I have a specific question.
He says in Romans 14:20-23:
All foods are clean, however we are to try to not eat meat?
I understand in this context its about not letting another fall into sin, but there is a reason why the word choice is meat (and wine).
I also understand in the old testament we are not to eat unclean animals however we are under the new testament.
Thoughts on this and on meat in general, perhaps?
The idea is not eating any food in violation to someone’s weak faith. If your faith is strong you can eat anything that is the context. But do not let your strong faith despise the weak. You are sinning if you will eat anything without even considering your brother who is weak in faith- you are not acting in love.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Romans 14:1-3 ESV
Let others do not get stumbling block for what you eat and your faith exercise
I feel like a steak about now. LOL!
Truee..all food is clean..its about hearts matter..
Meat is fine. Christ gave it to Peter and told him don’t call anything He (God) did uncommon.
Wit that being said, this refers to us not allowing our liberty in Christ be a medium of a stumbling block for someone else.
I’ve heard it applied to other things as well such as having a Christian friend who is also a recovering alcoholic. You may think a drink or two maybe ok every now and again but you probably shouldn’t drink at all around you’re friend or go to a restaurant with a bar in side.
Paul’s letter to the Roman’s also had pagans in mind. So his appeal was to the believer, that they should not condemn a new believer who may not want to eat meat for fear that it was once offered as a pagan sacrifice.
If you follow along Paul’s line of reasoning, he says “or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall”. It may simply be that his wine reference falls in the category of the latter.
The word “meat” in the Bible can also mean “food”. And I think in this case it does.
Jesus said that it’s not what goes into your stomach and comes out the other end that makes you unclean. It’s the sinful thoughts that you let enter into your mind, heart and comes out through your actions that makes you unclean
The use of the word meat is there because people would sacrifice animals to other Gods. And to some, eating that meat was unholy because it was sacrificed to another God. But the verses before this talk about how since we know those other Gods do not exist, that the meat was fine to eat. There is no condemnation for those who were mature in their faith to understand that and would choose to eat. But we should be respectful/mindful of those who might mistake the meat as being defiled because of how or why is was killed.
All these other comments about not being a stumbling block aside (because I’m sure OP already understands that), I think it’s because meat was specifically sacrificed to idols. It’s about idolatry and how that meat ended up on your table. In today’s context, I guess it’d be like if someone made an animal sacrifice offering to Buddha (not that this actually happens, it’s just an example) and then offers you some of it. Farmers and restaurants aren’t doing this
Just want to mention we were supposed to be vegetarian according to Genesis 1. ? way to go messing up the plan ya’ll. ?
Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.
If you were ever Catholic you know the thing about fast days or fish on Fridays. Jews had similar days and still do , particularly concerning the rememberance of the temple and the exile. The food he’s talking about is not clean or unclean but meat vs vegetables . unless Idolotry is mentioned clean it unclean is not the discussion
Its only a situational talk from Paul
Meat = food offered to idols.
Yeah? Says who?
In verse 2: some has strong faith in the Lord eats everything. The weak only eat vegetables.
In verse 21: it mentions meat and wine. Although almost specific, I think is just a form of exaggeration in a speech: if you’re in a presence of a person of weaker faith, be a vegetarian no matter how tempting the steak and Reisling looked!
It’s not unusual for such exaggeration. In 1 Cor 13, Paul says in verse 2:
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom ALL mysteries and ALL knowledge, and if I have ABSOLUTE faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
It’s meat because that is the main issue for them, eating meat sacrificed to idols
Its simply represents the Jews and gentiles receiving the faith together..
You can eat meat., all kinds as your culture permits
Scripturally, not that which comes into a man defiles but that which goes out
Many jews in Rome were converted during this time, hence a dispute arose in the Local churches in Rome.
Notice what Paul said on verse 2 (The weak person eats only vegetables), the converted jews were regarded as weak since God declared all food is clean but it’s no excuse to despise, judge and be a stumbling block or hindrance to their faith for their abstinence precedes from their faith in thesame God. Therefore, Paul has rebuked the early Christians who despises and judge the converted jews during that time.
