4:4-5 What does it mean here that all food is sanctified by the word of God and prayer?
4:4-5 What does it mean here that all food is sanctified by the word of God and prayer?
This means that no food is to be rejected by believers on the basis of rejecting it being a prerequisite for salvation (CP V1-3).
Everything God created for food is good if received with a prayer of thanksgiving (CP Ro 14:14; 1Cor 8:7-13, 10:23-31; Col 2:14-17). When we offer up thanks to God for the food we are about to eat, it is sanctified - made holy by God.
The custom of offering up thanks for food goes as far back in scripture as 1Sam (CP 1Sam 9:13). Both Jesus and Paul also offered up thanks (CP Mt 14:19; 15:36; 26:26-27; Ac 27:35).