What is "meat"

Dear Friend, 

I was not satisfied with the answer I gave you for either you or myself concerning the passage of Scripture in I Timothy.

I decided to study it out. In studying scripture these are the ground rules I follow.

1. Scripture interprets Scripture
2. If my interpretation does not line up with the rest of scripture then my interpretation is wrong and needs to change to line up with the rest of the Word of God.

At first glance this passage would seem to say that you can eat any meat as long as you ask God's blessing over it and receive it with thanksgiving.

If I am following the rules for interpretation I know this interpretation must be wrong as it does not line up with the rest of what I read in the scriptures. So, then I need to find out where the problem lies so that I am able to interpret according to Scripture.

I know that through out time the meaning of words change. Take the word “gay” for example. It used to mean “happy or joyous” today it has a completely different meaning. If you go back to the 1611 (when the King James Version was written) meat also had a different meaning. I will get to that. First I want to go back to the original.

I went back to the Greek. Here is a translation from the Greek text.

This comes from a Greek professor at Moody Bible Institute. Wuest.

I Tim 3: 14- 4: 5

These things to you I am writing, hoping to come to you quickly, but if I delay, in order that you may know how it is necessary in the nature of the case for men to be conducting themselves in God's house which is of such a nature as to be the living God's assembly, a pillar and support of the truth. And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness; who (Messiah Yahshua v. 13) vindicated in the sphere of spirit (as to His diety) seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

But the Spirit says expressly that in the last strategic epochal periods of time some will depart from the faith. Giving head to spirits that lead one into error.

And the teaching of demons

doing this through the hypocrisy of liars

branded in their own conscious.

Forbidding to marry

commanding abstinence from foods

which things God created for those to receive

with thanksgiving who are believers

and who have a precise and

experiential knowledge of the truth

because every created thing of God

is good and not even one thing is to be

rejected if it is received with thankgiving

for it is consecrated

through God's Word and through prayer.

5. 6-8 Constantly reminding the brethren of these things, you will be a good servant of Messiah Yahshua, continually nourishing yourself by means of the words of the faith and of the good teaching which you have closely followed.

Now I turn to e-sword. A computer program which contains many versions and Bible helps, dictionaries and study tools. (free by the way).

This is the KJV with strongs numbers.

1Ti 3:14 These things^G5023 write^G1125 I unto thee,^G4671 hoping^G1679 to come^G2064 unto^G4314 thee^G4571 shortly:^G5032

1Ti 3:15 But^G1161 if^G1437 I tarry long,^G1019 that^G2443 thou mayest know^G1492 how^G4459 thou

oughtest^G1163 to behave thyself^G390 in^G1722 the house^G3624 of God,^G2316 which^G3748 is^G2076 the church^G1577 of the living^G2198 God,^G2316 the pillar^G4769 and^G2532 ground^G1477 of the^G3588 truth.^G225

1Ti 3:16 And^G2532 without controversy^G3672 great^G3173 is^G2076 the^G3588 mystery^G3466 of godliness:^G2150 God^G2316 was manifest^G5319 in^G1722 the flesh,^G4561 justified^G1344 in^G1722 the Spirit,^G4151 seen^G3700 of angels,^G32 preached^G2784 unto^G1722 the Gentiles,^G1484 believed on^G4100 in^G1722 the world,^G2889 received up^G353 into^G1722 glory.^G1391

1Ti 4:1 Now^G1161 the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 speaketh^G3004 expressly,^G4490 that^G3754 in^G1722 the latter^G5306 times^G2540 some^G5100 shall depart^G868 from the^G3588 faith,^G4102 giving heed^G4337 to seducing^G4108 spirits,^G4151 and^G2532 doctrines^G1319 of devils;^G1140

1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies^G5573 in^G1722 hypocrisy;^G5272 having their^G2398 conscience^G4893 seared with a hot iron;^G2743

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding^G2967 to marry,^G1060 and commanding to abstain^G567 from meats,^G1033 which^G3739 God^G2316 hath created^G2936 to be received^{G1519 G3336} with^G3326 thanksgiving^G2169 of them which believe^G4103 and^G2532 know^G1921 the^G3588 truth.^G225

1Ti 4:4 For^G3754 every^G3956 creature^G2938 of God^G2316 is good,^G2570 and^G2532 nothing^G3762 to be refused,^G579 if it be received^G2983 with^G3326 thanksgiving:^G2169

1Ti 4:5 For^G1063 it is sanctified^G37 by^G1223 the word^G3056 of God^G2316 and^G2532 prayer.^G1783

This is the Scriptures, which uses the names of God rather than the titles.

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons,

1Ti 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience,

1Ti 4:3 forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4 Because every creature of Elohim is good, and none is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

1Ti 4:5 for it is set apart by the Word of Elohim and prayer.

The word we are looking at is Meat. Strongs number 1033.

the Greek is this

G1033

βρῶμα

brōma

Thayer Definition:

1) that which is eaten, food

Part of Speech: noun neuter

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from the base of G977

Citing in TDNT: 1:642, 111

Meat

<1 font="">broma>

"food" (akin to bibrosko, "to eat," Joh_6:13), solid food in contrast to milk, is translated "food" in Mat_14:15, RV (AV, "victuals"); "meats," Mar_7:19; 1Co_6:13 (twice); 1Ti_4:3; Heb_9:10; Heb_13:9; "meat," Joh_4:34; Rom_14:15 (twice), Rom_14:20; 1Co_3:2; 1Co_8:8, 1Co_8:13; 1Co_10:3; "food," RV, for AV, "meat," Luk_3:11; Luk_9:13.

