Bible Discussion Thread

Revelation 6:6 - As a general rule, when most people I know read "and see that thou hurt not the oil and the wine" - most people think of bubbling crude for automobiles and champagne for parties. But, it occurred to me that, in John's time period - most people would not be thinking of crude oil and probably, for most - not about champagne for wild parties. It seems to me that the oil and wine which John would have known about would have had more of a medical benefit - oil for healing and wine for its germ-killing properties. For example, in the story of the good Samaritan, in Luke 10, Jesus tells about the Good Samaritan binding up the wounds of the fallen traveler, pouring in oil and wine. So the oil which John would have known about would have been perhaps olive oil or fish oil (the disciples were, after all, fishermen!) Even today, the primary ingredient in Desitin, the popular diaper rash prevention product, is fish oil. We were wondering if there are any commentaries in which the author discusses the fact that the oil and wine would be referring to the medical uses of those products.