However, a Christian who is weak in faith cannot and should not be weak forever…
To those who have carelessly read the NT, the Jerusalem Council, continues the prohibition of “eating blood”:
The prohibition on eating or drinking blood was given to the first century Christian church, and is found at Acts 15:19-20 and Acts 15:28-29.
“19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from ***blood.***” (Acts 15:19-20)
“28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from *** blood*** and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28-29)
For everything God tells us has its reason and sense if we’ll look for it.
This verse is pertaining of the people who eat meat in front of those who still believe in the old testament’s command of not eating meat.
They argue against each other because the other doesnt respect of what the other believe. Its just saying that we should respect each other.
But since we are in talks about this “meat-eating is sin” topic, the bible says in Titus 1:15
“All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” So dont worry of what you will eat. Worry of what you say or do that would cause you to sin.
And in Acts 10:15 it says
“The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!” ”
When Jesus were crucified, i believe all blood were cleansed even meat blood.
There is a little known fact, but easily verified, the ROMANS
ATE and DRANK GLADIATOR FLESH AND BLOOD.
Note the following, and ask yourself, was PAUL suggesting that Christians could eat HUMAN FLESH AND BLOOD, which might have been there in the “meat markets”???
EARLY Christian writers commented that BLOOD WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE CHRISTIAN.
* * * * *
****Blood was also used as medicine in Roman times****
. The naturalist, Pliny (a contemporary of the apostles), and the second-century physician, Aretaeus, report that human blood was a treatment for epilepsy. The early Christian theologian Tertullian later wrote:
“Consider those who with greedy thirst, at a show in the arena, take the fresh blood of wicked criminals…and carry it off to heal their epilepsy.” He contrasted them with
***Christians who, “do not even have the blood of animals at [their] meals…at the trials of Christians you offer them sausages filled with blood. You are convinced of course, that [it] is unlawful for them.***”
Earlier the Word literally states that those who do not eat meat are weak.
Eating Human Flesh & Blood for the Christian? Is it Ok?
Most of you would say Yes, based upon your rejection of Acts 15, the Jerusalem council which was attended by, and the decree given by Messiah’s 12 apostles and church elders!
Eating BLOOD was forbidden!
Why did ancient Romans consume the blood or liver of dead gladiators?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-ancient-Romans-consume-the-blood-or-liver-of-dead-gladiators
If we look at the context he is talking about meat offered to idols!
“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.””
Mark 7:14-15, 17-19, 21-23 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/mrk.7.14-15,17-19,21-23.niv
Paul ALSO wrote that it is the WEAK brother that wants to limit the believer in his freedom.
Paul is talking about spiritual ‘babysitting’ baby Christians.
Do not offend them in their immaturity, with your freedom, and you, Babies!, stop judging those who know more than you!
This is more than a one way admonition.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? OBEY THE WORD OF GOD! WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT? JUST DO WHAT IT SAYS.
Genesis 9:3, “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”
This was given before the Law or Torah. I believe the reason God forbid the Israelites to eat certain animals or foods was 1, health issues, and 2, the issue of idol worship, and 3, to set the Israelites apart from other nations or peoples. In setting them apart from other people was to draw the other nations to them in order so they may learn of God and come into a relationship with God as well.
People’s religious beliefs are to give up meats on certain days or all together. If your trying to reach out to those who can’t eat meat eating burger in front of them won’t help
Meat markets sold meat us in the pagan worship and was considered part of lt the sacrifice like the Israelitrme thank and fellowship offerings. So for former pagans it felt like being unfaithful to throne true God.
To me this is how we should let love towards one another reign in us without judgement. In matters of meat and drink let everyone partake according to conscience. But it is not love to judge each other based upon trivial things. I respect your measure of faith yet will allow no man to judge me based upon meat and drink. I am German by natural descent. No beer = heresy to me ?. So I have my own house to moderately partake. Would live by your rules if in your own house… and even in my own house if you were visiting.
It’s not what goes in… it’s what comes out.
