Is the “Law of First Mention” a Legitimate Interpretive Principle?

The “Law of First Mention” is also used by Christian social drinkers. It is a weak argument. They say since the first biblical use of wine is alcoholic wine (Genesis 9), therefore all mention of wine in the Bible is alcoholic. This despite ancient literature, and Bible passages that also clearly refer to wine that is unfermented (Proverbs 3:10; Isaiah 16:10; Joel 2:24; Isaiah 65:8; Genesis 40:11). This makes no more sense than insisting English homonyms must have only one meaning in a book or encyclopedia.

Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation, but have different meanings.

Homonyms - Bark, Nails, Pool, Jam, Mine, Bolt, Season, Novel, Draft, Squash, Buckle…

English words that may or may not be alcoholic: wine, drink, liquor, punch, eggnog…

David R. Brumbelow

David, gonna hold your feet to the fire here. Precisely which advocates have used this argument? Citations, please. Besides, it’s not like there is any lack of other references in Scripture that clearly indicate that “that which effervesces/ferments”—the etamology of “yayin”— is, indeed, fermented. You of all people ought to be honest enough to admit that.

It’s also worth noting that Proverbs 3:10 and Joel 2:24 make no reference to whether the liquid in the wine-vats is alcoholic or not, and the other passages are a dream and two obviously metaphorical uses of the word. You want to talk to someone who opportunistically uses bad hermeneutics for his personal hobby horse? The mirror is waiting.

Forgot to mention Matthew 9:17 NKJV, where Jesus refers to both unfermented and fermented wine in the same verse, and calls both wine.

David R. Brumbelow

I’ve never heard of the “law of first mention.” Never read about it, or heard somebody employ it. Sounds silly, to me. If I remember, I”ll browse through my hermeneutics books when I get home, but I don’t ever remember seeing it.

Arthur W. Pink was big on it

I’ve not read him, but suffice it to say that Paul’s comment saddens me. Had heard good things about Pink, and I am wondering if a lot of that was “people who ought to have known better but didn’t.”

Probably the killer principle in the article here, one that I learned from the linguistics major who led me to Christ, is that usage determines meaning. So if a word has a range of meanings—almost all do—your first reference is going to have only a few of those. Also significant is that words change meaning over time, so what the usage might have been in Moses’ time might have been very different in the time of the Prophets.

And leave it to David to use a passage describing the proper choice of fermentation vessels as an argument for alcohol-free wines. Quick hint, David; you’re supposed to lead with the stronger arguments you have and leave the ludicrous ones for when you’re pretty sure nobody will be paying attention.

I have literally never heard of this before—not seriously at least. It sounds familiar as a joke.
I would also like to see some evidence that Pink held to this view. I haven’t read a lot of Pink, but I’ve never come across this in what I have.

Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence, was published in 2009. It deals with, and refutes, the Law of First Mention on pages 202-203. The Law of First Mention is easy to refute.

God Gave Wine by Kenneth Gentry is a pro-drinking book. It defends its view with the Law of First Mention on page 37.

Arthur Pink spoke favorably of the Law of First Mention in his book, Interpretation of the Scriptures (and probably elsewhere).

David R. Brumbelow

Given that you are 0 for 6 in pieces of verifiable evidence in this thread, I’m going to insist on an actual quote in context, David.

Bert,

Read the books yourself. I have.

Either way, I’m sure you will proclaim yourself the winner.

David R. Brumbelow

Not alcohol again! I’m almost thinking of taking a public offering, so David and Bert could meet at a cafe somewhere and talk in person, as long as the conversation is video recorded and live streamed. David could sip coffee, and Bert could imbibe his alcoholic beverage of choice while the conversation ensues …

Tyler,

I make coffee for my church every Sunday morning, but I hate the stuff. I like the smell, but hate the taste.

Right now I’m sipping some fresh brewed Lipton decaffeinated iced tea with artificial sweetener. Good stuff. Diet Dr. Pepper’s not bad either.

David R. Brumbelow

Jim,

I would prefer to be defined by what I’ve said and written, not by someone else’s graph. I don’t perfectly fit into any of your categories.

David R. Brumbelow