1 Timothy 4 Explained (and why it doesn't mean all animals should be eaten)

A common question related to Biblical eating is what about 1 Timothy 4? Many people believe that this verse not only says that we can eat whatever we want, but that those advocating for following the Bible's dietary laws are following demonic teachings that come from deceptive spirits! Many people think 1 Timothy 4 teaches that the commandments regarding food have been done away with.

Let's take a look at this verse before we discuss how this does not mean that all animals can or should be eaten or that the laws surrounding what we eat are no longer in effect.

"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer." -1 Timothy 4:1-5

If you come from a background of belief that all the Biblical dietary laws have been done away with, then it's easy to read this passage to mean that literally anything you pray over can be received as food. God created everything to be eaten, right?

But take a closer look at the wording. The issue at hand is not that people are saying it's wrong to eat certain animals. The problem is that they are teaching that certain FOODS are wrong to eat. Big difference here! When the authors of the Bible speak, they do so with the foundational assumption that the Bible has already defined what does and what does not count as "food."

The Bible defines food in:

-Genesis 1:29

"Every seed bearing plant and the fruit trees."

-Leviticus 11

"Of all the animals that live on the land, these are the ones you may eat..."  Which goes on to explain which animals, birds, fish, and insects can and cannot be eaten.

The Bible explains that animals that are considered abominable should not be eaten in Leviticus 11:41. They should not be eaten, because they are not food according to Scripture. So when 1 Timothy 4:3 says that God created foods to be eaten, it's talking about what the Bible considers food. It does not mean that everything on the planet is considered fit for consumption. This passage does not mean that animals like pigs, dogs, cats, or shellfish can be eaten if we give thanks, because Paul, the author, did not consider these animals to be food since the Bible says they aren't.

Think this is a crazy idea? If you invite me over and say, "Help yourself to some snacks on the counter," what you mean is that I can eat the food you have out on the counter - things like apple slices, bread, cheese, carrot sticks, and cookies. You're not saying that I can eat the bouquet of flowers, the dish soap, sponge, potted plant, pet goldfish, the receipt for the groceries or whatever else you have on the counter, because you don't consider those things to be food. YHWH did not say that these things are food, so therefore we shouldn't consume them.

What is 1 Timothy 4 talking about then? This warning from Paul is that false teachers will come along who disagree with the Bible and teach that certain things the Bible says can be eaten, shouldn't be. We should always be on guard against anyone who is saying something that contradicts the teachings and commandments of Scripture! It seems likely that Paul could be referring to those who say that any animal or animal products - ones like cows and sheep that the Bible expressly says may be eaten - should not be eaten. This goes against specific instructions of Scripture that enumerate which animals may be eaten, as well as many examples of godly men and women in the Bible eating and serving these products, like when Abraham and Sarah fed meat and curds to their heavenly visitors and the Messiah served fish to his followers.

This could also have to do with many believers who insist on following not just Bible dietary commands, but Jewish kosher laws which add many manmade rules to the simple directions the Bible gives. As we've discussed in other posts, the Bible does not teach that meat and dairy products can't ever cross paths at all, but Jewish laws say they shouldn't even be used in the same kitchen. This is another undue burden to place on others. These rules may be well-intended, but it's still wrong to put manmade rules on par with Biblical law, or to claim that those manmade traditions are the same as what the Living God commands!

1 Timothy 4:5 supports the idea that these people will teach that certain Biblically permissible foods are off limits (as well as teaching that it's wrong to be married). We see that in the phrasing, "We know it is made acceptable by the word of God." This means that the author is referring to animals/foods that the Bible expressly says we can eat. How can we be sure something is food even if a faith movement, pastor, or author say it's not? We check the Bible and see what it says! Paul is drawing attention to the fact that Scripture decides what is acceptable or not before YHWH. Not religious leaders advocating for extra rules. Not people who are sensitive about eating animals. Not people who think that Jesus did away with the food laws. Not well intentioned people fearful of allergies. Not denominational doctrine. Not people who abuse the Bible and say that Scripture only permits veganism. Just the Bible. Scripture is the only thing that gets to decide what food is.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 explains that we should be leery of anyone changing the Bible's laws around food, not that we shouldn't follow Scripture's instructions!

Related posts:
What the Bible Says about Meat and Dairy
Understanding Mark 7:19 and the Messiah Declaring All Foods Clean
The Difference Between Unclean and Abominable

Why Purim is Not a Biblical Holiday

Is Purim a Biblical holiday?

