Biblical Guidance on Health and Dietary Principles

** 1 Corinthians 6:19-20** – "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

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

** Daniel 1:8, 12-15** – Daniel "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat," and after ten days of eating simple "pulse" (vegetables and grains) and drinking water, he and his friends appeared "fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."

** Matthew 24:37-38** – We are warned that just as in the days of Noah, many will be lost because they are consumed by "eating and drinking" (excess and indulgence) without regard for God’s warnings.

** 1 Peter 2:11** – "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."

** Psalm 67:2** – "That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations."

** Luke 5:4-6** – Just as Jesus guided the fishermen to a great catch when they obeyed His word, He gives us "skill and understanding" in preparing healthful food and managing our bodies when we look to Him.

** John 6:45** – "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God." He is our Great Teacher in all things, including health.

** 1 Peter 2:9** – "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

** Matthew 18:6, 10** – We must be careful not to "offend" our bodies or the "little ones" by setting a poor example of indulgence, for we are always under the watchful eye of Heaven.

** Deuteronomy 20:19** – The Lord emphasizes that "the tree of the field is man’s life." This highlights the great value of fruits and the natural products of the earth as our primary source of vitality.

** Deuteronomy 14:8** – God gives specific instruction regarding what is unfit for the human stomach, stating of the swine, "it is unclean to you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." This command exists because such things are not designed to be food for man.

** Matthew 7:21** – True followers are those who do "the will of my Father which is in heaven." This includes submitting our appetites to His laws of health rather than merely saying "Lord, Lord" while ignoring His physical requirements.

** 1 Corinthians 9:24-27** – To win the "incorruptible crown," we must be "temperate in all things." We are called to "keep under" the body and "bring it into subjection," ensuring that our physical urges do not disqualify us from the spiritual race.

** 1 Corinthians 10:31** – This is the golden rule of diet: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Every meal is an opportunity to honor Him.

** Revelation 3:4-5** – We are warned against "defiling" our garments. One way we defile our life and character is by eating that which brings disease and infirmity, hindering us from "walking in white" with the Savior.

** John 5:39** – We are told to "Search the scriptures." Just as food must be eaten to provide strength, the Word of God must be "eaten" and assimilated into the life to provide spiritual power.

** Matthew 5:6** – "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." When we choose a simple, healthful diet, our minds are cleared to truly hunger for heavenly things.

** Colossians 2:19** – By "holding the Head," the entire body has "nourishment ministered" and is "knit together." When we follow God's plan for our physical and spiritual diet, we "increase with the increase of God."

** 2 Thessalonians 3:10** – The principle is clear: "if any would not work, neither should he eat." This applies to our spiritual life as well; we must make an earnest effort to obtain the "bread of eternal life."

** 1 Corinthians 12:4-12** – Just as the physical body has many members that all require nourishment from one source to function in unity, the church thrives when every member cares for their health to serve the body of Christ effectively.