394: Soil, Soul, and the Sacred Cup: Wine in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament

How did wine transform biblical meals into symbols of the covenant in the ancient world? Why did overflowing vineyards and giant clusters of grapes become such powerful symbols of the Promised Land? Why did religious leaders label Jesus a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Professor Mark Scarlata, author of Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights What makes the Bible's first meal with bread and wine so significant? Why does the "cup of salvation" become one of the Bible's most enduring images? How did wine become the ultimate symbol of communion in the Christian faith? Why did the spies return from the Promised Land carrying an enormous cluster of grapes? Why do biblical visions of salvation so often involve overflowing wine and lavish feasts? Why was abundant wine associated with the coming of the Messiah? What was Jesus communicating by turning water into wine at Cana? How did the prophets transform the "cup of salvation" into a symbol of judgment? Does Proverbs contain what may be the world's first hangover story? Why was Jesus accused of being a drunkard and a friend of sinners? What does Jesus really mean by new wine and old wineskins? What does the terrifying winepress imagery in Revelation actually symbolize? If Mark could share a bottle of wine with anyone in history, why would he choose Moses? What can wine teach us about humanity, community, and our connection to the world around us?   About Mark Scarlata Mark Scarlata is Senior Lecturer in Old Testament at St. Mellitus College, London. He is also the Vicar-Chaplain at St. Edward, King and Martyr, Cambridge, and the Director of the St. Edward's Institute for Christian Thought. He has spoken on wine and faith internationally and continues to write on the subject.         To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/394.