1 Timothy 1:1-5
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
The context of the latter times is referring to some time after Paul. Compare this with Acts 20:28-30 which states:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
After Paul died, Paganism crept into the Church (this is well established historyfrom all the founding fathers). All the early Church fathers that were still living after Pauls death wrote and taught that the man of sin, or antichrist power would arise immediately after the fall of the Roman Empire (which they learned from Paul himself). The Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D. What happened during this time? The Catholic Church, the Little Horn, was growing into full prominence, and it was a religion that was mixed with Christianity and Paganism. Constantine was the first one to mix his empire into the two, which eventually converted slowly into Catholicism.
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) FORBIDDING TO MARRY, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS [foods], which God hath CREATED TO BE RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING of them which believe and know the truth.
Why am I dealing with verse 2 and 3? Because they lay down the context for verses 4 and 5. This prophecy was fulfilled, primarily in the introduction of forbidding priests and nuns in the Catholic Church to marry! This is unbiblical, for priests in Old Testament times married! Paul is speaking in context of an evil power that would arise which would forbid marrying and commanding to
abstain from meats. To be clear, the Greek word for
meats here is
Broma, which just means foods according to Strongs. Many other Bible translations, such as the NASB or NIV translate it as foods. You see, the word meat has been known in old English to be translated as just that
food. Example: You still have some meat left on that peach. So lets reword the verse in its correct context:
commanding to abstain from foods WHICH God has created to be received with thanksgiving. Is God talking about every food here? Or only those foods which He made
to be received with thanksgiving? You catch the difference there in how it should be properly translated?
What Paul is really talking about here is the practice of ASCETISM. Asscetii
what? youre probably thinking. Yes, asceticism was a practice in which during certain ceremonies and feasts, all sorts of rules and regulations were being made that forbade people to eat certain foods
even foods that are good for you! All we have to do is read some famous old commentaries on what Paul was referring to:
Peoples New Testament (Commentary):
"4:3 Forbidding to marry. Not long after Paul's time the superior holiness of the unmarried life began to be preached in the church, and this resulted at last in MONASTICISM and a CELIBATE CLERGY. COMMANDING to ABSTAIN from meats. The ascetic practices which began to grow up in the church a little later extended to foods. TO EAT THE LEAST PALATABLE FOOD WHICH WOULD SUSTAIN LIFE WAS COUNTED WITH VIRTUE. These ascetics generally forbade animal food, and SOME LIVED ONLY ON BREAD AND WATER. These practices are still found among certain orders of the Latin and Eastern churches."
Continuing in 1 Timothy 1:
(4) For every creature OF GOD is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary:
"Verses 4 and 5. Translate as Greek, "Because" (expressing a reason resting on an objective fact; or, as here, a Scripture quotation)-"For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind). every creature . good-(Ge 1:31; Ro 14:14, 20). A refutation by anticipation of the Gnostic opposition to creation: the seeds of which were now lurking latently in the Church. Judaism (Ac 10:11-16; 1Co 10:25, 26) was the starting-point of the error as to meats: Oriental Gnosis added new elements. The old Gnostic heresy is now almost extinct; BUT ITS REMAINS IN THE CELIBACY OF ROME'S PRIESTHOOD, AND ITS FASTS FROM ANIMAL MEATS, enjoined under the penalty of mortal sin, remain if with thanksgiving-Meats, though pure in themselves, become impure by being received with an unthankful mind (Ro 14:6; Tit 1:15)"
This Scripture passage (verse 3) refers to meats
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by His people. These meats are clean meats listed in Leviticus chapter 11 and Deuteronomy chapter 14. Verse 4 makes it clear that all creatures
OF GOD are good and not to be refused, provided they are among those created to be
received with thanksgiving (the clean animals). Only those that are
"OF GOD". Verse 5 tells us why these animals (or foods) are acceptable: they are
sanctified by Gods Word, which says they are clean, and by a prayer of blessing, which is offered before the meal. Please note, however, that God will destroy people who try to
sanctify themselves while eating unclean foods (Isaiah 66:17).
You see, scriptures cannot contradict themselves. It is impossible, unless we want to purposely find occasion to doubt the Bible. So therefore, with the rule of here a little, and there a little, we are able to put together the full context and weight of inspiration, without taking certain passages and coming to false conclusions. It is impossible that Paul is giving way for any human being to eat any kind of meat they want, and I will prove it. Notice what the Lord says He will do to those who eat swines flesh:
See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the LORD. Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean thingsthey will meet their end together with the one they follow, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 66:15-17).
Therefore, every creature of God that is good for eating cannot be including swine, or any abominable or unclean animal. There is absolutely no way! They are not considered "FOOD".
Some may argue that this is only referring to the Old Covenant. But think again. The verse is saying that God will destroy people who eat those abominable foods at the Second Coming! It also does not say he will judge just the Jews. It says
all flesh. Has Jesus come yet? Im afraid not. The Second Coming is still FUTURE! This places the prophecy in the New Covenant time frame.
The prophet Isaiah here is speaking of a future prediction! Obviously Paul is not contradicting these scriptures, so therefore, it would be irresponsible to assume that Paul is speaking in the context of unclean animals which were forbidden before the Old Covenant was even in place!
Then the Lord said to Noah,
take with you seven each of every clean animal
; two each of animals that are unclean (Gen. 7:1,2). The Bible has ample evidence that there were clean and unclean animals from the very dawn of Creation. Noah lived long before any Jews existed, but he knew of the clean and unclean animals, because he took into the ark the clean ones by sevens and the unclean by twos. Revelation 18:2 refers to some birds as being unclean just before the second coming of Christ. The death of Christ had no altering effect whatever on these health laws, since the Bible says that all who break them will be destroyed when Jesus returns (Isaiah 66:15-17). The Jews stomach and digestive systems in no way differs from that of a Gentile.
These health laws are for all people for all time.
Those who think that it is okay to eat pork and any abominable creature are in essence "sanctifying themselves", and are refusing the Lord to sanctify them.