Dante Carrillo
The Bible does not explicitly outline a shift from a vegetarian to a meat-inclusive diet, but there are interpretations of various verses that suggest a progression. Some believe that initially, all creation was vegetarian, as indicated in Genesis 1:29-30, where God says plants will be the food for both humans and animals. However, after the Great Flood, God tells Noah and his family that everything that lives and moves will be food for them, implying a shift to a meat-inclusive diet. This interpretation is supported by passages like Mark 7, where Jesus states that what comes out of a person, not what they eat, defiles them, suggesting dietary choices are a matter of Christian liberty. While some Christian denominations, like the Seventh-day Adventists, promote vegetarianism, most Christians interpret these verses as permitting meat consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scripture that suggests all creation was vegetarian | Genesis 1:29-30 |
| Scripture that suggests permission to eat meat was given to Noah and his family | Genesis 9:3-4 |
| Scripture that suggests Jesus ate meat | Luke 24, John 21 |
| Scripture that suggests eating meat is a matter of "Christian liberty" | Mark 7:5-21 |
| Scripture that suggests people of "weak faith" "eat only vegetables" | Romans 14:1-4 |
| Scripture that suggests warnings to meat-eaters and vegetarians to "stop passing judgment on one another" | Romans 14:13 |
| Scripture that suggests it is "good neither to eat flesh" | Romans 14:21 |
| Scripture that suggests permission to eat meat | 1 Timothy 4:3 |
| Scripture that suggests meat is for those who are of "full age" | Hebrews 5:4 |
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What You'll Learn
The Bible does not command a vegetarian diet
In the beginning, all creation was vegetarian. God gave mankind the fruit of the trees and any seed-bearing plant, along with every green plant for food. He also gave these to "every beast of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground". However, after the Great Flood, God told Noah and his sons: "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, now I give you everything" (Genesis 9:1-3).
Some Christian sects, such as Seventh Day Adventists, suggest that a vegetarian diet is healthier, but this is a suggestion rather than a Biblical law. Some people choose to be vegetarian because they are concerned about the exploitation of animals, and God does indeed care about his creation, "even what happens to sparrows". However, the Bible states that "one man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables" (Romans 14:2-3). It also says that those who eat meat should not be judged by those who do not, and vice versa: "Let not him who eats [meats] despise him who does not eat [meats], and let not him who does not eat [meat] judge him who eats [meat]; for God has received him" (Romans 14:3).
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God's original plan excluded meat
The Bible suggests that God's original plan for mankind was a vegetarian diet. Genesis 1:29 states that God gave man "every herb bearing seed" and "every tree [...] yielding seed" to eat, along with "every green herb" for animals. This is supported by Genesis 1:30-31, which describes God's creation as "very good".
Genesis 9:1-3, however, indicates a shift in God's plan, as God tells Noah and his sons that "everything that lives and moves will be food for you", in addition to the green plants. This change may have been a result of the Great Flood, as it is noted that Noah and his family were tasked with replenishing the earth after the waters receded.
Some interpret the Bible's stance on vegetarianism as a matter of freewill, with Romans 14:2-3 stating:
> "One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him."
This interpretation suggests that while God's original plan may have excluded meat, the decision to consume meat is a matter of individual choice, as long as it is done "for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
It is worth noting that some Christians interpret the Bible's messages differently, with some believing that God's priority is to "reconcile sinners to himself" before addressing dietary choices. Additionally, the Bible warns against the worship of nature, which may include the belief that nature is God and following a vegetarian diet as a result.
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Jesus ate meat
The Bible does not explicitly state whether Jesus ate meat or not. However, several passages imply that he did. Firstly, in Luke 24:41–43, Jesus ate fish, and he also served it to his followers (Matthew 14). He is also said to have cooked fish for his disciples (John 21:9). Furthermore, Jesus is said to have observed the annual Feast of Passover, which included the sacrifice and consumption of a lamb (Exodus 12:8). As an adult, Jesus continued to observe the law, and his attendance at the Passover feast is recorded in John 2:13, John 5:1, and Matthew 26:17–30.
Jesus is also said to have declared all foods to be clean (Mark 7:19). This meant that more animals were being allowed for consumption. In addition, Jesus shared meals that included fish and meat. For instance, in John 21, Jesus is recorded as eating a meal of bread and fish with his disciples.
