Timothy was Paul’s “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). He carried heavy responsibilities for teaching, evangelizing, and building up the church. Paul told him, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). No doubt Timothy took this responsibility to heart, and wanted to make sure that he did nothing that might detract from his mission or hurt his influence. Among those things that would hurt his influence was the use of wine. Paul had warned, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). He also warned that drinking wine could be a stumbling block to a brother (Romans 14:21).

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul gave qualifications for elders or bishops, and deacons. Among the qualifications for an elder was that he should be one who is “not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:3). Likewise, the deacon was to be one “not given to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:8). Clearly, Timothy understood the dangers of using wine, and knew that he should avoid its use. Why then, would Paul follow his admonition to Timothy, “keep thyself pure,” with the command,  “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:22-23)? The obvious answer is that Paul was suggesting to Timothy that he, because of his particular medical problems, should use a “little” wine strictly for medicinal purposes.

The water available in the first century was often polluted and unfit for consumption, especially by someone with medical problems, as Timothy must have had. It was a common practice to add a little wine to water to let the alcohol in the wine kill the bacteria, and make the water drinkable. Timothy must have been suffering health problems because he was avoiding all use of wine, and drinking unfit water. Paul’s admonition to “drink no longer water,” meant “stop drinking only water” (NIV). Paul’s command to Timothy was not a general green light for all Christians to “use a little wine,” but was specific to Timothy’s need and circumstances, for his medical problem. The nature of medicine is that you should take it when necessary. It is not only usually bad for you when you do not need it, but sometimes even life threatening. Medicine usually works as a toxin, or poison in the system, to force the body to respond and restore an imbalance caused by illness. No one should ever take another person’s medicine without competent medical authority.

Timothy’s hesitancy to use even a “little wine” for a medical purpose shows that he understood the dangers of alcohol (which was not nearly as potent as today’s alcohol). No Christian concerned about his or her influence or physical and mental health will use alcohol for any purpose other than medicinal purposes (but not self-medication)! Alcohol is useful for medical purposes because it is a good solvent. Alcohol dissolves chemicals, minerals and homes.  Casual use of alcohol costs our society in illness, injury, and violence. Fortunate is the home that has never been hurt by someone using alcohol.