³ Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.^(A) Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.^(B)

¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.^(A) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.^(B)

¹⁵ Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer,^(A) according to the blessing the Lord your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.

³ They forbid people to marry^(A) and order them to abstain from certain foods,^(B) which God created^(C) to be received with thanksgiving^(D) by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good,^(E) and nothing is to be rejected^(F) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(G) and prayer.

²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(A) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^(B)

Freedom From Human Rules

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you^(A) by what you eat or drink,^(B) or with regard to a religious festival,^(C) a New Moon celebration^(D) or a Sabbath day.^(E)

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^(A)

²⁵ Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,^{(A) 26} for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^[a](B)

The Believer’s Freedom

²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(A) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.