While many people intend to celebrate the events of YHWH preserving the Jewish people through the actions of Queen Esther when they celebrate Purim, that does not make this cultural holiday Biblical.

Why isn't Purim considered a Biblical holiday?

Biblical holidays are defined as holidays that YHWH directs believers to keep or observe. These are the set apart times of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The Living God himself directed believers to celebrate these and gave us information on when they happen and any special instructions for the festivities. You can read about these in Leviticus 23.

These are the only Biblical holidays, because they are the only holidays that the Creator tells us to celebrate.

Are Purim and Passover the same?

No, these are two completely separate holidays! Again, while keeping Passover is something YHWH directs believers to do in Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, and Numbers 9, among other places, we are given no mandate from YHWH to participate in a holiday called Purim. At Passover we remember and honor the death of the Messiah, as well as the Living God bringing freedom to his people from slavery in the Exodus story. The historical aspect of Purim is to celebrate events in the book of Esther. Passover happens about a month after Purim. 

Is Purim in the Bible?

But isn't Purim in the book of Esther? Yes, the book of Esther does tell us about a manmade holiday known as Purim. But even if you believe the book of Esther is rightly canonized as part of Scripture (which many scholars don't - Esther is not referenced in any other book of the Bible and is the only book of Scripture not found among the Dead Sea Scrolls), there is no directive from YHWH to celebrate this day - in fact, there are no words at all from the Living God and no mention of his name in this book. It's important to see that even if Purim is mentioned in Scripture, that's not the same as it being ordained by YHWH, let alone a command.

What is the feast of Purim? 

The feast of Purim commemorates the events from Esther 2-9. The evil Haman, advisor to King Ahasuerus, plotted to destroy all the Jews in the king's provinces. Queen Esther risked her life to go to the king without being called for, invited him to dinner, and eventually exposed Haman's plot to the king. The king then authorized Esther's cousin Mordechai to write a decree stating that the Jews could defend themselves from attackers on the appointed day. The Jews were able to overpower those who hated them and wound up killing more than 75,000 people. 

Ostensibly, Purim is a celebration of the preservation of the Jewish people. Note that the Jewish people refers to members of the Southern House of Judah, and not the Northern House of Israel at this point in history.

How is Purim celebrated?

Traditionally in Judaism, Purim is celebrated by public reading of the scroll of Esther. Gifts or financial support are sent to the poor. Many wear costumes, often in a 'carnival' atmosphere. A triangle-shaped cookie known as hamantaschen - to symbolize the ears of Haman is consumed, along with large amounts of alcohol - in fact, the Talmud says that its the duty of celebrants to drink until they cannot recognize the difference between Haman and Mordechai. 

Should Christians celebrate Purim?

I firmly believe that all Bible believers should celebrate the Biblical holidays, but we have established that Purim is not one of those. Coupled with typical celebrations often including things Scripture says not to do, like crossdressing, and getting drunk, I have pause about taking part in this. Should we be grateful for the miracles of this story? Of course, but by not adding this manmade holiday to YHWH's Biblical holidays, we make celebrating the Biblical holidays more approachable, by showing that it's okay to stick with Biblical commandments without adding manmade traditions to the mix of our faith.

Please note that this post is to clarify why Purim is not included as one of the seven Biblical holidays. I realize it is a significant holiday in Judaism, with historic and spiritual meaning. I mean no disrespect to that. My goal is to teach the distinction between what Scripture says and Jewish customs. Many Jews have told me they don't want to see the Messianic movement appropriating their culture, which is why I want believers in Messiah to know the difference between Jewish culture and Biblical commandments. Blessings to all!

Related posts:
The Two Houses: Israel and Judah in Scripture
Why Hanukkah is Not a Biblical Holiday
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays

Understanding the Difference Between Unclean and Abominable Animals in Leviticus 11

What is the difference between unclean and abominable? Scripture uses both of these words in Leviticus 11 and elsewhere in regards to animal flesh. It's important for believers to make a distinction between these two words in order to correctly understand Scripture, and to understand Biblical eating guidelines.

One argument you're likely to hear against following the Bible's laws concerning what we eat is that it's not sin to become unclean, and certain animals - like pigs and shellfish - are "just" unclean. The logic is if it's not sin to become unclean, it must be okay to eat something that makes you unclean. However this is not what Scripture says!

