The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine: A Biblical Theology of Alcohol - John Anthony Dunne - NEW BOOK

https://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Shall-Drip-Sweet-Wine/dp/0310516099

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.

"Lay person, seasoned theologian, and would-be archaeologist alike will benefit from John Dunne's up-to-date and very lucid exposition."
—Patrick McGovern, University of Pennsylvania Museum

"A brilliant addition to the growing collection of work on alcohol and drinking in the Bible."
—Rebekah Welton, University of Exeter

"A sane and sober analysis of what is for many a difficult topic of the Bible."
—Michael F. Bird, Ridley College

JOHN ANTHONY DUNNE (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Associate Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Research Associate in New Testament and Related Literature at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He is also the author of Persecution and Participation in Galatians and Reading Galatians.