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Why did Paul leave Trophimus sick and tell Timothy to take wine for his stomach?

Direct

A clear verse states this directly, and no higher-or-equal-authority text overturns it.

Both are straightforward factual statements: Paul left Trophimus at Miletus because Trophimus was sick and could not travel, and Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine because Timothy had stomach trouble and recurring illnesses, practical realities, not theological puzzles.

The texts state both facts plainly in Paul's own words with no ambiguity: 2 Timothy 4:20 says Paul left Trophimus at Miletus "sick" (ἀσθενοῦντα), and 1 Timothy 5:23 gives the explicit reason for the wine advice, "for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities."

Key texts:
2 Timothy 4:20Tier 4 · Apostle
“Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.”
2 Timothy 4:20Tier 4 · Apostle
“εραστος εμεινεν εν κορινθω τροφιμον δε απελιπον εν μιλητω ασθενουντα”
2 Timothy 4:20Tier 4 · Apostle
“Ἔραστος ἔμεινεν ἐν Κορίνθῳ, Τρόφιμον δὲ ἀπέλιπον ἐν Μιλήτῳ ἀσθενοῦντα.”

…and 10 more verses weighed in the full analysis.

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Original-language words behind this answer:
aleíphō (Greek G218)nósos (Greek G3554)allótrios (Greek G245)mēkéti (Greek G3371)iáomai (Greek G2390)

SAM answers from primary-source texts only, weighing each verse by its authority tier. Every quotation is verified word-for-word. How the method works →

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