Bible Dictionaries
Meat to Idols

Holman Bible Dictionary

Offerings of animal flesh sacrificed to a god. Most religions of the Ancient Near East had laws regarding offering sacrifices to the god(s). Israel's laws are in Leviticus 1-8 ,Leviticus 1-8,16-17 . Part of the ritual was for the people to eat some of the sacrifice. They believed that God and the people became closer by partaking of the same animal. Since most early Christians had Jewish backgrounds, a problem arose in the church when Gentile converts ate meat that had been offered to idols. The Jerusalem council decided that Christians should abstain from eating meat offered to idols so as not to cause weak believers to stumble. Paul echoed this sentiment in 1 Corinthians 8:13 .