Topic(s): Bible Study, Christian Life, Moral Issues

Todd Clippard

There is no biblical injunction against hunting, eating meat, or wearing animal skins in the Bible. Consider the following:

Genesis 3:21 "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." The word here translated "skins" means "hide leather, or skin" (Strong's #5785). Note that God made the clothes of skins.

Genesis 4:4 "Abel brought the firstling of his flock." Thus, the first commanded offerings were animals.

Genesis 9:3 (following the flood) "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." God allows the killing of animals for food.

Genesis 10:8-9 "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD." (Though there is no agreement as to the meaning to the phrase "before the Lord.")

Genesis 25:27-28 -- Esau was a skillful hunter, and his father Isaac loved to eat the meat from his kills.

Leviticus 11 -- a listing of animals acceptable for food under the Mosaic Law.

1 Kings 4:22-23 -- Solomon's daily provision included 30 oxen, 100 sheep, in addition to various types of deer and fowl.

Mark 1:6 -- John the Baptizer wore a coat of camel's hair and leather about his loins (cf 2 Kings 1:8).

Acts 10:12-15 -- God uses formerly forbidden, but now allowable meats to illustrate the acceptance of all men in the eyes of God (cf Acts 10:28, 34-35)

1 Timothy 4:3-5 "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." No meat is to be refused, and the forbidding to eat meat on religious grounds is identified as a doctrine of demons (cf v 1-2).

Additionally, contrary to the claims of many animal rights activists, Jesus was not a vegetarian, neither did Jesus encourage vegetarianism:

1) Jesus kept the Passover from the time of His youth to the day before His crucifixion (Luke 2:41-43; 22:7-20). This required eating the flesh of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:1-14).

2) Jesus ate fish in the presence of His disciples following his resurrection (Luke 24:42-43).

3) Jesus used fish to miraculously feed the multitude in John 6 (esp v 11).

Finally, one may choose vegetarianism as a lifestyle, but is not at liberty to bind that lifestyle on others (Romans 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:8).