<2 font="">brosis>

akin to No. 1, denotes (a) "the act of eating," 1Co_8:4 (see EAT); (b) "food," translated "meat" in Joh_4:32 (for Joh_4:34, see No. 1); Joh_6:27 (twice, the second time metaphorically, of spiritual food); Joh_6:55, RV, marg., "(true) meat;" Rom_14:17, AV, "meat," RV, "eating;" Col_2:16; in Heb_12:16, RV, "mess of meat," AV, "morsel of meat;" in 2Co_9:10, "food;" in Mat_6:19-20, "rust." See EAT, EATING, B.

<3 font="">brosimos>

"eatable," Luk_24:41, AV, "any meat" (RV, "anything to eat"). See EAT, C.

<4 font="">trophe>

"nourishment, food," is translated "meat" in the AV (RV "food") except in two instances. See FOOD, No. 1.

<5 font="">phago>

"to eat," is used as a noun, in the infinitive mood, and translated "meat" in Mat_25:35, Mat_25:42 (lit., "to eat"); in Luk_8:55 the RV translates it literally, "to eat" (AV, "meat"). See EAT, No. 2.

<6 font="">trapeza>

"a table" (Eng., "trapeze"), is used, by metonymy, of "the food on the table," in Act_16:34 (RV, marg., "a table") and translated "meat;" cp. "table" in Rom_11:9; 1Co_10:21. See TABLE.

Notes: (1) For prosphagion, Joh_21:5, AV, "any meat," see EAT, B, No. 2. (2) In Luk_12:42, sitometrion denotes "a measured portion of food" (sitos, "food," metrios, "within measure"). (3) In Mat_15:37; Mar_8:8, the AV translates the plural of klasma, "a broken piece" (from klao, "to break"), "broken meat" (RV, "broken pieces"). (4) In Joh_12:2, RV, anakeimai, "to recline at table," is translated "sat at meat" (AV, "sat at the table"); in Mar_6:26, RV, according to the best mss., "sat at meat," some have sunanakeimai (AV, "sat with him"); in Mar_6:22, RV, sunanakeimai, "to recline at table together," is translated "that sat at meat with him." (5) In Act_15:29, AV, the neuter plural of eidolothutos, "sacrificed to idols," is translated "meats offered to idols" (RV, "things ...," as elsewhere in the AV). See IDOLS (offered to). (6) For kataklino, "to sit down to (recline at) meat," see SIT, No. 7.

MEAT, n.

1. Food in general; any thing eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb--to you it shall be for meat. Gen 1.

Websters 1828 dictionary

Meat

Meat. It does not appear that the word "meat" is used in any one instance, in the Authorized Version of either the Old or New Testament, in the sense which it now almost exclusively bears of animal food. The latter is denoted uniformly by "flesh." The word "meat," when our English version was made, meant food in general; or if any particular kind was designated, it referred to meal, flour or grain. The only real and inconvenient ambiguity caused by the change which has taken place in the meaning of the word is in the case of the "Meat [Meal] Offering." See Meat Offering.

But. In v. 1 shows a contrast between the confession of faith in 3:16 and the false doctrines found in 4:2-3.

Latter: husteros

that which comes after:

after Paul's writing: No specific time period is given. Could suggest it is already at work.

Times. Kairos: as opposed to chronos denotes epochs of time not a specific day or hour.

Depart from the faith: body of doctrine which sets the believers apart from the rest of the world around them.

Doctrines. Teachings, instructions

depart from faith through hypocrisy of false teachers. (those in authority positions not teaching the totality of the scriptures.)

Branded in their conscious. They prohibit

marriage

eating of meats

Meats: broma as seen above is “food”

The Essenes and also the Roman Catholic church.

Repudiated marriage and

Encouraged the abstinance of eating food as a sign of holiness and denial of self.

Meat: KJV 1611 is

food of any kind or food in general.

To be received. Matalambono

To be made a partaker

these were created so those who believe might participate in them.

Translation.

But the Spirit says expressly that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits that

lead one into error.

And to teachings of demons,

doing this through the hypocrisy of liars.

Branded in their own conscience

forbidding to

marry

and command

abstinence from

foods

which things (marriage and food) God created for participation with thanksgiving

for those who are believers and who have a precise and experiential knowledge of the truth.

5. 4, 5

creature ktisma created thing

offer thanks setting apart for God

see also Rom. 14:14. Context speaks of food being offered to idols.

So if meat means food of any kind does the scripture define what food is?

See Gen 1:29

Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Lev. 11:

Deut 14 Food not listed as edible is an abomination.

I Cor 10: 31-33 Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

1Co 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit,

this speaks of food that has been offered to idols.

Final thoughts:

I Tim 4: lines up with the rest of Scripture.

It is not talking about any kind of meat. It is referring to food of any kind. We then determine just what God calls food. If there remains any question the guiding principle as found in I Cor 10: is that if it offends another (Jew or Gentile) I do not partake of that.

That being said I believe scripture is clear as to what God considers as food we are to eat.

Also consider what Noah took on the ark. 2 of every kind of animal (pair) and 7 pair of every kind of clean animal. There was a distinction before the law was given on Sinai.