Does 1 Timothy 5:23 give people permission to drink the occasional alcoholic beverage?
Let’s look closely at this passage of Scripture:
“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23
God does not change His mind when it comes to His principles and truth (see Malachi 3:6; Psalm 89:34). He is consistent, and He is not going to counsel against drinking wine or any strong fermented drink and then communicate the opposite in another place. In fact, God’s attitude towards fermented alcoholic drinks is clear:
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” Proverbs 23:29–32
“Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them!” Isaiah 5:11
There are many texts that clearly communicate that God does not want His people drinking fermented alcoholic drinks. It would be contradicting and confusing for God to command His people to stay away from it, and then inspire another Bible writer, like Paul, to encourage the consumption of such intoxicating drinks. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), so therefore, we can conclude that Paul—the inspired, Spirit-filled servant that he was—would not encourage Timothy to drink such things. We can also be pretty certain that Timothy was not one who was “ready to perish” or of a “bitter” or “heavy” heart (see Proverbs 31:4–7).
The general word for wine in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word yayin, and in the New Testament, the Greek word oinos. Based on context, it is clear that there were two types of wine in ancient Bible days—new wine and old wine (strong drink). New wine was acceptable because it was essentially fresh grape juice from the vine (see Isaiah 65:8). It had not been allowed to go through the multi-day process of rotting for fermentation. This makes total sense when you consider why Paul counseled Timothy to “use a little wine for the stomach’s sake” and for “frequent infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). Fermented wine does damage to the mind and body; but fresh juice from the vine has many disease-fighting antioxidants and healing properties, like resveratrol, which works the same in unfermented grape juice, without the brain-numbing side effects.
Therefore, we can conclude that Paul was not contradicting God’s counsel to stay away from alcoholic drinks; instead, he was counseling Timothy on healing rather than imbibing. The consumption of “new wine” can indeed bring a blessing.