Hello Firestorm:
This is the 3rd posting in the study on “What is Halal Food?” I hope you are enjoying this series and that it will draw you closer to the Word, as it has me. Blessings, bon
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Did Paul the Apostle Say We Can Eat Unclean Animals?
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:4-5)
This seems to say we can eat anything and everything, or does it? Is Paul “really” saying we can eat anything and everything now? Or, is there confusion in the translation and are we addressing the rest of the context of what Paul is saying?
Let’s read it again and this time I am going to remove the punctuation, which was added during translation by scribes.
For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving FOR it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Now let’s look up the word they translated as “for.”
The word is: “gar” – used for “assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation, explanation, or intensification…
It also means: because (that), as, but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.”
I am going to insert “because” in place of for, as with “gar,” it can be properly translated either way, according to the “context”. I Timothy 4:4-5 now reads:
For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving “because” it IS (sanctified by the word of God) and (prayer).
By using the word “because” in the sentence, does it change what it means to you? Sometimes one word can make a huge difference in our understanding of what God or man is trying to tell us.
Now, let’s read verse 4 and look at the word creature, many of us immediately think of that as meaning, an “animal.”
In this verse, however, the word translated “creature” literally means “an original formation, i.e., product a CREATED THING.”
I’m going to replace the word creature and put in its literal meaning, “created thing” and see how our text reads now.
For every “created thing” of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving “because” it IS (sanctified by the word of God) and (prayer).
Paul is not necessarily speaking of “just” animals in this verse. In the correct translation/interpretation, Paul is stating that every thing God created is good, and nothing needs to be refused If… and this could be a life changing if, for you and me……….
IF….it is sanctified (set apart) by:
1) The Word of God
2) Prayer
There is a reason Paul is sharing this information with us. He was trying to teach us the truth and what we need to know about God. Let’s go read all of I Timothy 4:4-5 now – in context.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having there own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from “foods which God created to be received” with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every created thing of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:1-5)
This passage is specifically speaking of foods that God “created to be received” being forbidden by some in the latter days who “depart” from the faith. “Foods,” which God created to be received, include clean animals listed in Leviticus 11, as well as fruit and vegetables.
Notice he says, they will have a conscience that is seared. Most people do not have a conscience until they receive Christ and are born again. The Spirit wakes us up and begins to teach us of all things. The way we hear is through the voice of our conscience in our minds. That voice can really beat you up, if you are doing something contrary to the Word of God because, the Spirit in you came to REPROVE the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment. (John 16:8)
The Biblical meaning of reprove is: To rebuke, reprimand, admonish, reproach, chide mean to criticize adversely, reporve implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault (gently reproved my table manners), rebuke, suggest a sharp or stern reproof.
If we decide we are going to do this or that anyway, and not listen, we can push down and/or quench the voice of our conscience, which is the Spirit of Christ and we sear our conscience. That’s when we burn out and the communication line from the Spirit to our ears is shut down. We quench His Spirit and He becomes silent.
We can become heartless and cold not having any cares about morals or what is right or wrong. We just go about doing what we want with no limits and no rules. When our conscience begins to let us know we are not doing something right, it is good to take heed.
The voice of our conscience is our friend and our link to the Spirit of Christ, Which dwells in us. Thank You Father.
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OK, back to: Should we abstain from “ALL” meat?
There are those today, who say we should abstain from “all” meat. But remember, Paul said everything God “created to be received” is good to eat if it is sanctified by the Word of “God Himself” in the Law.
It is further “sanctified” by prayer. (It is good to pray and especially thank God for ALL our food, especially in today’s world of pollution and unknown processes).
So, when you eat, look at what is on your plate. Was it, “created to be received?”
Ever thought about that? I hadn’t. Just when did God talk about what we are to receive or eat?
It was BEFORE God ever gave the Law to Israel, BEFORE there WAS an Israel, God had already designated animals as either CLEAN or UNCLEAN. We know this, because all the way back in Genesis, God commanded Noah to take animals up on the ark by certain numbers determined by whether they were “clean” or “unclean.” (Genesis 7:1-2). Noah took the animals – how many? I bet most of you said two by two. Here is what is written.
And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen RIGHTEOUS before me in this generation.
Of every CLEAN BEAST thou shalt take to thee by SEVENS, the male and his female: and of beasts that are NOT CLEAN by TWO, the male and his female.
The text indicates that Noah always followed God’s instructions without question. (Genesis 7:5) He was obedient!
