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The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine: A Biblical Theology of Alcohol
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.
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.
Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2026
I wish I could give half star ratings so I could give it 4.5 stars. Overall, this book was excellent and I'd highly recommend it. The reason I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is for a few reasons. I thought it was lacking on the discussion of normal drinking habits of the average person during the time the Bible was written. This would have given a better context to the theological discussion throughout the rest of the book. Dunne did discuss it, but it was very minimal.
Additionally, there were several chapters discussing how alcohol is used symbolically and metaphorically in the Bible, which I thought could have been just a few pages. Parts of these chapters were interesting, but mostly seemed irrelevant to developing a theology of alcohol.
Finally, I thought there should have been at least a chapter on other mind altering substances. Yes, they're different, but there are also similarities which I think are necessary to discuss in order to have a developed theology of alcohol. For example, what does it mean to be drunk in a way that is prohibited by scripture? Does tipsy count as drunk? These questions weren't really answered in the book, which I think it a big shortcoming of the book, but in answering those questions, to what degree does the level of mind altering effects apply to other substances?
With that said, the book was interesting, well written, fair to people with different views, and well researched. I highly recommend all Christians read it.
Additionally, there were several chapters discussing how alcohol is used symbolically and metaphorically in the Bible, which I thought could have been just a few pages. Parts of these chapters were interesting, but mostly seemed irrelevant to developing a theology of alcohol.
Finally, I thought there should have been at least a chapter on other mind altering substances. Yes, they're different, but there are also similarities which I think are necessary to discuss in order to have a developed theology of alcohol. For example, what does it mean to be drunk in a way that is prohibited by scripture? Does tipsy count as drunk? These questions weren't really answered in the book, which I think it a big shortcoming of the book, but in answering those questions, to what degree does the level of mind altering effects apply to other substances?
With that said, the book was interesting, well written, fair to people with different views, and well researched. I highly recommend all Christians read it.
July 10, 2026
Most of us, when we think of the Bible's counsel on alcohol, think in terms of, "Can I drink, and if so, how much?"
Dunne's book goes much deeper than this. It is a thorough biblical theology on what scripture has to say about alcohol.
If I were to summarize my main takeaway from the book, it would be that the economy of Ancient Israel was fundamentally tied to the production of grapes and wine. God's covenant with Israel reflects this. If Israel was faithful then their vineyards would flourish and new wine would flow. If Israel was unfaithful, though, then its vineyards would wither and wine would be scarce.
This isn't the totality of scriptural references to alcohol though. For instance, wine presses are often used as a metaphor for God's wrath. Examples like these and many others demonstrate the wealth of references to alcohol in scripture.
After reading this book, I've come away with not only a deeper understanding of what scripture has to say about alcohol, but also of God's relationship with his people. Dunne's book has deepened my understanding of God's word as it relates to creation, covenant, and the abundance we'll experience one day in God's kingdom. Even today, as I read Haggai 2, Dunne's insights helped me better understand what I was reading. For this I am thankful for John Dunne's work and for the opportunity to read this book.
Dunne's book goes much deeper than this. It is a thorough biblical theology on what scripture has to say about alcohol.
If I were to summarize my main takeaway from the book, it would be that the economy of Ancient Israel was fundamentally tied to the production of grapes and wine. God's covenant with Israel reflects this. If Israel was faithful then their vineyards would flourish and new wine would flow. If Israel was unfaithful, though, then its vineyards would wither and wine would be scarce.
This isn't the totality of scriptural references to alcohol though. For instance, wine presses are often used as a metaphor for God's wrath. Examples like these and many others demonstrate the wealth of references to alcohol in scripture.
After reading this book, I've come away with not only a deeper understanding of what scripture has to say about alcohol, but also of God's relationship with his people. Dunne's book has deepened my understanding of God's word as it relates to creation, covenant, and the abundance we'll experience one day in God's kingdom. Even today, as I read Haggai 2, Dunne's insights helped me better understand what I was reading. For this I am thankful for John Dunne's work and for the opportunity to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews