Are any foods prohibited from consumption by the New Testament?  I once visited a church where the members were debating whether eating rare beef was prohibited because of the presence of blood.  Is this splitting hairs?  Is it merely cultural that we do not eat certain animals such as horses, or is there Biblical basis in this?  I believe I’m recalling Old Testament Law which specified eating only animals with “cloven hooves”?

Sincerely,
Nom Nom Nom

Dear Nom Nom Nom,

The Old Testament laws concerning what could and could not be eaten can be found in Lev. 11, but there is only one type of food that christians cannot eat – blood (Acts 15:29Acts 15:29
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.  

WP-Bible plugin).  When an animal is killed, some cultures will strangle the animal so as to keep the blood in the meat, as opposed to draining the blood out.  It is probably a misunderstanding on what it means to eat the meat with the blood that caused the discussion that you mentioned over rare beef.  Things like blood sausage, blood soup, blood stew, etc. are popular dishes in some countries, but eating them is wrong.  All meat is clean for New Testament christians (Mk 7:19Mk 7:19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
19 because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? [This he said], making all meats clean.  

WP-Bible plugin), but blood is not.

Was St. Paul (Saul) a Roman gentile and a Jew?  Was he a Gentile Jew?

Sincerely,
Paul Ponderer

Dear Paul Ponderer,

Paul was a Jew, not a Gentile.  Paul could trace his lineage through the tribe of Benjamin (Php 3:5Php 3:5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  

WP-Bible plugin).  The word ‘gentile’ means ‘nations’ because anyone that wasn’t of the nation of Israel was lumped together in the mind of the Jews.  Paul was sent by God to preach to the Gentiles for most of his christian life (Acts 22:21Acts 22:21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.  

WP-Bible plugin), but Paul was never a Gentile; he was always of Jewish descendant.

In Exodus 20:8-11Exodus 20:8-11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

WP-Bible plugin, the fourth commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you will labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God.  For in six days, the Lord made all the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.  Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day and hallowed it.”

Why don’t all Christians observe and worship Him on the Sabbath, which would be the seventh day, which is Saturday?  Also, when did this change to worshipping our Lord on Sunday happen, and who changed that?

Sincerely,
One Day At A Time

Dear One Day At A Time,

The Sabbath was a holy day for the Jews, not for Christians.  The Old Testament has a myriad of laws that are no longer binding in the New Testament: animal sacrifice, clean and unclean foods, and various festivals… just to name a few.  2 Cor 3 is an entire chapter devoted to explaining how the Old Law has been surpassed by the New Law.  2 Cor 3:32 Cor 3:3
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables [that are] hearts of flesh.  

WP-Bible plugin especially clarifies the issue when it states that our law is “not in tables of stone”, a direct reference to the Ten Commandments that were written on stone tablets.

Gal 3:24-25Gal 3:24-25
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
24 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now faith that is come, we are no longer under a tutor.  

WP-Bible plugin makes it clear that the Old Law was a tutor to bring mankind to Christ, but now that Christ has come, we are no longer under that tutor.  The Sabbath is a part of that Old Law.  In the New Testament, christians meet on the first day of the week to worship, take the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7Acts 20:7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.  

WP-Bible plugin), and take up a collection (1 Cor 16:1-21 Cor 16:1-2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 ¹ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. ² Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.  

WP-Bible plugin).  In short: different covenants, different days.

The Old Testament law given by Moses was a covenant with the Jews (Deu 5:1-5Deu 5:1-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 ¹ And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and observe to do them. ² Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. ³ Jehovah made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. ⁴ Jehovah spake with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, ⁵  saying,  

WP-Bible plugin).  The New Testament law given in Christ is for all of mankind (Acts 2:38-39Acts 2:38-39
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
38 And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Who changed the law?  God did.

When did it change?  When the church began.

I have a friend who speaks about the Bible having figurative language in it.  How would you respond to this comment?

Sincerely,
Mr. Metaphor

Dear Mr. Metaphor,

The Bible does use figurative language, but so do you.  Every time you say, “I’m dead on my feet”, “That guy really missed the boat”, or “I’m as happy as a lark” – you are using figurative language.  Figurative language is a normal part of human conversation.  The Bible uses it just like you do.  The important thing to remember is that speech can only be considered figurative in certain circumstances.

