Use a Little Wine for Your Stomach's Sake 1 Timothy 5:23

After several instructions concerning widows and elders, Paul the apostle turned his attention toward Timothy himself. In chapter five and verse twenty-three of his letter to Timothy, Paul told him how to care for his “stomach” and his “often infirmities” where we read:

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your often infirmities.

The verse begins, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine...” Paul began with the Greek phrase, “hydropoteō mēketi hydropoteō” which literally means “Drink water no longer, no longer drink water”. Paul's two time emphasis upon this direction demonstrates his concern for Timothy to understand him, and he goes on to add, “but” which is the disassociation conjunction meaning that what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was just written, “use” or “receive, borrow or make use of” “a little” or “few, small, puny and light” “wine” which is the “fruit of the vine”. It may seem strange that Paul would give Timothy such an instruction in this area, however as we read on, we discover the reason why.

The verse continues, “...for your stomach's sake and your often infirmities.” Paul said, “for your stomach's sake” or “orifice, throat and opening of the stomach” “and your often” which means “frequent and recurring” “infirmities” or “lack of strength, weakness, frailty and feebleness of health or sickness”. Paul knew Timothy had stomach problems which caused him to be feeble and weak, so his solution was for Timothy to take a little wine which served as a medicinal cure for his illnesses.

As we meditate upon Paul's words, we can see where there could be great controversy over this verse. Some might say, “Paul told Timothy to drink wine, so we should drink wine as well”. Others may add, “Yes, but it was for medicinal purposes, not for pleasure”. The predominant theme of this verse was to aid Timothy in his illness. Paul knew how difficult it is to be a good minister while enduring a sickness of his own, and he desired to give Timothy a way to help in this weakness. If we lay aside the discussion concerning whether wine should or should not be consumed, we can see the extensive care Paul had for his “son in the faith”. Do we have this all-encompassing care for others? Regardless of which side of the wine issue people stand on, the one unifying factor is “care for others”, and this example of Paul's care for Timothy's physical well-being guides us as we care for others in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul shares about the timing of men's sins being exposed, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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