Peter’s Vision

The vision started with a sheet descending from heaven containing all kinds of animals and birds. Then God’s voice called to Peter, and commanded him three times to “arise, kill and eat.” Though hewas hungry, he refused each time saying, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (Ac 10:14). Each time, God answered, “What God has cleansed, that call not you common” (Ac 10:15).

Though many theologians try to assert that God cleansed all forms of meat through this vision, Peter was the one who saw the vision. By Ac 10:17, two verses later, he still did not know what it meant! He was certainly sure what it did NOT mean and said so, three times!

Incidentally, if the Mark 7:1-37 account had actually cleansed all meat, understand that it had occurred over a decade earlier. By the time of this vision, Peter would have already eaten unclean meat many times.

The account continues with Peter entering the home of a devout Italian man—a Gentile! God had sent three Gentile messengers from Cornelius (a Roman centurion) to summon Peter to Cornelius’ house. God told Peter to go with them, doubting nothing.

God enlightened Peter during the next two days’ events. This vision had been preparing him for important new understanding about Gentiles, which would otherwise have been too difficult for his Jewish mind to accept. Notice Ac 10:28. From this point forward, God wanted him to understand that he must never regard any human being as common or unclean. The vision was not talking about unclean meat!

This represented a staggering shift in understanding and practice for a Jewish fisherman who had once marveled that Jesus would even talk with a Samaritan (Gentile) woman (John 4:27). In Jn 4:9 of John’s account, Christ had said, “for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” This would have been Peter’s understanding from that time forward.

The real meaning of this account—of God opening the way for non-Israelites to be converted—is well understood by theologians and Bible scholars. Nevertheless, many professing Christians attempt to justify the eating of unclean meat today by distorting the real meaning of Peter’s vision. In Peter’s own words, we read, “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (Acts 10:28). That is the point!

This account was not to demonstrate that God had cleansed crocodiles, crustaceans and crows. It was to show that He was calling, granting repentance, baptizing and giving His Holy Spirit, to Gentiles(Ac 10:44, 48)!

All in the Mind?

Another scripture is frequently used to support the idea that all meat is clean for food.

Romans 14:14 states, “Nothing is unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” This verse is rendered this way in almost every version of the New Testament. On the surface, this seems to make the entire concept of unclean meat little more than a personal viewpoint. God’s clear distinction, which in Leviticus 11:46-47 He calls “the law,” would be set aside as having no basis in reality. This idea would make any lists or distinctions in the Bible about unclean meats irrelevant.

The apostle Paul appears to be saying that this is what he has become convinced of—by “the Lord Jesus Himself.” Does the verse really mean what it seems to say? Let’s examine Paul’s words.

The whole chapter is a lesson to those strong in the faith (Rom. 15:1) not to offend one who is weak in the faith (Rom 14:1), especially by eating or drinking anything that would trouble the weak brother’s conscience. Such a brother might be a vegetarian or one who abstains from drinking wine (Rom 14:2, 21). It could also be a reference to those described in I Corinthians 8:10. There, some were upset by seeing fellow Christians eating in an idol’s temple, and presumed that what was being eaten had been offered to idols. That chapter similarly warns the “strong” not to cause the “weak” to stumble as a result of the liberty the “strong” enjoy because of knowledge they possess (I Cor 8:1-4, 7, 11).

In both cases, the subject has absolutely nothing to do with the distinction between clean and unclean meat. But wait a minute! Does not Romans 14:14 plainly state that nothing is unclean of itself?

Our English translations do, but the Greek, in which it was originally written, does not! The Greek word used here is koinon. It appears three times within this one verse and it does not mean unclean. It should be translated “common.” This is the often-used biblical term that is the equivalent ofdefiled. Recall Matthew 15:1-39 and Mark 7:1-37. In those accounts, the similar word, koinos, is consistently translated as a form of defile.

This is also one of the two words used in Acts 10:14 to relate what Peter said during his vision. There, it is correctly translated to show that he had never eaten anything common (or unclean). The Greek word for unclean is akatharton. These two words do not have the same meaning. Akathartonmeans unclean and is used to distinguish clean creatures from unclean creatures. Koinon meanscommon, and should have been so translated.

