1 Timothy 5:23
“Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.”
What does 1 Timothy 5:23 mean?
Paul's advice to Timothy here is surprisingly practical and earthy. He's telling his young friend to stop drinking only water, which was apparently Timothy's strict habit, and to add a little wine to his diet because it would help with his stomach troubles and ongoing health issues. This isn't a license to drink heavily—Paul emphasizes "a little wine"—but rather permission to care for his physical wellbeing. In the ancient world, wine mixed with water was common and often safer than water alone (which could carry illness). What makes this touching is that Paul cares about Timothy's actual body and his quality of life, not just his spiritual discipline. Sometimes taking care of yourself, even in simple ways, is part of living faithfully.