Topical Encyclopedia
The process of refining wine is a metaphorical theme found in various passages of the Bible, symbolizing purification, transformation, and the removal of impurities. This imagery is often used to describe spiritual refinement and the sanctification process of believers.
In the Old Testament, the refining of wine is alluded to in the context of God's judgment and purification of His people.
Isaiah 25:6 speaks of a future banquet prepared by the Lord, featuring "well-aged wine" and "the finest of wines," symbolizing the culmination of God's redemptive work and the joy of His kingdom. The imagery of well-aged wine suggests a process of refinement and maturation, reflecting the spiritual growth and purification of God's people.
Jeremiah 48:11 uses the metaphor of wine left on its dregs to describe Moab's complacency and lack of refinement: "Moab has been at ease from his youth, settled like wine on its dregs, not poured from vessel to vessel." This passage highlights the necessity of agitation and refinement to prevent stagnation and impurity, a principle applicable to spiritual life.
In the New Testament, the refining process of wine is implicitly referenced in the teachings of Jesus. In
John 15:1-2, Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His Father as the vinedresser, who prunes the branches to bear more fruit. While not directly mentioning wine, the imagery of the vine and the vinedresser alludes to the cultivation and refinement necessary for producing quality wine, paralleling the spiritual refinement of believers.
The Apostle Paul also uses wine as a metaphor for transformation in
Ephesians 5:18, where he contrasts being filled with wine to being filled with the Spirit: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Here, the refining process is spiritual, urging believers to seek the transformative work of the Holy Spirit rather than the temporary and impure effects of excessive wine.
The refining of wine, as alluded to in Scripture, serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers. It emphasizes the necessity of purification, transformation, and the removal of impurities to achieve spiritual maturity and alignment with God's will.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Isaiah 25:6And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make to all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... For when he to whom I have alluded recited at Milan one of these sentences which
had been tampered with, and I cried out that what he was reading was falsified ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /
Resources
Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue? | GotQuestions.orgIs intinction the correct way to do communion? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about underage drinking? | GotQuestions.orgWine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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