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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:23 - 5:23
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_5:23
23No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
1Ti_5:23 "No longer drink water exclusively" This seems to be a parenthetical comment to Timothy (NET Bible, p. 2182, #14). This is a present active imperative with a mç particle, which usually means to stop an act in process. Paul is imploring Timothy to change his normal daily activity. The command "keep yourself pure" in 1Ti_5:22 is not affected by wine drinking! Be careful of denominational traditions that often go beyond Scripture!
Timothy was apparently totally abstaining from wine. Paul mentions that wine in small amounts should not be a problem for a church leader. We must remember that the early Mediterranean world drank wine daily. This could mean (1) add a little fermented wine to purify your water or (2) drink a little wine from time to time when your stomach acts up. Wine is not the problem; fallen mankind's misuse and abuse are the problems. The Bible rails against drunkenness (cf. Pro_23:29-35; Isa_5:11; Isa_5:22; Isa_28:1-8), but does not teach total abstinence (cf. 1Ti_3:3; 1Ti_3:8). In our day and society total abstinence must be related to the spiritual concepts found in Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13; 1 Corinthians 8 and 1Co_10:23-33). However, believers must resist all forms of asceticism (cf. Col_2:20-23)! See Special Topic: Attitudes Toward Alcohol and Alcoholism at 1Ti_3:3.
▣ "for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments" Are these two different descriptive phrases or are they referring to one problem? Does this verse imply Timothy was a physically weak person? Timothy's work was challenging and difficult. If he was also physically weak, it makes him all the more a wonderful role model and noble person.