Leena Watts
The Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference for health reasons, but it does indicate that eating meat is acceptable. Various interpretations of the Bible have been used to support both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. Some biblical passages suggest that eating animals is morally permissible, while others indicate that God reluctantly permitted meat consumption due to human sinfulness. The Bible also emphasizes dominion over creation, which can be interpreted as a call for responsible stewardship of the environment and compassionate treatment of animals. While Jesus's diet included fish, there is debate about whether he consumed meat, and some early Church fathers, such as St. Basil, were vegetarian.
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What You'll Learn
Jesus was a vegetarian
The Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference for health reasons, but it also does not forbid it. In fact, the Bible indicates that eating meat is acceptable, and God gave humanity permission to eat meat after the flood (Genesis 9:2-3). The Levitical priests had to eat sacrificial animals under the Sinai Covenant. Jesus himself is recorded to have eaten fish (Luke 24:42-43) and lamb (Luke 22:8-15), and he fed the crowds fish and bread (Matthew 14:17-21). He also declared all foods, including all kinds of meat, to be clean (Mark 7:19).
However, there is evidence that Christ's opposition to animal sacrifice at the Jewish Temple may have been the triggering event that led to the Crucifixion. Some early Christian sources, such as the Ebionites, a Jewish Christian group that dates to the first century, claimed that Jesus was a vegetarian. They believed that Jesus rejected animal sacrifice and the consumption of meat. This belief in vegetarianism was likely a central tenet of the early Christian community founded by Jesus's disciples.
While it cannot be definitively stated that Jesus was a vegetarian, it is clear that he did not look down upon those who chose not to eat meat. The Bible states that we should not force our convictions about this issue on other people or judge them by what they eat or do not eat (Romans 14:2-3). It is up to each individual Christian to pray for guidance and make their own decision about what to eat, as long as they thank God for providing it (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
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Cruelty to animals
The Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference for health reasons, and indicates that eating meat is acceptable. However, cruelty to animals is not consistent with a Christian worldview. God loves animals, and Christians are to respect them and treat them kindly. Abusing and killing animals is sinful, and God hears their cries and will provide for them.
This is reflected in several Bible verses. For example, Proverbs 12:10 says, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast" (ESV). Similarly, Exodus 23:5 states that if you see your enemy's donkey has fallen because its load is too heavy, you must help your enemy get the donkey back on its feet. This demonstrates that even towards animals belonging to enemies, kindness and care are expected.
Additionally, Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 highlights the equality between humans and animals, stating that they have the same breath of life and the same destiny. Psalm 145:8-11 also speaks of God's loving-kindness towards all His works, including animals.
The Bible also addresses bestiality as a form of animal cruelty, with Leviticus 18:23-24 instructing people not to defile themselves by having sexual intercourse with animals. This act is considered a perversion and is cursed by God, as seen in Deuteronomy 27:21.
While the Bible does not specifically mandate a vegetarian diet, it emphasizes the importance of treating animals with compassion and respect, and condemns any form of cruelty or abuse towards them.
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God's preference for peace
The Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference for health reasons, and it indicates that eating meat is acceptable. For instance, the Levitical priests ate sacrificial animals under the Sinai Covenant. However, there is also support in the Bible for a vegetarian diet. Some Biblical scholars believe that Jesus was a member of the Nazarene Essenes, a Jewish religious sect that followed a vegetarian diet and rejected animal sacrifices. Jesus is also believed to have eaten butter and honey instead of meat, so that his heart would not be corrupted.
The Bible also suggests that God gave humans dominion over creation, and in the very next verse, humans are prescribed a plant-based diet. This dominion can be interpreted as stewardship or servant-hood, where humans are called to rule over creation in the sense of caring for it and seeking its flourishing. This interpretation is supported by Proverbs 12:10, which says, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast".
Some Christians choose to practice vegetarianism or veganism as their Lenten sacrifice during the period of Lent, and organizations such as the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) promote the concept. Various Church leaders have also recommended vegetarianism, including John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and William and Catherine Booth, the founders of The Salvation Army.
The Apostle Paul stated that people of "weak faith" "eat only vegetables" (Romans 14:1–4), although he also warned both meat-eaters and vegetarians to "stop passing judgment on one another" when it comes to food (Romans 14:13). He also said it is good "neither to eat flesh" (Romans 14:21).