Some animal rights enthusiasts have claimed that Jesus was a vegetarian, applying his teachings about kindness and compassion to animals. However, this interpretation is not universally accepted. It is worth noting that Jesus never said anything that challenged the dominant meat-eating practices of the Old Testament.
The Bible also seems to indicate that during the millennial reign of Christ on earth, all creation will return to being vegetarian. This is based on the prophecy from Isaiah 11:6-9, which describes a time when the wolf will live with the lamb, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
In summary, while the Bible does not provide a definitive answer, the available evidence suggests that Jesus likely ate meat. He is recorded as consuming fish and participating in the Passover feast, which included meat. Additionally, his declaration of all foods as clean and his sharing of meals with his disciples that included meat further support this conclusion.
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Meat-eating is normalised in the Bible
The Bible contains several passages that normalise meat-eating, suggesting that it was common in ancient societies and that God permitted it.
Genesis 9:1-3 describes how God gave Noah and his sons dominion over animals, saying: "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, now I give you everything." This passage has been interpreted as God giving permission for meat-eating, although some argue that it was an invitation to scavenge and eat dead animals. The fact that Noah and his family were vegetarian before the Great Flood is supported by Genesis 1:29-30, which states that God gave plants as food to both humans and animals.
The Bible also contains several passages where Jesus and his disciples eat fish, such as Luke 24 and John 21. These passages suggest that meat-eating was normal in Jesus' time and that he did not forbid it. In Mark 7, Jesus teaches that it is not what goes into a person's body that defiles them but what comes out, indicating that dietary choices are a matter of "Christian liberty". This interpretation is supported by 1 Corinthians 8:13, which states: "Hence, if food can lead my brother to sin, I will never again eat meat lest I cause the downfall of one of my brethren."
Some Christians argue that meat-eating is not presented as a positive in the Bible, but rather as a concession to human sinfulness. This interpretation is based on the belief that God's original plan was for all creation to be vegetarian, as described in Isaiah 11:6-9, where it is prophesied that during the millennial reign of Christ, all creation will return to a vegetarian diet.
While the Bible does not explicitly state that meat-eating is forbidden, it also acknowledges that some people may choose to abstain from eating meat due to personal convictions. The Apostle Paul states in Romans 14:1–4 that people of "weak faith" "eat only vegetables", although he also warns both meat-eaters and vegetarians to "stop passing judgment on one another" when it comes to food. This sentiment is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which states: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly endorse meat-eating, it contains numerous references to meat and meat-eating, indicating that it was a normal part of ancient societies and that God permitted it.
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God may have allowed meat-eating due to human sinfulness
The Bible suggests that God initially created a vegetarian world, where humans and animals were all vegetarian. Genesis 1:29-30 states:
> Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed... and every tree... to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth... I have given every green herb for meat.
However, after the Fall, sin entered the world, and everything changed. Some believe that God allowed meat-eating due to human sinfulness. This idea is supported by Genesis 9:2-3, where God tells Noah after the flood:
> The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.
This suggests that God may have permitted meat-eating as a consequence of sin entering the world. Additionally, some interpret Genesis 9:3-4 as an instruction not to eat meat with blood in it, which could be a restriction to prevent excessive violence and the consumption of life force.
Another interpretation is that God allowed meat-eating to make human life shorter due to the corruption of humanity. This is supported by the fact that humans lived much longer before the flood, as seen in Genesis 2:5-6. However, this interpretation is disputed, as vegetarians do not generally live longer lives.
While the Bible does not mandate a vegetarian diet, it does provide guidelines for Christians to make informed decisions about their diet. Some Christians believe that being vegan brings them closer to God and the prophesied Peaceable Kingdom. They interpret the original sin as leading to the fall of humanity from God's perfect plan, which did not include the eating of flesh.
In conclusion, while there is no definitive answer, it is plausible that God allowed meat-eating due to human sinfulness, providing restrictions to prevent excessive violence and acknowledging that some may choose vegetarianism to align with God's original plan.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible suggests that all creation was vegetarian until after the Great Flood when Noah was given permission to eat meat.
The Bible does not specify what the first meat eaten was, but it does say that God gave Noah "everything".
The Bible does not explicitly state that Jesus ate meat. However, some sources claim that Jesus ate fish.
No, the Bible does not say that being vegetarian is a sin. In fact, it says that people should eat according to their own freewill, as long as they give thanks to God.
