“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy often infirmities.” Some pertinent truths are missed in this text simply because of two factions trying to prove their position on wine.
First, Good and godly people, as Timothy, have sicknesses.
Second, we see that some infirmities are on-going.
Third, God uses means to temporarily relieve our discomforts.
Fourth, whatever the medication, it is to be used in moderation.
Fifth, he does not tell young Timothy to pray, be anointed, or to claim healing by faith, (all of which are legitimate), if God so leads. In this case he is simply to take his medicine. Doesn’t sound very spiritual, does it? But it seemed to have worked.
Sixth, we see progression of certain truths. Early in Paul’s Epistles he looked for the Lord’s return in his day. But later on his position seemed to have changed from an immediate coming, to an imminent one. So it was with healing. In his latter ministry, rather than using his apostolic gift, he left one brother sick at Miletum, and another, in prison with him, had been sick unto death. And, of course there was Timothy.
Seventh, for any super-saints reading this, who are tempted to look down on those who visit a physician in their sickness, it might be well to remember, Paul’s constant companion was Doctor Luke, the beloved physician. Also, the Great Physician Himself told us that sick people need a physician.
An addendum- I question seriously if the reference to wine was grape juice, if so, I doubt he would have cautioned him to use it moderately, “a little...often."
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