Was wine in the Bible just a calorie source—or something far richer? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, author of The Mountain Shall Drip Sweet Wine: A Biblical Theology of Alcohol, joins Dru Johnson to explore how wine and alcohol shaped ancient Israel’s culture, theology, and imagination.
Dr. Dunne traces how biblical wine reflected not only the scarcity and agricultural hopes of ancient life, but also a tradition of craftsmanship, connoisseurship, and divine blessing. Together they unpack why biblical wine wasn’t just functional—it was symbolic of abundance, peace, and God’s favor.
From fermentation methods and ancient storage to the surprising case for white wine at the wedding at Cana, this episode challenges modern assumptions about alcohol in Scripture. Dunne explores why the biblical world viewed wine as inherently miraculous, why production was tied to the land promise, and how modern communion links us to Canaan’s terroir in unexpected ways.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction 00:42 Christianity and Alcohol 02:52 Cultural Perspectives on Alcohol Consumption 06:01 Theological Implications of Alcohol in Scripture 08:58 Wine Production and Its Significance 12:00 The Craft of Winemaking in Ancient Times 14:57 Grapes: Beyond Wine Production 18:06 Environmental Factors in Viticulture 20:58 The Symbolism of Wine in Biblical Texts 22:06 The Importance of Climate in Winemaking 25:11 Exploring Ancient Grape Varieties 27:07 The Fermentation Process of Ancient Wines 35:04 The Significance of Jesus' First Miracle 45:10 Wine as a Connection to the Land
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