohol in Scripture but resurrects the ancient enchantment of alcohol, seeing it as divine gift and miracle. He enables us to see the picture unfolding regarding our covenantal relationship with God and one another and how the production and use of alcohol orients us toward creation and new creation. This book is more than an academic study--it is a promise.----AIMEE BYRD, author of Saving Face, The Hope in Our Scars, and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

With a range of insights into not only the material production of alcoholic beverages but also thoughtful understanding within material, literary, and social contexts, Dunne's book is clearly the new essential work for anyone interested in understanding drinking in the Bible. Whether wine, beer, or otherwise, Dunne's work sheds light not only on this consumptive act in the Bible but also on biblical society and life more broadly. Whether one is a Jew, a Christian, or just otherwise interested in biblical drinking, this is an indispensable and comprehensive look at this element of biblical life.----RABBI DREW KAPLAN, host of The Jewish Drinking Show