DIETARY LAWS: Why and when were they established?

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Deade

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#1
Why and when did God establish dietary laws/ordinances?

When were they first defined? We don’t really know. The first reference to clean beasts are given to us in Genesis when Noah was gathering for the ark.

Gen. 7:2: 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.

I am going to assume it was with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Why? Well, we will have to ask ourselves who instructed Adam and why he was instructed. On who, we can conclude it was Christ Himself that dealt with all the old patriarchs (see 1Cor. 10:4 and John 8:58). On why, we might guess the Lord wanted what was good for His people, health wise.

Give me your thoughts on this subject.

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tourist

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#2
There are many verses in the NT that state that all food is lawful to eat. It may not all be good for you but it is no sin to eat this food.
 
Dec 28, 2016
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#3
There are many verses in the NT that state that all food is lawful to eat. It may not all be good for you but it is no sin to eat this food.
I tried beef liver once, doing so was sinful. :D
 

Locutus

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Feb 10, 2017
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#4
Doesn't really matter when they were established, what is needed to be understood is the purpose, which was to create a separation of Israel from the Gentile nations:


Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Eph 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.


Rom 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
 

Deade

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#5
Doesn't really matter when they were established, what is needed to be understood is the purpose, which was to create a separation of Israel from the Gentile nations:


Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Eph 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.


Rom 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Just for separation you say. I don't buy it, not the Jesus I know. He had deeper reasons. Ephesians 2:14, 15: is talking about gentiles and circumcision and the household of God. Romans 14:14 doesn't address the original purpose of the ordinance, which is what I am doing here.

Come on folks we still have not addressed when this was established. :cool:
 
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Locutus

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#6
Ordinances in Eph 2 is not just dealing with circumcision. If Paul wanted to say that Jesus had only abolished circumcision he would not have said "ordinances".

There were no commands to eat a particular diet in the letter sent from the Jerusalem:

Acts 15:19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

Acts 15:20 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.

And Paul gives us further information into this doctrine:

Col 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Col 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
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#7
Why and when did God establish dietary laws/ordinances?

When were they first defined? We don’t really know. The first reference to clean beasts are given to us in Genesis when Noah was gathering for the ark.

Gen. 7:2: 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.

I am going to assume it was with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Why? Well, we will have to ask ourselves who instructed Adam and why he was instructed. On who, we can conclude it was Christ Himself that dealt with all the old patriarchs (see 1Cor. 10:4 and John 8:58). On why, we might guess the Lord wanted what was good for His people, health wise.

Give me your thoughts on this subject.

View attachment 178876
The notion of clean and unclean animals in Gen 7 was NOT about diet! It was about animals suitable for sacrifice.

Gen 9:3
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
KJV


The first mention of dietary restrictions, after permission was given to eat animals, is found in Leviticus Chapter 11.

Leviticus 11 is a parentheses between Gen 9:3 and 1 Tim 4:4.

Since men did not walk around with their circumcision showing, and women were not circumcised; Leviticus 11 served as an outward observable sign of participation in the Mosaic covenant.
 

OneFaith

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Sep 5, 2016
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#8
When? In the Old Testament. Why? Because God’s laws were done physically in the Old Testament. (They are now done spiritually in the New Testament). Things such as pork are still unhealthy to eat, but it is no longer religiously wrong to eat it. Eating unhealthy food in the Old Testament represented consuming false doctrines in the New Testament. We are only to live on God’s Word, not man’s word. “I am the bread of life. Whoever eats the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood, I will raise him up at the last day.” (Of course this is done spiritually by taking the Lords Supper, and feeding on the doctrine of Christ- which is the New Testament).
 
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Nehemiah6

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Jul 18, 2017
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#9
There are many verses in the NT that state that all food is lawful to eat. It may not all be good for you but it is no sin to eat this food.
That's correct. All meats are permissible, but all may not be palatable or acceptable in certain cultures. As the Lord clearly taught, it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out from within -- from the innermost man. The only restrictions on Christians which are still applicable are those listed in Acts 15:28,29, which apply to the consumption of blood and meats offered to idols.
 

Deade

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#10
When? In the Old Testament. Why? Because God’s laws were done physically in the Old Testament. (They are now done spiritually in the New Testament). Things such as pork are still unhealthy to eat, but it is no longer religiously wrong to eat it. Eating unhealthy food in the Old Testament represented consuming false doctrines in the New Testament. We are only to live on God’s Word, not man’s word. “I am the bread of life. Whoever eats the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood, I will raise him up at the last day.” (Of course this is done spiritually by taking the Lords Supper, and feeding on the doctrine of Christ- which is the New Testament).
I never said it was religiously wrong for us. My message is why Christ established it: For our health. That should mean something for us today. I know of many that still keep the clean meat ordinances: the SDA and many others of the Adventist movement. If you want to fellowship with them you would want to know this.

