{"id":182,"date":"2019-12-27T17:03:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T17:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/?p=182"},"modified":"2024-12-16T10:21:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:21:49","slug":"channukah-paul-and-meat-offered-up-to-idols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/27\/channukah-paul-and-meat-offered-up-to-idols\/","title":{"rendered":"Channukah, Paul and Meat Offered up to Idols"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Channukah, Paul and Meat Offered up to Idols<\/strong>
By<\/strong>
James Scott Trimm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well it is Channukah time and so it is a very good time to discuss the subject of meat offered up to idols<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Acts 15 we are told that Gentiles do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved, but that they must still keep certain minimum levels of Torah observance even as they continue to go to synagogue on the Sabbath and learn the rest of the Torah.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among these four minimum commandments was to \u201cabstain from things offered up to idols\u201d (Acts 15:20, 29 & 21:25)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore in the Book of Revelation, the Assembly at Thyatira is condemned for eating things offered up to idols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul discusses the issue of eating meat that has been offered up to idols in 1Cor. 8 & 10:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact is that Paul clearly agrees that one may not knowingly eat meat offered up to idols (1Cor. 8:1-13; 10:7, 14-28). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n halachic issue Paul questions, is whether or not one must ask, when \npurchasing meat, whether or not it has been offered to idols. Paul \nargues (based on Ps. 24:1=1Cor. 10:26, 28) that meat is not actually \naltered by the idol but that eating such meat appears to others to \nendorse the idol to which it was offered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If meat is advertised \nas having been offered to idols, then believers may not eat it, since \nthis would appear to endorse the idol. However, since the idol has no \nreal power over the meat, believers are not required to ask, since this \nwould imply that the believer believed that the idol had power over the \nmeat, thus ascribing power to the idol and endorsing idolatry by \nacknowledging the idol’s alleged power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul summarizes his argument as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if a man should say to you, that this is that which is sacrificed,<\/em>
you should not eat: for the sake of the one who told you<\/em>
and, because of conscience.<\/em>
(1Cor. 10:28 HRV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A basis for Paul’s argument here can be found in the story of the martyr Eleazar in 2Maccabbes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleazer\n was a prominent Jew under the Helene rule. A day came when all of the \nJews were to show their loyalty by eating meat offered to idols at a \npublic feast. Eleazar was not willing to do so, but because of his \nprominence, the authorities offered to allow him to sneak kosher meat \ninto the feast and eat it instead, thus only appearing to eat meat \noffered up to idols. Eleazer refused, knowing that this would appear to \nendorse idolatry, despite the fact that the meat would be kosher. As a \nresult Eleazar was executed.  (2Maccabees 6:1-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This account \ndemonstrates that eating meat offered to idols is wrong, not because of \nthe meat itself, but because of the implied endorsement of the idolatry.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, Paul’s interpretation does not conflict with Acts 15\n but actually implies a very strict interpretation, by which eating \nkosher meat would also be forbidden, if the meat were falsely advertised\n as having been offered to an idol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question has been posed: \nwhy would these people be buying meat from anything other than a Kosher \nbutcher? Why would they be buying meat at the gentile market-place \nanyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK now for an Aramaic word study. Paul writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever is sold in the shambles<\/em> (\u05de\u05e7\u05dc\u05d5\u05df), that eat,<\/em>
asking no questions for conscience sake:<\/em>
(1Cor. 10:25)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer lies in the Aramaic word which appears in 1Cor. 10:25 where the KJV has \u201cshambles\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\n often find that it sheds light on a passage when I research a key \nAramaic word which appears in the Aramaic \u201cNew Testament\u201d to see how \nthat Aramaic word is used in the Targums, Talmuds and Zohar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Aramaic word (MAKLON) appears in the Talmud as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rab said: Meat which had disappeared from sight is forbidden.  An objection was raised. Rabbi says: Where the meat stalls<\/em> (\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05df) [kept\n by gentiles are supplied with meat by] Israelite butchers, any meat \nfound in the possession of the gentile is permitted! \u2014 It is different \nwhere it is found in the possession of the gentile.<\/em>
(b.Hullin 95a)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n Talmud uses this word here to describe meat-stands run by Gentiles but \nwhere Jewish butchers are used. This section of Talmud proposes several \nhypothetical situations involving such markets and lays out debates by \nvarious Rabbis as to whether the meat from such a market should be \npresumed kosher or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is not conflict between Paul\u2019s statements here, Acts 15 and Jewish law as expressed in the Talmud.  One may not knowing eat meat that has been offered up to idols.  However, when buying meat that has not been advertised as having been offered up to idols, one should not ask.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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