It is interesting to note that every translator and reviser, almost without exception, from A.D. 1611 forward, mistranslated this word as “unclean” in Romans 14:14. Somehow they always managed to get it right everywhere else in the New Testament. The context has nothing at all to do with the distinction between clean and unclean meat.

Why be concerned about something being common, if it is already unclean? What would be the difference?

Even before the Israelites were forbidden to eat unclean animals, they were prohibited from eating any animal that was torn by beasts in the field (Ex. 22:31). If an Israelite ate the flesh of any clean animal, which had died of itself (this was not permissible—Deut. 14:21), that person was “unclean” until evening (Lev. 11:40). It means he was defiled. (This was the sort of defiling which does not come about by eating with unwashed hands!)

No priest was permitted to defile himself by eating animals that died naturally or were torn by beasts (Lev. 22:7).

In Romans 14:14, Paul was teaching that the “Jewish” concept of meats sometimes being commonor defiled, was not an intrinsic property of the meat itself, but was a matter of perception and conscience.

As well as being vital to all who were in Rome (Rom. 1:7), this teaching was also important to the Church at Corinth. There, some of the newly converted Gentiles were content to eat clean meat that may have been offered to idols. Others, not fully understanding that an idol is nothing (I Cor. 8:4), would defile their own conscience, if they were to eat such meat, because they perceived it to be defiled.

Both examples strongly emphasize the importance of not violating one’s own conscience, and not causing a brother to stumble by inconsiderate behavior.

What About I Timothy 4:4-5?

There is one final scripture about meats that is commonly misunderstood. I Timothy 4:4-5 says, “Forevery creature is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Does this verse authorize eating skunks, leeches, maggots, tapeworms and every other imaginable animal, insect or parasite? Many people think so—because they do not continue reading past the first phrase!

Consider! If this were the literal meaning of the verse, it would mean that people are also good to eat.

Every creature of God is good—“very good”—according to Genesis 1:31. That includes every kind of vermin, parasite and poisonous creature that exists. Remember, all creatures are wonderful in their own way when used for their proper, intended use! But the Creator Himself calls some of His creatures abominable and detestable, when misused as food for humans. To understand this verse, we must read the previous verses more carefully. Context is the key to correct understanding.

In I Timothy 4:1-3, Paul speaks about a prophesied end-time defection from truth, when some true Christians would abandon correct teachings to follow “doctrines of demons.” Some would teachvegetarianism, because he warned that these teachings would include celibacy and abstinence from “meats.” (Demons understand that meat contains certain proteins vital for the proper development of the brain. They know that mental weakness invites their influence.) What kinds of meats would be forbidden? In I Tim 4:3, Paul explains, those “which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” Note the two key phrases “which God created to be received” and “by those who believe and know the truth.”

What is “the truth”? John wrote, “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17). People who know what their Bible teaches, will know the truth about what kinds of animals God says that He has “created to be received”—as distinct from what He has not created to be received! In other words, they will know what the Word of God sanctifies (this word means sets apart, distinguishes by separation) as good for food (I Tim. 4:5)—and what it does not sanctify. They know what meat God expressly forbids and calls unclean. But false teachers would attempt to forbid clean meat as well as unclean meat!

General List of Clean and Unclean Creatures

Clean Birds: All Song Birds, Chicken, Dove, Duck, Geese, Grouse, Partridge, Pheasant, Pigeon, Quail and Turkey

Unclean Birds: Aquatic/Wading Birds, Buzzard, Carrion, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crow, Eagle, Falcon, Flamingo, Hawk, Heron, Hoopoe, Kite, Magpie, Ostrich, Owl, Swan, Parrots, Pelican, Raven, Roadrunner, Seagull, Vulture, Woodpecker

