At Christian Meals

The book of Acts and the New Testament letters mention thanksgiving in relation to Christian meals. For example, the book of Acts recounts that after enduring a storm at sea, Paul “took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35 NIV). Paul also mentions thanksgiving in association with meals in his discussions of proper eating for Christians.

• In Romans 14, Paul addresses a division between those who feel they can eat anything and those who eat only vegetables (Rom 14:2). He clarifies that each was acceptable to God because “Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God” (Rom 14:6 NIV).

• In First Corinthians, Paul addresses whether Christians should eat meat that had previously been sacrificed to idols (1 Cor 10:25–28). After encouraging his audience to be sensitive so as not to offend another’s conscience (1 Cor 10:28–29), he states, “If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?” (1 Cor 10:30 NIV).

• In First Timothy, Paul counters false teachers who forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (1 Tim 4:3). He argues that God created all foods as good and they should be received with “thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth” (1 Tim 4:3–4 NIV). To Paul, “nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim 4:4–5 NIV).