Overall, while the Bible does not explicitly mandate a vegetarian diet, it does provide support for those who choose to follow one, and it emphasizes the importance of caring for God's creation and treating animals with compassion. God's preference for peace is evident in his desire for humans to care for creation and maintain a harmonious relationship with the animals under their dominion.
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Bible verses about vegetarianism
The Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference for health reasons. However, it indicates that eating meat is acceptable. For instance, in 1 Timothy 4:3–5, it is written:
> "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. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
In the book of Leviticus, the priests had to eat sacrificial animals under the Sinai Covenant. However, some Biblical scholars believe that Jesus was a member of the Nazarene Essenes, a Jewish religious sect that followed a vegetarian diet and rejected animal sacrifices. This is supported by the Shroud of Turin, a centuries-old linen cloth bearing the image of a man with long hair, whom many believe to be Jesus.
Some Christians also argue that God reluctantly permitted the eating of animals due to human sinfulness. In other words, God permitted humans to eat non-human animals as a concession to the Fallen state of humanity. This is supported by the fact that in the beginning, God told humans,
> "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed [...] 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."
The Bible also states that people of "weak faith" "eat only vegetables" (Romans 14:1–4). However, in the same passage, the Apostle Paul warns both meat-eaters and vegetarians to "stop passing judgment on one another" when it comes to food (verse 13) and that it is "good neither to eat flesh" (verse 21). Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 3:2, it is written:
> "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly support or reject vegetarianism, it is clear that both meat-eaters and vegetarians should respect each other's dietary choices and not pass judgment on one another.
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Church leaders who recommend vegetarianism
While the Bible does not directly address vegetarianism as a dietary preference, it also does not consider it a sin. The Bible indicates that eating meat is acceptable, and passages such as Romans 14:3 emphasise that those who eat meat should not judge those who do not, and vice versa.
Jesus himself did not recommend vegetarianism to his followers, and actively ate fish on several occasions. However, there is a long-standing tradition of vegetarianism in Christian history, and various Church leaders have recommended it.
William Cowherd
William Cowherd, founder of the Bible Christian Church, encouraged members to abstain from eating meat as a form of temperance. Cowherd is also recognised as one of the philosophical forerunners of the Vegetarian Society.
Ellen G. White
Ellen G. White is known for her association with the Seventh-day Adventists, who recommend vegetarianism as part of their fellowship. White encouraged a diet rich in plant foods, prepared in a simple and natural manner, as the most healthful and nourishing. Adventists have advocated for a vegetarian diet for good health for over 150 years.
John Wesley
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, is another church leader who recommended vegetarianism.
William and Catherine Booth
The founders of The Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth, also recommended vegetarianism.
Early Christian Vegetarianism
Pescetarianism was widespread in the early Church, among both the clergy and laity. The early Judeo-Christian Gnostics, the Ebionites, held that John the Baptist, James the Just, and Jesus were vegetarians. Followers of the Gnostic sect known as Catharism practised pescetarianism as early as the Middle Ages.
Various religious orders of different Christian Churches also practice pescetarianism, including the Benedictines, Franciscans, Trappists, Carthusians, and Cistercians.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible does not explicitly support or reject a vegetarian diet. Some passages suggest that eating meat is acceptable, such as 1 Timothy 4:3, which states, "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." However, other passages, such as Romans 14:21, suggest abstaining from meat: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."
Christian vegetarians and vegans argue that Jesus's teaching in Mark 7 emphasizes the relationship between his followers and God, each other, and the world, rather than specific dietary restrictions. They also point to the absence of meat, particularly lamb, at the Last Supper as evidence that Jesus did not eat meat.
Most non-vegetarian Christians interpret passages like 1 Timothy 4:3 as evidence that Jesus ate meat and that dietary choices are a matter of "Christian liberty." They also cite Jesus's consumption of fish in Luke 24 and his instructions to his disciples on fishing in John 21 as further support for their interpretation.
Yes, several prominent Church leaders have promoted vegetarianism, including John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and William and Catherine Booth, the founders of The Salvation Army. Additionally, organizations like the Christian Vegetarian Association work to promote vegetarianism within the Christian faith.
