Posted by tancu on November 29, 2002, at 18:33:44
In reply to The Rider's answe to taking mind-altering drugs(3) » tancu, posted by Lou Pilder on November 29, 2002, at 8:06:07
Lou wrote--I have heard that before and it was my understanding that he was referring to [meats] and that every [creature] is good to [eat] if it is received with thanksgiving.
I am not a biblical expert, so if I am wrong here, could you clarify what you have written and how it could apply to taking mind-altering drugs? If you could, then I could be better able to communicate with you in regards to your post.
Thanks,
LouHello Lou Pilder, and thanks for inviting me to clarify my understanding of the intent and meaning of what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. Here again is my original quote from Paul’s letter—“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
The sentence immediately preceding the above quote reads—“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and the doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin in abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” These are the exact words taken from a copy of The Bible, Revised Standard Version, American Bible Society, 1974 (originally published in 1901 as a revision of the King James Version published in 1611). I understand that these words are largely afforded to us as the result of the first English translation, from the original Hebrew and Greek texts, by Wm. Tyndale around 1535. While Tyndale was in fact executed and burned at the stake in Oct. 1536, it was precisely his translations that formed the foundation for the 1611 King James Version. Thus, the translations that survive today only reference—“…foods which God created to be received…”, not meats or creatures to be eaten. In essence, the two letters from Paul to Timothy represent Paul’s efforts to provide specific Divine guidance and direction in the religious and social discourse expected of early Christians. When I read the word “foods” here I can hardly restrict the meaning to only the figs, barley, and wheat that were probably the mainstays of the people of those times and place. For me, the words—“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving;”—convey a majesty and finality that I would associate with Divinity. Specifically, I find the words “everything” and “nothing” to be most powerful and definitive. They convey in their meaning not only the very essence of even the tiniest particles of matter, but also, the very essence of which cannot be called matter—thoughts, words, prayers. With “thanksgiving” as the only required condition placed upon US in order to “receive” that which “…is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”, I can only interpret the intent and meaning of this passage in the most broadly comprehensive way. Thanks again Lou, for inviting me to reply.
poster:tancu
thread:931
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021001/msgs/1323.html