Comments on 1 Timothy 5 v23 The IV/JST dislocates this verse to the end of the chapter, but otherwise leaves it intact. Paul appears to be telling Timothy it is OK to use a little wine when the situation demands it. Previously in 3:3 and 3:8 Paul says the Elders and Deacons ought not drink much wine. This statement mitigates the possibility that they might interpret that as an admonition for complete abstinence and therefore a show of asceticism, apparently a local problem as indicated in 4:3, or implicitly a form of a Nazirite vow, cf. Num. 6:2-3. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.