In this episode of Genesis Marks the Spot, Carey uncorks the surprising biblical connection between wine and wisdom. What begins as a reflection on the interconnection of John Walton’s New Explorations and a survey of wisdom literature in Mark Scarlata's Wine, Soil, and Salvation blooms into a deeply interwoven meditation on creation order, covenant, and the spiritual maturity that wine represents in Scripture.  

You'll hear how Lady Wisdom's banquet in Proverbs aligns with Walton’s evolving theology of creation-as-order, and how biblical wisdom challenges both moralistic and hedonistic extremes in our view of alcohol.  We also tease next week’s exploration into the New Testament, including the contrasting ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist, and what they reveal about God's relational intent.  

If you’ve ever wondered what wisdom really looks like with a glass of wine in hand—or why kings shouldn’t drink while the poor might—this is your episode.   

Topics Covered:  

• Covenant as the telos of creation  
  
  


• Wisdom as ordered living in God's world  
  
  


• Wine as blessing, danger, and discernment  
  
  


• Lady Wisdom’s mixed wine in Proverbs 9  
  
  


• Ecclesiastes, Noah, and the post-flood vineyard  
  
  


• A teaser: Why Jesus drank wine but John didn’t  
  
  

Resources Referenced:  

• Wine, Soil, and Salvation by Mark Scarlata  
  
  


• The Walton family's work on Genesis and covenant theology  
  
  


• Book of Sirach and Second Temple imagery of feasting  
  
  

Chapters

• (00:00:00 ) - Welcome to Wisdom's Table
• (00:01:24 ) - A Surprising Connection to Walton’s Theology
• (00:04:08 ) - Recap of the Wine Series So Far
• (00:06:29 ) - Why the Lord’s Table Matters in Biblical Theology
• (00:11:02 ) - Walton’s View: Creation and Order
• (00:14:05 ) - Ancient Covenant, Not Modern Contract
• (00:16:23 ) - Genesis 1–11 as a Subversive Narrative
• (00:19:56 ) - Wine, Wisdom, and Covenant: A Thematic Convergence
• (00:23:40 ) - Proverbs and the Fear of the Lord
• (00:25:10 ) - The Immaturity of Abstaining?
• (00:27:44 ) - Lady Wisdom’s Banquet and Wine in Proverbs 9
• (00:31:45 ) - Wine and Kingship: The Sobriety of Justice
• (00:36:12 ) - Drunkenness, Solitary Drinking, and Biblical Warnings
• (00:37:43 ) - Ecclesiastes and the Vapor of Life
• (00:42:46 ) - Genesis & Covenant vs Ecclesiastes & Toil
• (00:44:40 ) - Work as a Gift, Not a Curse
• (00:49:24 ) - Second Temple Wisdom: Sirach on Wine and Friendship
• (00:52:40 ) - Temple Rituals and Wine Offerings
• (00:55:03 ) - Preview of Next Week: Messianic Banquet Themes
• (00:57:13 ) - Reflections on Wisdom and Discernment
• (01:01:30 ) - What’s Next? Baptism, Feedback, and Prayer Requests