Clean Fish: Albacore, Alewives, Anchovies, Black Drum, Bluebacks, Bluebill Sunfish, Bluefish, Blue Runner, Bonitos, Boston Bluefish, Bowfin, Buffalofish, Butterfish, Carp, Chub, Cod, Common Sucker, Crappies, Crevalle, Flounder, Fresh Water Mullet, Frost Fish, Grouper, Grunt, Gulf Pike, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Hardtail, Herring, Ice fish, Jack, Kingfish, Long Nose Sucker, Mackerel, Menhaden, Mullet, Muskeilunge, Northern Sucker, Orange Roughy, Pickerels, Pig Fish, Pike, Pilchard, Pollack, Pompano, Porgy, Red Drum, Red Horse, Red Snapper, Red Striped Sucker, Redfin, Redfish, Robalo, Salmon, Sardine, Scup, Sea Bass, Sergeant Fish, Shad, Sheepshead, Silver Hake, Silverside, Smelt, Snook, Striped Bass, Trout, Tuna, Weakfish, White Fish, White Sucker, Whiting and Yellow Perch

Unclean Sea Creatures: Abalone, Bullhead, Catfish, Clam, Crab, Crayfish, Dolphin, Eel, Conch, Lobster, Manatee, Mussel, Oyster, Porpoise, Scallop, Seal, Shark, Shrimp, Squid, Sturgeon, Turbot, Turtle, Walrus, Whale

Clean Land Animals: Antelope, Bison, Brahma, Buffalo, Caribou, Cattle, Deer, Eland, Elk, Gazelle, Giraffe, Goat, Ibex, Kudu, Moose, Musk Ox, Oryx, Ox, Pronghorn, Reindeer, Sheep, Water Buffalo, Wildebeest, Yak, Zebu

Unclean Land Animals: Anteater, Armadillo, Aardvark, Bat, Bear, Beaver, Cat, Camel, Chipmunk, Coney, Coyote, Dog, Donkey, Elephant, Fox, Gopher, Ground Hog, Hare, Hedge Hog, Hippo, Horse, Hyena, Hyrax, Jackel, Koala, Kangaroo, Lemur, Lion, Lizard, Lynx, Marmoset, Mole, Mouse, Opossum, Panda, Peccary, Pig, Platypus, Porcupine, Prairie Dog, Primates, Rabbit, Raccoon, Rat, Rhinoceros, Skunk, Sloth, Snakes, Squirrel, Tiger, Warthog, Woodchuck, Wolf, Zebra

Clean Insects: Cricket, Grasshopper and Katydid

Amphibians: All unclean

Would God “Sanctify” Unclean Meat?

Recall the last two words of I Tim 4:5, “and prayer.” Paul shows that food, already sanctified by the Word of God and received by believers with thanksgiving, is to be further sanctified by prayer. This occurs when we follow Christ’s example of giving thanks for the food we eat—asking God to bless it—set it apart—make it holy—since it is about to be used for a holy purpose.

The Creator has specially designed certain creatures to be “very good” for the daily nourishment and upbuilding of the body. God refers to our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote the Corinthians, “which temple we are, if God’s spirit dwells within us” (I Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19).

We are not to defile that temple by polluting it with anything not sanctified by the Word of God.

Is Avoiding Unclean Meats Necessary For Salvation?

When faced with the plain truth of Scripture, some people are unwilling to “live by every word of God,” and choose to regard certain doctrines as “minor”—“not essential for salvation.” They decide for themselves which of God’s truths are important!

So the question arises: Is avoiding unclean meats necessary for salvation? The answer to this question is the answer to the next one: Is obedience to god necessary for salvation?

Mankind has rejected God’s way of life. Romans 8:7 states that the carnal (natural) mind is not subject to His Law. Those who have submitted to God obey Him! Christ said that there are many who say, “Lord, Lord” to Him but do not the things that He says (Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21). That is serious. Are you determined to always do what God says?

Jesus said of His apostles, “He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Matt. 10:40; John 13:20).

Herbert W. Armstrong taught the truth about the doctrine of clean and unclean meats. In his articleIs All Animal Flesh Good Food?, Mr. Armstrong concluded with the following instruction:

“It may not be spiritual sin to eat biblically unclean foods. Yet, if one deliberately does it out of lust of appetite, that breaks the tenth command and becomes sin. But in all events wrong food injures the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It defiles the body if not the man, and if we continue to defile our bodies God will destroy us (I Cor. 3:17).”

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Peter’s Vision

Contents

Peter’s Vision

All in the Mind?

What About I Timothy 4:4-5?

General List of Clean and Unclean Creatures

Would God “Sanctify” Unclean Meat?

Is Avoiding Unclean Meats Necessary For Salvation?