Lexical Summary stomachos: Stomach Original Word: στόμαχος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stomach. From stoma; an orifice (the gullet), i.e. (specially), the "stomach" -- stomach. see GREEK stoma NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom stoma Definition an opening, the stomach NASB Translation stomach (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4751: στόμαχοςστόμαχος, στομαχου, ὁ (στόμα, which see); 1. the throat: Homer, others. 2. an opening, orifice, especially of the stomach, Aristotle 3. in later writings (as Plutarch, others) the stomach: 1 Timothy 5:23. Strong’s Greek 4751 (stomachos) designates the physical organ that receives food and drink. It appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 5:23, where Paul counsels his protégé on personal health. Physiological Understanding in First-Century Culture In Greco-Roman medicine the stomach was viewed as the center of digestion and closely linked with overall vitality. Physicians such as Hippocrates and Galen prescribed diluted wine to aid digestion, cleanse water, and relieve gastric disorders. Paul’s advice therefore reflects common medical practice rather than an improvised remedy. Paul’s Pastoral Care in 1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” (1 Timothy 5:23) Timothy, apparently prone to recurring intestinal troubles, had adopted an austere regimen of total water-drinking, perhaps to model rigorous self-denial before the congregation at Ephesus. Paul intervenes, urging him to care for his God-given body through a modest medicinal use of wine. The apostle’s tone is pastoral, practical, and affectionate, showing that spiritual leaders are not exempt from prudent self-maintenance. Wine, Moderation, and Christian Freedom The verse neither mandates nor forbids wine; it exemplifies balanced liberty. Scripture condemns drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18; Proverbs 23:29-35) while acknowledging legitimate uses of wine (Psalm 104:15; John 2:1-11). Paul’s qualifier “a little” underscores restraint. The passage also safeguards tender consciences: personal health may warrant practices that others forgo, provided they do not lead to stumbling (Romans 14:21). Contrasting Asceticism: The Wider Context of 1 Timothy Earlier Paul warns of teachers “who forbid marriage and require abstinence from certain foods” (1 Timothy 4:3). By recommending wine, he counters legalistic asceticism with a theology that affirms creation as “good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). The instruction on stomachos thus becomes a strategic rebuttal to false rigor that undermines grace. Historical Reception and Patristic Commentary Tertullian cited 1 Timothy 5:23 to demonstrate medicinal wine’s legitimacy, distinguishing it from indulgence. Chrysostom highlighted Paul’s compassion, observing that the apostle who had healed others (Acts 14:8-10) now employs ordinary means, thereby dignifying medical wisdom. Augustine read the verse as proof that God typically works through created instruments rather than constant miracle. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Shepherds should model holistic stewardship, encouraging balanced health practices without capitulating to excess or legalism. Summary Stomachos, though a single-occurrence term, serves as a vivid reminder that the gospel embraces the whole person. Paul’s brief medical note to Timothy becomes a lens through which believers learn to honor God with body and soul, resist joyless asceticism, and exercise responsible freedom for the glory of the Creator and the health of His servants. |
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