Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

[Basilissa]

I have a question, I have researched the archives of this forum and I could not find the answer. (The thread dealing with the most related subject is this one: http://www.landoverbaptist.net/showthread.php?t=42613, but it still isn't the same). I hope that somebody wise will be willing to enlighten me on this subject.

The Bible mentions many different foods, including meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, spices/herbs, even insects (Matthew 3:4). However, there are several foods that people eat today, which the Bible doesn't mention, not even once! Does it mean that we are not supposed to eat these things? Maybe they were not created by God, but by the Devil? Or am I sinning by even having this thought?

I am very confused, and even though Our Lord says that "Not that goeth into the mouth defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11), I want to be sure that I am safe eating these things.

Examples of foods which are not mentioned in the Bible (please correct me if I am wrong, being a feeble woman I am prone to mistakes):

tomatoes
potatoes
vanilla
chocolate
chili peppers
bell peppers
peanuts
pineapple
quinoa (a disgusting seed eaten by vegan freaks)
turkey

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

I have a question, I have researched the archives of this forum and I could not find the answer. (The thread dealing with the most related subject is this one: http://www.landoverbaptist.net/showthread.php?t=42613, but it still isn't the same). I hope that somebody wise will be willing to enlighten me on this subject.

The Bible mentions many different foods, including meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, spices/herbs, even insects (Matthew 3:4). However, there are several foods that people eat today, which the Bible doesn't mention, not even once! Does it mean that we are not supposed to eat these things? Maybe they were not created by God, but by the Devil? Or am I sinning by even having this thought?

I am very confused, and even though Our Lord says that "Not that goeth into the mouth defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11), I want to be sure that I am safe eating these things.

Examples of foods which are not mentioned in the Bible (please correct me if I am wrong, being a feeble woman I am prone to mistakes):

tomatoes
potatoes
vanilla
chocolate
chili peppers
bell peppers
peanuts
pineapple
quinoa (a disgusting seed eaten by vegan freaks)
turkey

I have no idea what quinoa is, so I probably wouldn't touch it.

The rest are all covered in the Bible.

Deuteronomy 14:12-20 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. But of all clean fowls ye may eat.



The Bible doesn't mention Bison either, but they're clean

Deuteronomy 14:6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.

The only restriction on plants is not to eat from a tree that you've planted for the first three years. But that's standard for orchard trees. In fact, I've never seen fruit in the first year. Usually the second year you only get a couple of small warped fruit, the third year you get a little better, and then the fourth year the fruit really starts to come in. The first three years you spend training the tree into a proper growing direction so that it will develop good fruit.

Leviticus 19:23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.

Anyway, the Kosher laws were revoked in the book of Acts

Acts 10:11-16 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

[WilliamJenningsBryan]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

I'm pretty sure anchovies are banned somewhere in the Bible (KJV1611), but I've been searching to years and have not been able to locate it. I would avoid them just to be on the safe side - in case some obscure reference is finally uncovered someday.

[Basilissa]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Thank you both for your informative answers

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

I'm pretty sure anchovies are banned somewhere in the Bible (KJV1611), but I've been searching to years and have not been able to locate it. I would avoid them just to be on the safe side - in case some obscure reference is finally uncovered someday.

Do they have scales or skin?

If they don't have scales, then they're not allowed.

Leviticus 11:9-10 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

Seth has told me never to cook with nuts, so I don't. Doesn't mean that God has forbidden them, but if my husband has forbidden them, they're forbidden in my world.

[husbandslover]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Isn't It true pork and shellfish as well are banned?

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Isn't It true pork and shellfish as well are banned?

I don't think you should be eating anything other than soft foods that you can't choke on.

In other words, why don't you read the thread and look it up in the Bible.

There's also the handy dandy search function that will help you out.

[Paragon of virtue]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Seth has told me never to cook with nuts, so I don't. Doesn't mean that God has forbidden them, but if my husband has forbidden them, they're forbidden in my world.

Romans 14:20-22

I think that we are okay to eat anything--it won't affect your salvation, but we shouldn't eat or drink things in the presence of others who do find the foods offensive. If Seth doesn't want you putting nuts in your mouth then you better do as he says.

Although we are justified as redeemed Christians, the dietary laws were put there for a purpose. Deuteronomy 14 gives the full list of things that were off the menu but here is the sample for land animals:

Deuteronomy 14:7-8

Now to this day if you eat pork or fowl (mentioned in later verses) that have been mishandled or under-cooked even in our modern times--you can catch all manner of disease and even die--imagine how much harder it would have been to properly prepare these kind of foods in the distant past. Certain unclean fish and fowl are created as scavengers and/or filters/bottom feeders. Lobsters, shrimp, oysters they really weren't designed for eating. Snails, bugs, rodents--all manner of people eat them and then they get sick and wonder why. As always God is good. He created our bodies and knows what foods help them operate at their best! So, why fight what you know is right?

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Okay, since she does seem to be actually trying now, I'll try to help.

Yes according to the Law of Moses, shellfish and pork were out. However, a few of the Old Laws were overturned in the New Testament.

One is eating meat.

Acts 10:11-16 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

There is debate about whether or not that lifts the ban on shellfish. Are they included in the "creeping things"? I don't know. I don't eat shellfish though, just in case.

As for what we can eat. Well it was much easier for God to mention what we couldn't eat. So if it's not actually mentioned in the Bible, then it should be okay. Although Pumpkin is frowned upon because of its link to Halloween and Satan. On the plus side, if you buy Libbys Pumpkin, it's not actually "Pumpkin", it's a squash.

[husbandslover]

Re: Can we eat foods that are not mentioned in the Bible?

Okay, since she does seem to be actually trying now, I'll try to help.

Yes according to the Law of Moses, shellfish and pork were out. However, a few of the Old Laws were overturned in the New Testament.

One is eating meat.

Acts 10:11-16 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

There is debate about whether or not that lifts the ban on shellfish. Are they included in the "creeping things"? I don't know. I don't eat shellfish though, just in case.

As for what we can eat. Well it was much easier for God to mention what we couldn't eat. So if it's not actually mentioned in the Bible, then it should be okay. Although Pumpkin is frowned upon because of its link to Halloween and Satan. On the plus side, if you buy Libbys Pumpkin, it's not actually "Pumpkin", it's a squash.

Thank you thanks for helping!