What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 5:23? Stop drinking only water Paul writes, “Stop drinking only water” (1 Timothy 5:23). Timothy had apparently chosen a strict regimen of water alone—likely an act of personal discipline. Yet Scripture never equates abstinence from all fermented drink with righteousness; Jesus Himself both created and drank wine (John 2:1-11; Luke 7:34). Paul is not condemning Timothy’s caution but correcting an imbalance. • God’s gifts, when used rightly, are good (1 Timothy 4:4-5). • Legalism can look pious yet bring unnecessary hardship (Colossians 2:20-23). • Believers are called to freedom tempered by love and wisdom (Galatians 5:13). and use a little wine instead “Use a little wine” points to moderation, not indulgence. Wine in that era served practical purposes: purifying water, aiding digestion, and supplying calories. Paul stresses “a little,” affirming self-control (Ephesians 5:18). • Proverbs warns that wine can enslave when misused (Proverbs 20:1), yet celebrates it as a blessing in due measure (Psalm 104:15). • Elders, including Timothy, must be “respectable, not given to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). Paul’s counsel models balanced liberty—neither prohibition nor excess. because of your stomach Timothy’s digestive troubles were real, not symbolic. Scripture addresses physical needs as well as spiritual ones (3 John 2). Paul’s advice affirms the Creator’s concern for bodily health. • Jesus healed physical ailments alongside preaching forgiveness (Matthew 9:35). • God often provides ordinary means—diet, rest, medicine—to sustain His servants (1 Kings 19:5-8; Isaiah 38:21). Dependence on divine care includes embracing such provisions. and your frequent ailments Timothy’s recurring illnesses remind us that faithful believers may still suffer physically (Philippians 2:25-27). Persistent weakness does not equal weak faith; Paul himself bore a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). • The church is to support the sick with prayer and practical help (James 5:14-15). • God’s grace equips us to serve even while afflicted (2 Timothy 2:9-10). Paul’s pastoral tenderness shows that shepherds must care for their own health to care well for others. summary 1 Timothy 5:23 offers a down-to-earth directive: Timothy should temper his strict abstinence and receive God’s provision of a small amount of wine for medicinal benefit. The verse teaches balanced liberty, warns against legalistic extremes, affirms God’s concern for physical health, and highlights compassionate pastoral care. |
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