SCRIPTURE | 1 Timothy 5:23 “No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”
OBSERVATION | First, we learn of Timothy here, a young spiritual leader who is the apostle Paul’s spiritual son (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2). We learn here that Timothy was known for abstaining from adding wine to his water. This ought to seem a strange concept to modern readers without further study. For our easy access to clean water and modern use of wine these two mixing together seem odd.
To understand the historical context, let’s start first with a study of what we read in English as “wine.” Wine is understood by most people today as the Webster dictionary defines “the alcoholic fermented juice of fresh grapes used as a beverage.” However, this is not the full meaning of the original Word penned by the Holy Spirit, the Greek word oinos. Oinos is defined close to our understanding of “wine” but more generically as “the juice of the fruit of the vine.” Meaning, “wine” in the bible may have referred to what was fermented, thus alcoholic, or what was still un-fermented, thus simply juice. You may say this is a stretch. Well, read on.
An example of the un-fermented use of the word “wine” or “oinos” can be found in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) in Isaiah 16:10 among other places. The same principle is true for the Hebrew Word “yayin” translated as “wine” here. Isaiah writes under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the “treader treads out wine in the presses.” A press is sometimes called a wine-press. It is where grapes are dumped in and then a “treader treads” on them, and oinos or yayin comes “out.” That is, grapes go in, get pressed and what the bible refers to as “wine” immediately comes out. Here is one example of oinos or yayin being completely un-fermented with zero alcoholic content.
If you are objecting to where God’s Word is pointing here, please remember 2 Timothy 3:16–17“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In the authenticity and authority of every word, with the sufficiency of scripture every matter of faith and life maybe decided.
As we continue this honest study we must ask, is it impossible for alcohol to be present at the point of “wine” coming out of wine press? Scientifically it is not. The process of fermentation is an aging process, that is something that happens over a long period of time. Our study would benefit us further if we know that the process of fermentation only produces alcohol from the correct mixing of the sugar inside the grapes with water, plus the yeast on the skins. A correct mixing, as in the correct amounts of each are necessary for fermentation to begin. Beyond that fermentation is only possible between 50 and 75 degrees. (Anti-Bacchus, p. 162. Dr. Ure) So, only if the right temperature is met, and once the sugars, yeasts and water mix while being tread, the fermentation process begins. Thus, it takes time, the right ingredients, and the right temperature to make alcohol in what the bible calls “wine.” Which according to Isaiah 16:10 is what comes out of a grape when it is pressed.
So, we are taught from at least Isaiah 16:10 that our modern understanding of “wine” is not in line with the full scripture meaning. “Wine” biblically can be either un-fermented juice of grapes, or fermented. Both are called oinos or yayin and our English bibles simply translate this as “wine” for us in-distinctively. The Dictionary of Biblical Languages agrees with what we have just been taught from Isaiah 16:10. It defines oinos as both “naturally fermented juice of grapes” as well as “newly pressed juice of grape, possibly just beginning the fermentation process.”
Sadly, many Christian leaders in their love for the consumption of intoxicating beverages have hidden these historically known truths from others. So that they might continue to enjoy what they love. The result has been generations of the church rejecting any honest review of the possibility on how “wine” in the bible can refer to both fermented and non-fermented juice. “What is the point,” you ask. What can be learned from such a study and what does it have to do with 1 Timothy 5:23? Keep reading.
Our second lesson we can learn in study of this passage is from historical writings in the New Testament times. Among them we find prescriptions for the mixing of oinos with water, just as Paul has instructed Timothy to do in our passage.
Hesiod during the summer months prescribed three parts of water to one of wine. Nicochares considers two parts of wine to five of water as the proper proportion. According to Homer, Pramnian and Meronian wines required twenty parts of water to one of wine. Hippocrates considered twenty parts of water to one of the Thracian wine to be the proper beverage. There was even a public building called the “Thermopolium” where a large scale of un-fermented wine was mixed with water in Rome, as well as in Pompeii. (For more examples see “Bible Wines” by William Patton)
Historians have found that what made “wine” was usually from more of a syrup of the pressed grapes that had soured instead of fermenting because of the improper amounts of yeast to sugar and water and having the wrong temperatures for fermentation. This is what they found was mixed at the Thermopolium. What is the conclusion? Prof. M. Stuart says, “Facts show that the ancients not only preserved their wine un-fermented, but regarded it as of a higher flavor and finer quality than fermented wine.” – Letter to Dr. Nott.
Here in 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul agrees with the historical writers and tells Timothy to not drink “water only, but use a little oinos for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”
But why didn’t Timothy already use the mixture that others historically were using?
It’s possible that Timothy took the old testament “vow of a Nazirite (Numbers 6).” This was a vow that those zealous for the Lord would take and abstain from all forms of the fruit of the vine. Timothy was possibly known for his abstinence for this reason. However, the water from wells in the first century was not safe for drinking. We can see this is in the fact that Paul says “water only” would cause “stomach” issues and “frequent aliments.” The result was that oinios was necessary with water for medicinal purposes.
As is evidence in God’s command through Paul for Timothy to “use a little wine” to cure his stomach ailments. We learn then from this verse that grapes and their juice, either fermented or not, have a medicinal use.
This is our last lesson, the Lord commanded Timothy to make use of God’s natural medicine to purify drinking water and cure him of his stomach ailments. Just as we use certain drugs today to treat and cure illness. And just as people still twist the use of remedies into recreational drugs that alter behavior and the mind, so did some in Timothy’s day. If he hadn’t taken the Nazirite vow, it is likely that others intoxication from fermented wine was the cause of his complete abstinence from the grape and it’s juice. It is fitting too, as being under the influence of alcohol is biblically set opposed to being under the influence of God’s spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
APPLICATION | What mind altering, mood altering, substances do I need to repent of and be free from? What medical remedies has God blessed my physical health with that I should glorify and thank Him for? Do I need to repent of the abuse of scripture passages regarding “wine” as if it were modern fermented wine, so that I can rationalize living under the influence of it? Do I need to repent of the sin of intoxication? In what way should I be using the substances of this world to glorify God alone instead of please my flesh?
Consider also these four points in your study of oinos. First, “leaven” is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “a substance (as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid.” Second, alcoholic oinos is leavened by yeast. Third, all yeast and leavened foods are strictly forbidden by the law during the week of the Passover under penalty of being “cut off from all Isreal.” They had to remove all traces of it from their home before the week began. Fourth, it was during Jesus’ Passover celebration the He passed a cup of oinos (wine) for the Lord’s Supper (Exodus 12:15). Now be honest, considering the study covered, could Jesus who fulfilled the law perfectly and still have served oinos that was fermented by yeast and intoxicating?
More study is needed… but I believe studies such as these reveal the need for a new temperance movement among true believers today.
PRAYER | Father, I want every moment of every day to glorify You alone. I confess the use of substances for selfish and fleshly desires and my own glory. Make me and keep me completely sober from this day into eternity. So that I will be influenced by Your Holy Spirit alone and prepared for Your glorious return and judgement. Amen.