Much LATER, in our Bibles, the specifics of what is “clean” and “unclean” are “revealed” to us, when God gives His law to the nation of Israel through Moses.
**The specifics did not change from Noah to Moses.
Lets stop a minute and take a look and what other things God created for us to eat and what is being taught in the churches today.
Some in the church say “eat only vegetables”….
Some in the church say “eat ALL meat now, clean and unclean”…
STOP!
Paul said, “nothing is to be refused IF…it is (sanctified by the word of God) and (prayer).”
Paul’s letter to the Romans similarly addresses the same topic of eating all things or just vegetables. “For one believeth that he may eat “all things,” another, who is weak, eateth herbs (vegetables). (Romans 14:2)
I know and am persuaded (convinced) by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who (esteemeth)* considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14)
*NOTE: To him that esteemeth … – He makes it a matter of conscience. If someone regards certain meats as forbidden by God; then it would be wrong for him to partake (eat) of them. He may be in error, but it would not be proper for him to act in violation of what he “supposes” (thinks) God requires.
Romans 14:15: But if thy (your) brother be grieved with thy meat (because of your food), now walkest thou not charitably (you are no longer walking in love). Destroy not him with thy meat (with your food) the one for whom Christ died. (It is good to regard the conscientious scruples of others on this subject for both sides.)
For meat destroy not the work of God. “All things” indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense….Romans 14:20)
It is good neither to eat flesh (meat), nor to drink wine, nor (do) anything by which (whereby) thy (your) brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” (Romans 14:21)
Paul suggests that if eating meat (or “flesh,” Greek word “kreas”) offends your brother who eats only vegetables, then better not to do it in front of him.
In other words don’t fight over these things. Paul is talking about walking in love toward each other, teaching each other and sharing the truth of the Good News and what God has told us as prophets and priests to share with His Saints.
We walk in love for and with each other, because it is written: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice, to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2)
I’m also led to the Scripture in Hosea 4 that is written to the people and the priests.
1) Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is NO TRUTH, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the “LAW” of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
The words in Hosea are strong and seem to describe what is happening today. We should meditate and seek the Lord about these things and lift up our Nation to our God. If My people…..
I am fearful to ignore the voice of my spirit when it comes with a warning and not deliver what I am hearing, not only because of you, but because of me and my future in Christ. Let the church hear what the Spirit is saying to them.
So what are the “All Things” Paul is talking about?
In the beginning God gave us fruits and vegetables for food. (Genesis 1:29)
After the flood, God added animals to man’s diet. (Genesis 9:3)
Now man “can” eat “all things.” Is that what is written?
“….I have given you all things…” (Genesis 9:3)
So, “All Things” include fruits, vegetables and animals, which we know as meat?
This issue is confusing today, because there are Christian ministries as well as sects of society that forbid eating meat and/or certain meat types. It is one thing to make diet recommendations based on a person’s health. It is another to say, “Scripture says” don’t eat this or that, when it does not.
Paul is right. For anyone to say otherwise would go directly against Scripture.
God gave us “all things,” fruits, vegetables and meat*.
Here is the deeper truth of what is written.
*NOTE: God also gave us detailed instructions concerning,
WHICH animal (meat) is FOR “food.”
Noah already knew which were “clean” and “unclean,” before he had yet ever eaten one.
Israel was made aware of WHAT animals were edible later in Leviticus.
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, “These are the beasts (animals), which ye “shall” eat among all the beasts that are on the earth….Lev 11:2
This is the LAW of the beasts, and of the birds (foul) and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: Lev 11:46
To make a difference (distinguish), between the “unclean” and the “clean” and between the beast, that May be eaten and the beast that MAY NOT be eaten. (Leviticus 11:47)
To those who say this law was and/or is discontinued because of Christ, check out what Isaiah says and remember this is a prophecy, which has not been fulfilled and is yet to come. Isaiah 66:15-17
“For behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will plead (judge) with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
“They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves, in (go to) the gardens behind one “tree” (idol) in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be “consumed together,” saith the LORD. (Isaiah 66:15-17) Selah
Uh Oh…Can you hear the “Danger Will Rogers in these Scriptures?”
I was wondering about the meaning of the words: abomination and the mouse. I found this in the NIV translation:
Those who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves in a sacred garden with its idol in the center–feasting on pork and rats and other detestable meats–will come to a terrible end,” says the LORD.