1. If the writer or speaker specifically tells you that the language is figurative.  For example, Rev 1:1Rev 1:1
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   The Revelation to St. John ^{1 1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John;  
   
   WP-Bible plugin says that the things in the book are ‘signified’, a word in Greek that means ‘symbolized’.
2. Context demands that it be considered figurative… like when Jesus says that we are “the salt of the earth” (Matt 5:13Matt 5:13
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.  
   
   WP-Bible plugin).  It wouldn’t make sense if He were trying to say that people are literally made of salt.

Bible writings should be considered literal unless there is a reason to believe otherwise – just like normal writings.  There is nothing wrong with saying the Bible uses figurative language; it is just important that we don’t assume something is figurative.  Always assume literal unless proven otherwise.

I have been reading about the end times.  It seems that we are very close (from what I have heard and read myself).  It seems that a lot of churches talk a lot about the end times from what I can see.  Do you think that we are close to the end?  Also, what signs in the Bible, if any, have not happened yet?  I am just scared that we are close to the end; of course, it could end before I even finish writing the question, so we all need to be ready for it, just wanting your opinion on the subject; thanks!

Sincerely,
Looking Ahead

Dear Looking Ahead,

Many verses that people use to discuss the end of time are used out of context.  It might surprise you to know that most of the book of Revelation has nothing to do with the end of the world (even John, the writer of the book, said that the book of Revelation was full of things shortly to come to pass – Rev 1:1Rev 1:1
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
The Revelation to St. John ^{1 1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John;  

WP-Bible plugin).  So be careful in taking too much stock in what you read on the internet (which is ironic, since this is a website!) or hear through other people.  What matters is what the verses say, not what people think or assume.  Most stuff you read is merely conjecture.  2 Thess 2:1-22 Thess 2:1-2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 ¹ Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; ² to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;  

WP-Bible plugin specifically warns us about getting too caught up in worrying about when the end will come.

The clearest passages we have on the topic of the end of the world are 1 Thess 5:1-10, 21 Thess 5:1-10, 2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 ¹ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³ When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. ⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: ⁵ for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; ⁶ so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. ⁸ But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  

WP-Bible plugin Pet 3:3-12, and 1 Cor 15:50-581 Cor 15:50-58
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.  

WP-Bible plugin.  All three of these passages clearly outline what needs to be known about the end of the world.

First, it will come like a thief, and no one will be ready for it (1 Thess 5:2, 21 Thess 5:2, 2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  

WP-Bible plugin Pet 3:10).  If the day will only come when no one is expecting it, it only makes sense to not worry about trying to pinpoint that day since God says it is impossible!

Second, we should live every day like it will be our last (1 Cor 15:58, 21 Cor 15:58, 2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. ² by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.  

WP-Bible plugin Pet 3:11-12, 1 Thess 5:8-91 Thess 5:8-9
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  

WP-Bible plugin).  If you are always living a holy and faithful life, it won’t matter when Christ returns – a point which you made in your question.  Live faithfully, and whether you live or die, you will be ready to meet your Lord (1 Thess 5:101 Thess 5:10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Did Jesus modify the Old Law, the Ten Commandments, and the Torah when He said, “I have come to fulfill the law {the ten commandments}”?

Sincerely,
Pending Change

Dear Pending Change,

Jesus didn’t modify/change the Old Testament – He fulfilled it (Matt 5:17Matt 5:17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the fulfillment of everything of which the prophets of old spoke (1 Pet 1:10-121 Pet 1:10-12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that [should come] unto you: ¹¹ searching what [time] or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. ¹² To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into.  

WP-Bible plugin, Acts 3:20-21Acts 3:20-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
20 and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, [even] Jesus: ²¹ whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Moses said that there would come a day when a Messiah would come… and that when He came, the Jews were to follow Christ instead (Acts 3:22-24Acts 3:22-24
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. ²³ And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament by being the Messiah and paying the price for mankind’s sins.  The Old Testament was a tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24Gal 3:24
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24 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  

WP-Bible plugin), but now that Christ is here, He has fulfilled the law, and we are no longer bound by its laws (Gal 3:25Gal 3:25
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
25 But now faith that is come, we are no longer under a tutor.  

WP-Bible plugin).