1 Timothy 4:1-7

[BonnieBee]

[bible]1 Timothy 4:1-7[/bible]

What about this verse? It states pretty clearly that we shouldn't refuse to eat anything that the Lord has provided, because it is all sanctified if it is eaten in thanksgiving...?

Any thoughts?

 

[woobadooba]

Well, if God created all creatures to be received with thanksgiving, and thus fit to be eaten, why then would he command His people not to eat certain things?

It is important to note that meats that were unclean were not considered to be food. Only meats that were considered to be food apply here.

As for the idea of every creature of God being good within the context of what could be eaten, I don't think Paul was speaking of unclean creatures here, but only of those creatures that were considered to be food.

If he was referring to unclean creatures, we would have a problem, since if God created them to be received with thanksgiving, and thus fit to be eaten, it wouldn't make sense that they would have been referred to as unclean, and forbidden to be eaten in Lev. 11.

Incidentally, the people that Paul was referring to here are those that would promote ascetic practices which only allowed for them to be vegetarians. These people would look down on others that did not adhere to their way of life, and thus assume them to be out of connection with God.

Hence, Paul wasn't addressing the issue of unclean meats Vs. clean meats here; rather, he was addressing the issue of asceticism, which explains why marriage was brought up. For, these people also believed that it was unlawful to marry.

They basically tried to deny themselves in every way possible in an attempt to merit the favor of God, thinking that by doing these things they would become holier than what they imagined themselves to be.

 

[Sophia7]

Here is another oft-quoted text to think about:

RO 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

RO 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

RO 14:22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.​

 

[woobadooba]

Here is another oft-quoted text to think about:

RO 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.​

RO 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.​

RO 14:22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.​

Let's not forget these verses:

"And receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to judgments of your thoughts. For indeed one believes to eat all things; but being weak, another eats vegetables."
(Rom 14:1-2)

It is evident that Paul was addressing the issue of asceticism here.

Moreover, one has to identify what constituted food to get a clear picture of what Paul was referring to when he had said that "all food is clean". Meat from creatures that were always known to be unclean by God's people was not identified as food.

For, if Paul was referring to creatures that were identified by God as having been unclean, then his words would not be in agreement with what Lev. 11 has to say on the subject.

Again, at this time there were people who believed that God's children were supposed to be strict vegetarians, and thus assumed those who ate meat to be out of connection with God, because meat was generally considered to be unclean to them. Likewise, they felt the same way about wine (that it is impure, and by drinking it one would become impure). Of course, these people were in error for judging others in this way.