By: James Dwyer on July 19, 2020 ++
Copyright © 2020-2021 James Dwyer
Email: quest@creation-answers.com
Reference: www.creation-answers.com
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A number of bible passages focus upon certain dietary laws followed by early Hebrews. Some texts (Genesis 7, Leviticus 11, and Isaiah 66) define clean or unclean animal groups (or types) and they specify which are desirable to be eaten.
Quoting from KJV version of Leviticus, Chapter 11--
(verse 1) And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
(verse 2) Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
(verse 3) Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
(verse 4) Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
(verse 5) And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
(verse 6) And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
(verse 7) And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Judiasm continues to teach against eating unclean foods. However, many modern Christians teach that meat of all kinds are good to eat (and no distinction is made between meat that is clean or unclean).
This belief that a Christian is free to consume any kind of meat is largely based upon certain writings penned by the Apostle Paul. For example, in the 14th chapter of Romans, Paul defends believers who either eat, or don't eat, meat. In essence, he here teaches that it is up to each individual Christian to eat and drink what she chooses.
Quoting from NLT version of Romans, Chapter 14--
(verses 1-2) "Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables."
(verses 5-6) ". . . some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God."
(verses 14-15) "I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it."
(verses 20-23) ". . . Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat [= Greek: 'krea'] or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning."
So, can it be that the Apostle Paul did actually teach that it was right for Christians to eat unclean meat?
A more complete answer concerning which foods were on the menu of early Christians can be recited from other texts authored by Paul. It here seems to be significant that Romans was written a few years following his publication of 1 Corinthians. So, the focus of his writing (shown in the Roman's letter) can likewise be recognized in 1 Corinthians.
To be specific, it is within the 8th and the 10th chapters of 1 Corinthians that Paul addresses which meat (or meats) were acceptable for period Christians to eat.
Quoting from NLT version of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 8 --
(verse 1) Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge.
(verse 4) So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
(verses 7-8) But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
(verses 9-11) Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
(verse 13) Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat [= Greek: 'krea'] again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
Quoting from NLT version of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10 --
(verse 23-24) “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
(verse 25-26) Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
(verses 27-30) If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
(verses 31-33) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
So, an inspection of the quoted portions of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, reveals that some period Christians (c. 55 CE) were not only eating 'meat' but they were eating 'meat' [= Greek: 'krea'] that had been sacrificed to idols.
In these passages, Paul argued that--even though the meat in question had been offered to an idol--this kind of food [= Greek: 'krea'] remained to be good to eat. [STRONGS NT 2907: κρέας (the) flesh (of a sacrificed animal): Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:13].
It is then clear from the writings of Paul that period Christians were believed to be free to consume 'krea' [or meat, even if offered to an inanimate idol]. Proper knowledge, a good conscience, and a prayer of thanksgiving were believed to comprise necessary prerequisites.
Based upon texts authored by Paul, meat that was offered to a meaningless idol was not considered to ruin or take away the value of the food. Paul taught that meat is a given product of Divine creation, and that the eating of clean flesh should be enjoyed. Any believer who has proper knowledge and wears a clear conscience is free to partake of 'krea'. (A thanksgiving prayer is all that is required before partaking of sacrificial food).
Of further significance concerning Romans 14 is that this portion of Paul's letter appears to have a focus upon the religious celebration of a 'Lord Day' or 'Master Day'. This can perhaps most easily be recognized from the content of verse 6--as follows:
"The one regarding the day, regards it to the Lord; the one eating, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one not eating, does not eat to the Lord and gives thanks to God." (BLB)
Literature produced in the era of the 1st Century does further reflect that a 'day to the Lord' was then celebrated among period Jews and Gentiles.
In example, the celebration of a 'Lord's Day' can be recited from the 1st-century book of Revelation--as follows:
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet" (Chapter 1:10).
Christian understanding of the significane of a 'Lord's Day' is shown in an epistle written at the 1st part of the 2nd century CE, where in his letter to the Magnesians, the Bishop of Antioch (Ignatius) was careful to send the following admonition to the early disciples:
Be not deceived by heretical opinions, nor by ancient fables... the divine prophets lived according to Christ... living in observance of the Lord's day, on which day also our life rose... even the prophets were disciples... " (Chapter 8-9).
This writing implies that a 'Lord's Day' was understood by early Christians to have been a day that was commemorated prior to the time of the Christians. Essentially, a Master's Day appears to have been observed among segments of the Hebrews in the earlier era of the prophets.
There are a number of early-written referrals to the ancient celebration of a day of the Lord. Many of these point to the primal celebration of a 30th day (even prior to the Christian Era). For more information about the early celebration of a Lord's Day, click on the following link:
In summary to the above, 1 Corinthians appears to have been written by Paul several months before he wrote to the Romans. The Corinthian text is significant in clarifying that a believer could eat meat (even though sacrificed to an idol). The 14th chapter of Romans mirrors much of the material that was previously conveyed to the Corinthians. The Roman's text, however, includes guidance about the celebration of a 'day to the Lord'. Paul instructed believers who feasted by eating meat to not dispise those who refused to eat meat. Even though he believed that Christians could consume this kind of meat, he warned against offending (or misleading) those believers who did not want to eat 'krea'.