Are Christians allowed to enjoy that tasty shrimp cocktail at a seafood restaurant? This is a question that has been debated for hundreds of years and has led to many discussions among Christians. Some say that the laws in the Old Testament that said you couldn’t eat shellfish are still in effect, while others say that those laws were taken away when the New Testament came out. So, let’s read what the Bible says about this controversial subject and find out if Christians can eat shrimp.
Shrimp are delicious crustaceans that many people love to eat. However, some Christians wonder if eating shrimp is allowed according to biblical principles. This article will examine what the New Testament says about eating shrimp.
Old Testament Regulations
In the Old Testament God gave many dietary restrictions to the Israelites. Certain foods were labeled “clean” and permitted to eat, while others were considered “unclean” and prohibited.
For instance Leviticus 11 9-12 states
“These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.”
Since shrimp do not have scales, they were considered unclean under these Old Testament food laws.
Other shellfish like lobster, crab, oysters, and clams were also viewed as forbidden foods in ancient Judaism.
Jesus Declares All Foods Clean
So did the dietary restrictions continue into the New Testament? No, Jesus explicitly revoked them.
In Mark 7 19, after discussing spiritual purity versus physical purity Mark adds this editorial comment
“(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)”
This statement by Mark makes it clear that Jesus taught all foods can be eaten.
The dietary laws were part of the Old Covenant. With the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant, those food laws were fulfilled and surpassed.
The Book of Acts also confirms God giving Peter a vision that shows all foods are now clean and permissible to eat:
“And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common’” (Acts 10:15).
So according to the New Testament, no food is ritually unclean or defiling. This includes shrimp, lobster, pork, and other foods prohibited under the Old Covenant.
Paul’s Teachings on Food
The Apostle Paul also taught extensively that Christians are free to eat any food.
In Romans 14:14 he writes, “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.”
And in 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 he says:
“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’ If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.”
Paul is clear that no food should offend our conscience or cause us to stumble. So we are free to eat shrimp, pork, and any other food without restriction. The only exception would be sacrificial meat offered to idols, which Paul advises to avoid.
Paul also condemns those who forbid certain foods as false teachers departing from the faith:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1-3).
So imposing dietary restrictions is a sign of false doctrine according to the New Testament.
Peter’s Vision Reaffirms Food Laws Are Abolished
In Acts 10, God gives Peter a vision of a sheet descending from heaven containing all kinds of animals considered unclean under the Old Covenant.
When Peter refuses to eat them, God rebukes him saying, “What God has made clean, do not call common” (Acts 10:15).
God was showing Peter that the Old Testament food laws were no longer in effect, and he could freely eat foods previously considered unclean. This vision paved the way for Peter to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.
So again we see that New Testament doctrine declares all foods clean and permissible to eat. The Levitical food laws were temporary until the coming of Christ.
Kingdom of God Not About Food or Drink
Paul also teaches that God’s kingdom is not defined by dietary restrictions. In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
What we eat or drink does not bring us closer to God. Obeying His Word and producing spiritual fruit is what counts.
Similarly, Paul told the Colossians:
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).
The dietary laws were merely a foreshadowing of Christ. Now that He has come, we are no longer bound by food regulations. What matters is honoring the Lord with our lives.
All Food Created by God Is Good
There is a common theme throughout the New Testament that all food created by God is good and can be received with thanksgiving.
For instance, in his first letter to Timothy, Paul writes:
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5).
Shrimp and other shellfish are part of God’s good creation. Therefore, Christians can feel comfortable eating shrimp with gratitude, knowing it pleases the Lord.
In Summary
While shrimp and other shellfish were off limits under the Old Covenant, the restrictions have been lifted under the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus. He declared all foods clean. This was reaffirmed by the teaching of Peter and Paul in the Book of Acts and Epistles. Christians are free to eat any food, including shrimp, with thanksgiving and clear conscience. The kingdom of God is not defined by dietary laws but by faith in Christ and bearing spiritual fruit.
So enjoy those shrimp cocktails and seafood platters without worry! The New Testament gives shrimp dishes a big thumbs up. Just be sure as always to give thanks to God, practice moderation, and be sensitive to those with different convictions.
What does the New Testament say about eating shrimp?
Nowhere in the New Testament of the Bible will you find the words shrimp, crab, or shellfish. They are all grouped together as unclean food from the sea.
A story about shrimp is told in three of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This story is often used in the New Testament. The Book of John does not retell this story.
In this story, the Pharisees confront Jesus and His disciples about how they are eating.
Back in those times, it was a religious law to prepare or clean yourself before eating. The Pharisees sees Jesus and His disciples do not properly clean themselves prior to eating some bread.
After some back in forth, Jesus tells the Pharisees the following:
It is in Mark, and only Mark, where “(In Saying this. Jesus declared all food clean. )” This one sentence has added much confusion to scholars and Christians alike.
Can Christians eat shrimp?
Yes, Christians can eat shrimp due to the grace provided by their faith. However, Leviticus 11 of the Bible says that shrimp is “unclean” and therefore not holy to eat.
Is Eating Shrimp a SIN? || What does the Bible say?
What does the Bible say about not eating shrimp?
The passage about not eating shrimp is found in Leviticus 11:9-12: “These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.
Did God change his mind about eating shrimp?
It’s not that God all-of-sudden changed his mind, but it’s that the reasons for why originally commanded them to not eat shrimp were reasons that would no longer be relevant or pertinent to the Christians who would be living under the New Covenant (we’ll explain this a little bit more later in this article).
Did Jesus eat shrimp & shellfish?
In summary, while the Old Testament prohibited the consumption of shrimp and shellfish for ancient Israelites as part of their Law, Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law ushered in a New Covenant of freedom for believers. The New Testament makes it clear that Christians are not bound by ancient dietary restrictions.
Is eating shrimp a sin?
While it is important to stand up for our beliefs, we should be careful not to judge others harshly for their actions. For example, some Christians believe that eating shrimp is a sin because it is considered an “abomination” in the Bible. However, other Christians interpret this passage differently and believe that it is okay to eat shrimp.