Can we sanctify and purify ourselves from something God says is unclean and directly commands we do not do? This verse says the slain of the LORD will be many. It is not talking about the unsaved.
Did you get that?
I did.
All the way into the depth of my soul, from my head to my toes.
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So why did Paul say “there is nothing unclean?” This is really confusing. Let’s take another look at what Paul said.
For one believes he may eat “all things,” but he who is weak eats “only vegetables”…..I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing UNCLEAN of itself: but to him who considers anything to be UNCLEAN, to him it is UNCLEAN.
The word translated “unclean” in this passage is better understood as: (profane, “common”, or unholy) and is translated as such “EVERY” other time it is used!
The word is: “koinos” meaning “COMMON, i.e. (lit.) shared by all or several, or (ceremonially) profane: – common, defiled, unclean, unholy.”
The word, koinos, is NEVER used in reference to something that is UNCLEAN by nature “FROM THE BEGINNING.”
It would be made unclean by unholy practices, dedicating to idols and such, but it is not unclean from its creation.
The word that describes something that is unclean from the beginning of its creation is: “Akathartos.”
The word akathartos is used throughout the N.T. in reference to “UNCLEAN SPIRITS,” and ANIMALS classified by the (Word of God) as UNCLEAN.
Example: “Then the UNCLEAN SPIRITS went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.” (Mark 5:13)
Of the 30 times “akathartos” is used, it is in reference to “UNCLEAN SPIRITS” most often and the word is also used in reference to “UNCLEAN ANIMALS.”
“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of “demons,” a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every UNCLEAN and hated bird!” (Revelation 18:2)
This akathartos is a “fixed” sort of uncleanness and that means, it came from the beginning.
SO, UNCLEAN SPIRITS will never be CLEAN at any point.
Likewise, UNCLEAN ANIMALS are classified as such and, will NEVER BE CLEAN. They were created UNCLEAN BY GOD.
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Paul used the word koinos. The word “koinos,” is used when referring to an item that is by nature “good,” but becomes considered “common” or “profane” by its use, such as beef. Beef was created clean for us to eat, but when dedicated to idols, it becomes COMMON.
Do you see the difference? An “akathartos” animal is UNCLEAN from “birth,” and therefore is never referred to, by the word koinos.
Peter differentiated between “koinos” (common) and “akathartos” (unclean) when he experienced his vision. “But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is “common” (koinos) OR “unclean” (akathartos). (Acts 10:14)
To sum up…Paul never said we could eat UNCLEAN animals. He NEVER even brought up the subject of eating UNCLEAN animals, nor would he have….because, they are NOT “SANCTIFIED by the WORD of GOD” as for our FOOD (broma).
Look at that again…They are not sanctified by the Word of God as Food (broma) for us. God did not create anything unclean for us to eat.
That’s why Isaiah 66:15-17 is a huge warning. We cannot sanctify and purify ourselves when we eat swine, rats or things God created and considers an abomination. He has not changed the dietary laws for His People. We are set apart from those who worship idols in the gardens.
You can pray over this as you will, command and demand, but it will not change the status of something that was UNCLEAN from creation, unsanctified by God’s Word and never meant to be a food source for us.
I wonder if this is why there is so much sickness in our church and world today. Could it be the prideful choices regarding our food are bringing spiritual and physical poisoning into the temples of God? We are told that things happen first in the spirit and then manifest in the natural. Are our temples full of detestable things in His Eyes?
In today’s world people seem to know our food choices are important and many are calling out for Non GMO Food choices (Non Genetically Modified Food). How many people do you know who are looking to do a liver detox, kidney flush and colon cleanse…How toxic are we?
I think I am going to add spiritual wisdom when I go to the grocery store and shop for my meat. I don’t want to eat what God created unclean to be janitors over the earth and I certainly don’t want meat that, even though it was created clean for me in the beginning, has since been made “common” by being sacrificed to idols.
Halal meat is sacrificed and dedicated to Allah, The Moon God.
My God is Yahweh and I am in Him and He is in me, in the Name of Yahshua/Jesus.
I want the best USDA Choice Meat on the market, created and protected and processed CLEAN for my body. I will bless what Yahweh told me to eat and I thank Him for making it well with my body. Hallelujah!!!!
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Did Paul the Apostle Say We Can Eat Unclean Animals?
Hopefully, now we know. bon
Next…Part Four — What was Peter talking about?
Special thanks to: the Holy Ghost moving through Jim, Sylvester Stallone and teaching me of things I need to know, to share with others and get my house in order.