Akathartos and Bromah

1 Corinthians 10:25 “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:”

v27 “If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”

Does 1 Corinthians 10:25-31 help in preaching that what the Bible declares to be unclean (simply put, not food) are now food that we are allowed to eat in the Christian era?

It’s important to study the context of the verses in order to have a correct understanding. We cannot read isolated verses, apart from the other verses and the whole teachings of Paul, the disciples, and the whole Bible when it comes to this issue of the clean and unclean meat.

WHAT IS THE MAIN ISSUE IN 1 Corinthians 10:25-31?

1 Corinthians 10:7 “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

v19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?”

1 Corinthians 8:1 “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

The main issue in the verses mentioned above is NOT whether the meat is clean or unclean. The context of the whole 1 Corinthians 10, along with chapter 8, talks about “warnings against idolatry” and what was “offered unto an idol.”

The main question of the Corinth church is “can we eat foods offered to idols?” They were NOT asking if they can eat meat of unclean animals.

Akathartos and Bromah

AKATHARTOS (Greek, ακαθαρτον) – inherently impure; translated as ‘foul, unclean, forbidden’ (Acts 11:8).

BROMAH (Greek, βρῶμα) – allowed meat, clean, food (1 Corinthians 10:3)

When Bible writers pertain to things that are an abomination and unclean, they use the Greek word “akathartos” (Revelation 17:4, Acts 11:8). When they are pertaining to what the Bible declares as food, the word they use is Greek word “bromah” (Matthew 14:15, Luke 3:11).

What word did Paul use in this issue of food offered to idols? Was Paul pertaining to the meat of clean animals or of the unclean animals?

1 Corinthians 8:4 “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”

The Greek word used for “eating” in this verse is the Greek word “brosis” (Greek, βρῶσις), a family of the word “bromah,” which means “food.”

In John 4:32, 34, Jesus used these two words, brosis and bromah pertaining to the same thing — the common food “meat” of the Jews — being used in comparison by Jesus to the “meat” that comes from His Father.

Here it is clear what kind of “meat” Paul was talking about, and that is CLEAN meat — BUT offered to idols.

1 Corinthians 8:8 “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”

If we are going to study the original word used for “meat” that was offered to idols, we will see that Paul used the word “bromah” and not “akathartos.” This, again, gives us a clear understanding that when Paul said, “whatsoever is sold in shambles, that eat,” he’s talking about CLEAN meat (bromah). Remember, the Jews don’t sell unclean meat, they don’t even touch unclean animals. When Paul said, “whatsoever set before you, eat,” what he’s talking about is CLEAN meat (bromah).

Apostle Paul, Akathartos, and the Idols.

Here are apostle Paul’s words about the word AKATHARTOS or abomination and unclean:

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Akathartos is the word he used for the word “unclean.” Paul clearly teaches that we shouldn’t even touch anything unclean. Anything “akathartos” in the Bible, such as in Revelation 17:4; 18:2; and 2 Corinthians 6:16-17, that we uphold, is an abomination to God. Paul referenced the verse above from Numbers 33:51-56 and Isaiah 52:11. This is another proof that God’s doctrine, when it comes to food, and the clean and unclean, did not change in the New Testament.

Now, why did he say “asking no question for conscience sake?” The answer is found in…

1 Corinthians 8:7 “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”

1 Corinthians 10:28 “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?“

Because a Christian can eat clean meat (bromah) offered by an unbeliever, there is no need to ask if it was offered to idols. We can eat it with thanksgiving. Asking whether the meat is offered to idols may hurt another person’s feelings. What we are admonished to do is that when a brethren that is still new and has not much knowledge yet, or is weak in the faith, says that the meat is offered to idols, that we should not eat it so as not to make him stumble in the faith.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

CONCLUSION:

The word “meat” in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10:25, 27 is meat that is “clean” but that is offered to idols. Even though the clean meat is offered to idols, it has nothing to do with our standing in front of God. It is not a hindrance to the salvation of whoever eats of it when it is received with thanksgiving to God. But if the eating of clean meat offered to idols will be a stumbling block to brethren who are weak in the faith, then, it’s better not to eat it for conscience sake. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 tells us what Paul teaches about what is an abomination and unclean (akathartos). According to him, we have to denounce anything that is unclean for it defiles us. Paul also said, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Eating what the Bible declares as unclean and abomination does not bring glory to God.

Our God is a God of cleanliness and order. Unclean animals He created have their own roles to fulfill — and it is not to be food for humans, but to clean our surroundings. They are scavengers. Let’s praise God that He gave us knowledge of His creation.