 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
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#11
I never said it was religiously wrong for us. My message is why Christ established it: For our health. That should mean something for us today. I know of many that still keep the clean meat ordinances: the SDA and many others of the Adventist movement. If you want to fellowship with them you would want to know this.


I know all too well. I studied with a Seven Day Adventist. He said God never intended humans to eat animals. I said not only did God intend it by prophesying directly that there would come a day when He will give us all things for food- just as He gave us the green herb, but He also commanded it, even in the Old Testament.

He told the Israelites to eat ‘from the flock and from the herd’ for their religious festival- a festival that Jesus also lived according to- meaning that He had to eat from the flock and from the herd, or be a liar when He stated that He fulfilled the old law perfectly.

But that even if that were in question, do you consider fish meat? He said yes. I said the Bible says Peter seen Him on the shore and swam to Him, and that He cooked fish and ate with them. Now if Jesus never sinned, then it is not a sin to eat meat.

He quit studying with me after that.
 
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laymen

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Apr 6, 2014
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#12
There are many verses in the NT that state that all food is lawful to eat. It may not all be good for you but it is no sin to eat this food.
Not sure were you would find that teaching at. I know meany try and use these verses to prove Your statement....
[FONT=&quot]1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Note the food here is sanctified by the word meaning the Food spoke of in Lev 11. Remember they only had the OT to read and the NT was not around until much later. [/FONT]
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#13
I never said it was religiously wrong for us. My message is why Christ established it: For our health. That should mean something for us today. I know of many that still keep the clean meat ordinances: the SDA and many others of the Adventist movement. If you want to fellowship with them you would want to know this.
Christ didn't establish it for the Church, if anything He nailed those commandments to the Tree...

Ephesians 2:13-16 NASB
[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, [15] by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, [16] and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
 
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Ariel82

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#14
Bible > ESV > 1 Timothy 4
◄ 1 Timothy 4 ►
English Standard Version
Some Will Depart from the Faith

1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
 
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A

Ariel82

Guest
#15
Acts 10:9-16 New International Version (NIV)
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”


16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#16
Folks will explain it away but I believe God makes both Humans and Food clean. We can eat any food if we pray and give thanks to Him over it. Howver if they tell us it was offered to demons/idols we don't eat...not because the food will harm us,, but because we don't want the other person worshipping idols/demons.

We can choose to eat or not eat meat as God leads us, but it is wrong to forbid someone from eating meat or condemn someone for not eating meat.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#17
Bible > ESV > Romans 14
◄ Romans 14 ►
English Standard Version
Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3Let 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. 4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own mastera that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
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#18
The notion of clean and unclean animals in Gen 7 was NOT about diet! It was about animals suitable for sacrifice.

Gen 9:3
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
KJV


The first mention of dietary restrictions, after permission was given to eat animals, is found in Leviticus Chapter 11.

Leviticus 11 is a parentheses between Gen 9:3 and 1 Tim 4:4.

Since men did not walk around with their circumcision showing, and women were not circumcised; Leviticus 11 served as an outward observable sign of participation in the Mosaic covenant.

We might do well to remember that the outward visible sign of the new covenant is supposed to be our love for each other.


John 13:35
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
KJV


I think most of us myself included could do a better job of living this.
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
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#19
Why and when did God establish dietary laws/ordinances?
Since the beginning.

When were they first defined?
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. Gen 1:29

Thus, man was given the seed of the herb (green plant with single growing season) and the nut of the tree which fruit was the tree yielding seed)

We don’t really know.
But yet can we can ever really know.... :cool:

The first reference to clean beasts are given to us in Genesis when Noah was gathering for the ark.

Really, I thought the beasts were first referenced in the Garden as being those who were formed out of the dry ground along with the birds that fly in the firmament of the heaven.

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; Gen 2:19


I am going to assume it was with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Why? Well, we will have to ask ourselves who instructed Adam and why he was instructed. On who, we can conclude it was Christ Himself that dealt with all the old patriarchs (see 1Cor. 10:4 and John 8:58). On why, we might guess the Lord wanted what was good for His people, health wise.

Give me your thoughts on this subject.

View attachment 178876
To be honest, never really gave the subject much thought....

 

Deade

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#20
Since the beginning.
Exactly what I said.

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. Gen 1:29
Thus, man was given the seed of the herb (green plant with single growing season) and the nut of the tree which fruit was the tree yielding seed)
We are told this, but is that all they were allowed to eat. We can't say.
But yet can we can ever really know.... :cool:
We are not given any references, one way or the other.

Really, I thought the beasts were first referenced in the Garden as being those who were formed out of the dry ground along with the birds that fly in the firmament of the heaven.

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; Gen 2:19
The Jesus I know gave them dietary instructions when naming the animals.

To be honest, never really gave the subject much thought....

Yes, I know it is obvious. Some SDA use that first instruction for us eating herbs only. Yet we are instructed to be sure to eat the Passover lamb. So we were to eat meat after all. The purist SDA say they are trying to get to that perfect condition in the Garden of Eden. I think that is a false assumption. It is a condition that never existed.