What did Paul mean, when he said to Timothy in verse 23,
to use a little wine for his stomach's sake? 
Because of fear of advocating drinking  by the Apostle Paul, 
many will say that Paul, meant that the wine 
was to be used for medicinal purposes only.
We do not get the true meaning by this literal understanding. 

    To understand a verse,
you must read the verse within the whole context of the theme. 
When you read from verses 19 to 22, and verses 24-25,
you will notice that the subject matter is about sins and judgments. 
Because v.23 is inserted between these verses,
it must be related to these verses. 

 V. 19: "Be sure you have received no accusation,
from the elders of the church."
 V. 20: "Do not tolerate sin."
 V. 21: "Do not be partial of anyone concerning sins."
 V. 22: "Do not be partaker of anyone's sins." 

 Then Paul says to Timothy in v. 23  "use a little wine for thy often infirmities." 
 Then Paul returns to the subject of sins and judgments before God. 

 V. 24: "Some men's sins are open and going before and some men's sins, 
they follow after to judgment." 
 V. 25: Also with good and bad works. 
"In Like manner also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; 
and they that are otherwise cannot be hidden."

 Verse 23 is out of context, and not in harmony within the context of the verses,
if we take it literally. 
The meaning is spiritual. 

   The Apostle Paul was very close to Timothy,
as Paul calls Timothy, "my own son" (1:2). 
Paul became even closer to Timothy as he calls Timothy;
"my dearly beloved son" (2Tim. 2:2).

     Paul had heard that Timothy was not only sick but sick often. 
The key word is thine often infirmities. 

    Paul was not really sure of Timothy's situation,
and why he was ill very often. 
Perhaps Timothy was taking sins lightly,
 overlooking or partial to sins, and its consequences. 
Paul is using tact in reminding Timothy of the graveness of sins, 
and between these verses,  Paul says
"use a little wine for his often illnesses." 

Paul was pointing to the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Was Timothy ill,  because he was not aware of his looseness,
and thus not confessing his partiality? 
Whatever it was, Paul was pointing to the blood of the Lord Jesus,
to remind Timothy, if this was the case, of his constant illness, 
confessing was necessary. 
     Truly this wine was for medicinal purposes,
but not for his physical well being, but for his spiritual ailment if this was the case. 

    Paul says "take no more water....."
The spiritual meaning, is that water speaks of cleansing. 
But it must be associated with the Word of God, (Eph. 5:26),
or the Blood of Christ, or with the Holy Spirit. 
When the Lord was crucified, and the soldiers pierced his side,
water and blood came out. 
In Eph. 5:26 is says; 
"Washing of the water by the blood."

    Paul, saying that Timothy should not use water,
was to advise Timothy not to use water, for self justification. 
Self-justification is washing our conscious of sins judgment. 
It is overlooking sins as sins, and being bais, 
blaming others, and thus justifying oneself, etc. 
By doing this, we cleanse ourselves with water only,
and not confessing, acknowledging,
and being cleansed by the blood of Christ. 

   "Much more being now justified by His blood, 
we shall be saved from wrath through Him." 

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