No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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1 Timothy 5:23
What does 1 Timothy 5:23 mean?
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1 Timothy 5:23
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It's easy to skim past this, but Paul's advice here isn't just about health; it's a subtle reminder that even spiritual leaders aren't immune to physical struggles and can benefit from practical, even mundane, wisdom. He's offering a grounded, human touch, showing that tending to our bodies isn't a sign of weakness but a sensible part of life. This verse shows that faith and practical care for ourselves can, and should, go hand-in-hand.
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is giving Timothy practical advice for his ministry, addressing how to lead the church with integrity and care. Just before this, he's given instructions on how to treat different groups within the church, including widows and elders, and he's warned against impulsiveness in appointing leaders. This verse offers a personal, almost fatherly, instruction to Timothy about his own well-being as he continues his demanding work.
Paul wasn't just a spiritual leader; he was a friend who noticed the details of life. This verse shows that even our daily habits can be guided by godly wisdom.
Health and Stewardship
Paul offers specific, practical advice to Timothy. It wasn't a blanket condemnation of asceticism (living with extreme self-denial), but a call to use God's creation wisely for health.
Sometimes, we think faith is only about grand theological truths. But here, Paul weaves spiritual instruction with a very human, physical need.
Balancing Principle and Pragmatism
Paul's advice is not a theological doctrine in itself, but a pastoral application of broader principles.
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This wasn't about Timothy's salvation, but about his effectiveness and well-being in ministry. Faith informs how we live, down to the simplest of remedies.
This verse shows Paul offering practical, common-sense advice rooted in the everyday realities and medical understandings of the ancient world, demonstrating his care for Timothy's physical health alongside his spiritual guidance.
c. 2nd millennium BC
Wine as Medicine
Ancient cultures, including those in the Mediterranean and Near East, widely used wine for medicinal purposes, believing it had antiseptic and digestive properties.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Diet and Health Concerns
The Roman diet often consisted of bread, grains, vegetables, and sometimes meat, but water quality could be inconsistent, leading to stomach issues. Wine, being safer and often diluted with water, was a common beverage and sometimes a remedy.
c. 60-67 AD— this verse
Paul's Ministry and Letters
The Apostle Paul, during his missionary journeys and imprisonment, wrote epistles, including 1 Timothy, to guide and instruct early Christian leaders like Timothy. This period saw the formation of church structures and doctrines.
c. 60-67 AD
Timothy's Pastoral Role
Timothy was a young leader, likely with a sensitive or weak constitution, serving as a pastor in Ephesus. Paul's advice reflects practical care for Timothy's well-being amidst his demanding ministry.
This passage highlights the responsible, though perhaps less common, use of wine, contrasting with its more typical association with revelry.
Luke 10:34In the parable of the Good Samaritan, wine is used medicinally, poured onto wounds to cleanse and heal.
1 Corinthians 10:31This verse provides a broader principle that even everyday actions, including consumption, should be done for God's glory, which can extend to mindful self-care.
Philippians 4:11Paul's contentment in all circumstances, even poverty, shows a spiritual resilience that doesn't negate practical wisdom for well-being.
It's easy to skim past this, but Paul's advice here isn't just about health; it's a subtle reminder that even spiritual leaders aren't immune to physical struggles and can benefit from practical, even mundane, wisdom. He's offering a grounded, human touch, showing that tending to our bodies isn't a sign of weakness but a sensible part of life. This verse shows that faith and practical care for ourselves can, and should, go hand-in-hand.
Paul is giving Timothy practical advice for his ministry, addressing how to lead the church with integrity and care. Just before this, he's given instructions on how to treat different groups within the church, including widows and elders, and he's warned against impulsiveness in appointing leaders. This verse offers a personal, almost fatherly, instruction to Timothy about his own well-being as he continues his demanding work.
Paul is giving Timothy practical advice for his ministry, addressing how to lead the church with integrity and care. Just before this, he's given instructions on how to treat different groups within the church, including widows and elders, and he's warned against impulsiveness in appointing leaders. This verse offers a personal, almost fatherly, instruction to Timothy about his own well-being as he continues his demanding work.
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." — It's easy to skim past this, but Paul's advice here isn't just about health; it's a subtle reminder that even spiritual leaders aren't immune to physical struggles and can benefit from practical, eve…
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Last reviewed October 2026