It's true that being in an unclean state is not in and of itself sin. But it's not true that that certain animals are "just" unclean. If you take a look at Leviticus 11 you can see that it lists certain animals as abominable. The Hebrew word for abomination is seqes, and it means that that thing is detestable and can be related to idol worship! The connection to idol worship is not predicated on if the person eating abominable flesh means it to be idol worship or not; the connection remains regardless of intentions. The English word abominable can mean disgusting and if you read this chapter that is mostly the impression you get...in our culture today the idea of eating animals like dogs, bats, rodents, and such is a repulsive thought. The Bible is saying that it shouldn't even cross our minds to eat these things.

Please note that nowhere in Leviticus 11 or elsewhere in the Bible does it say that if you choose to eat certain animals you will become unclean.  When it talks about eating non-permissible animals it calls that an abomination! When the word 'unclean' appears later in Leviticus 11:24 it is in regards to simply touching the dead flesh of certain animals. That means you don't become unclean for petting a dog or cat or riding a horse - only if you touch or deal with the carcass of one. This certainly seems like a sensible regulation - if someone has just touched a dead racoon, you probably don't want to hold their hand or let them chop the vegetables for dinner. This passage of Scripture also gives us directions here for what happens if something unclean, like a mouse, ends up in a cooking pot.  

If you touch a carcass of an unclean animal - whether that's to put bacon in a skillet or to cleanup an animal that died - you become unclean. But if you eat the carcass of one of these animals that is an abomination according to Leviticus 11:11! Doing something that the Bible says is an abomination is sin.

The Bible calls animals like dogs, pigs, horses, and monkeys unclean, and by touching their carcasses we become unclean as well. Again, being in an unclean state is not a sin, and sometimes it is unavoidable. But the Bible does not say that being in an unclean state is all the consequence there is to consuming forbidden animals. The issue with eating these things is not that we would become unclean, but that we would be in sin!  It is wrong to to eat animals that the Word of God made a point of telling us not to. 

Many people believe that the New Testament changed the commandments around this, but if you study those passages you will see that the foundational dietary principles of Scripture that were outlined in Leviticus 11 remain unchanged.

Related posts:
Understanding 1 Corinthians 10:27
Four Distinctions We Need to Make to Understand Scripture
Peter's Vision Was About People - Not What We Eat

Biblical Holiday Dates Printable 2023 (traditional calendar)

These are the dates for when the Biblical holidays land in 2023! As usual, here is a free printable for you to stick in your planner, on your fridge, desk, or wherever else so that you can be sure to free up these days to celebrate the set apart times of our Creator. All of these holidays are significant, and honoring them will cause your faith to grow tremendously! Some of these days are called Sabbaths in Scripture, which means we are not to do any work on those days and otherwise treat them as the weekly Sabbath. I've made a note of those days so that you can plan accordingly.

Normally I give a few different sets of dates because there are many different calendars that believers use to line up the Biblical months with the Gregorian calendar our society uses. Right now I'm just giving the traditional calendar because I haven't heard back from ministries that use others. Hopefully it will be updated to include a few more soon!

Traditional calendar:

The traditional calendar has days going from sundown to sundown. Holidays start at sundown on the day listed. For example, Passover starts at sundown on April 5 and ends at sundown the next day, April 6. The traditional calendar also gives an extra day for Shavuot and Yom Teruah, though Scripture treats both as one-day holidays.

Passover - April 5-6

Unleavened Bread - April 6-13

First Fruits - April 8-9

Shavuot - May 25-27

Feast of Trumpets - September 15-17

Yom Kippur - September 24-25

Feast of Tabernacles - September 29 - October 7

A note about Sabbath days:

As mentioned, certain Biblical holidays are to be treated as we would the weekly Sabbath. That means taking time off of professional work, and as many normal household chores and tasks as possible. We don't shop on the Sabbath or run errands. We should prioritize having these days off from work. Most of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Tabernacles are not Sabbath days, which means we can choose to work, get groceries, etc. if necessary. If possible, I would encourage you to take these days off of work and/or school as a way to change your pace and have fun with the Biblical set apart times. If it's not possible for you to take off every Biblical holiday, prioritize the ones that are Sabbath days!

Sabbath days:

First day of Unleavened Bread - April 6-7
Last day of Unleavened Bread - April 12-13
Shavuot - May 25-27
Feast of Trumpets -  September 15-17
Yom Kippur - September 24-25
First day of Tabernacles - September 29-30
Last day of Tabernacles - October 6-7

Click here to download the printable for the traditional calendar dates for the Biblical holidays. It's free for your personal use.

Whatever calendar you go by, now is the time to plan your schedule and put in for time off from work so that you can enjoy these set apart times.

Related posts:
Why the Biblical Holidays Are For All Believers
What is a No-Work Day?
What Not To Do on a Sabbath Day