Read verse 19 first. This whole passage is concerning keeping peace with one another. It is not about eating meat or any other food.
Okay so best example I can give you. I knew three pastors from one church. Two were regular meat eaters, one was a vegetarian. When all three ate the vegatarian did not chide others fir eating meat, and the others likewise accepted she was a vegetarian. Each accepted the other, and both tried to raise the other up
Make it simple be consirated on the person eatting habits.
Sin is transgression of the law. See 1 John 3:4.
This verse you reference is talking about foods that were sacrificed to idols.
Here’s a response to the OP, Romans 14 goes perfectly with 1st Cor. 8, the whole chapter. When you read that, that is what Paul is referring to at the end of his letter to Rome. Verses 1 & 2 are the key points in Romans 14 to examine to better understand the context Paul is speaking on. Moreover, you stated this; “I also understand in the old testament we are not to eat unclean animals however we are under the new testament.” True the OT has spoken on unclean & clean beast, & yes without a shadow of a doubt it still applies under the NT. Seeing that in the same letter Paul wrote to Rome he stated this in 7:12, in no way has Paul disannul this statement. Paul’s not greater than the master, who is Jesus Christ, therefore how can he change an oracle that came from heaven after saying he himself is a wretched man, in the same letter to Rome, 7:24. Eat clean meats, yet if your bro/sis knows that meat is sacrificed to idols, & believes it’s unclean, it’s not evil or sin for them to think so, yet it’s sin if you eat before them, & they have only that understanding, which they will copy you with that knowledge & believe they defiled themselves. Which is why Paul wrote, they’re weak in the faith. Look at Daniel, the king offered him & three others food, meat & drinks, Daniels 1:8, likewise in the NT, folks who think this way, eat not, drink not, least they think themselves to be defied even if you know better, knowledge puffs up, so have charity for you bro/sis. Eating of unclean meats is not confirmed to be clean in any letters of Paul. Why? Simply this; Acts 24:14, Paul preaching Jesus Christ, did not forsake the law or prophets, so how does that make him look in his letters saying otherwise, that is not consistence. Finally, we live in the reality GOD made, see for yourself, are Pigs aka Swine healthy? What they eat, when we eat them, we eat. Simply if a mob feeds a snitch (a person who rats on the organization) to the pigs, if you eat that pig, you’re eating that person as well. If all beast were truly made clean, wouldn’t they only eat grass, which is healthy for us to consume? Locust we can eat, it’s an insect, yet what do they eat? Grass, plants, they don’t eat dung, or filth. The world you see tells the truth. If you don’t believe Lev. 11, then observed the creatures that are made by GOD & called clean & unclean, watch what they eat, & ask yourself, if you had to, would you eat it as well.
Lisa Rondinelli Shalom, happy to hear any response of you to this.Great question.
Please think about the words. We do not want to cause others to stumble. Fir example, O would not offer wine to an alcoholic or fix a roast for a vegetarian. But more than this He is talking about the gentiles being called unclean
I think it is saying if someone is an alcoholic, you dont order a drink. If someone is vegan, you dont order chicken for lunch. Like a respect thing. Or support and acceptance.
Two words: Spiritual conviction.
I take it as “don’t eat meat or drink wine in front of a vegan or sober person if they would be led astray or offended by it.” We are supposed to consider the context when we do something.
All “food” is clean. All things are not food. For example: bats are not food. Bats will never be clean.
If someone is dining with me and offended by my eating meat, I will eat vegetarian to keep peace. That does not mean I will give up meat eating when not dining with that individual.
looka here, it means eat what you want. and nobody betta not say anything’s or it’s on like popcorn ?
Here is a new type of cuisine for you folks that believe we can EAT ANYTHING. Remember
“Everything is GOOD and NOTHING to be REFUSED” ROTFLOL!!!
Japanese Scientists Create Meat From Poop
https://www.foxnews.com/science/japanese-scientists-create-meat-from-poop?fbclid=IwAR2hbdAALVPRfjbgyZZEF7qdBDXWCEl6JYwiU-zlqEbUXV4tzztUj73APO4
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