Lexical Summary brósis: Eating, food, consumption Original Word: βρῶσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eating, food, meat. From the base of bibrosko; (abstractly) eating (literally or figuratively); by extension (concretely) food (literally or figuratively) -- eating, food, meat. see GREEK bibrosko NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bibróskó Definition eating, food NASB Translation eating (2), food (6), meal (1), rust (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1035: βρῶσιςβρῶσις, βρώσεως, ἡ (βρόω, βιβρώσκω); 1. the act of eating (Tertullianesus): βρῶσις καί πόσις, Romans 14:17 (on which see βασιλεία, 3); with the genitive of the object 1 Corinthians 8:4 (Plato, de rep. 10, p. 619 c. παίδων αὐτοῦ); in a wider sense, corrosion: Matthew 6:19f. 2. as almost everywhere in Greek writings that which is eaten, food, aliment: Hebrews 12:16; εἰς βρῶσιν for food, 2 Corinthians 9:10 (Wis. 4:5); βρῶσις καί (so WH text Tr marginal reading; others ἤ) πόσις, Colossians 2:16 (Homer, Odyssey 1, 191; Plato, legg. 6, 783{c}; Xenophon, mem. 1, 3, 15; (cf. Fritzsche on Romans iii., p. 200 note; per contra Meyer or Ellicott on Colossians, the passage cited)), used of the soups aliment — either that which refreshes it, John 4:32, or nourishes and supports it unto life eternal, John 6:27, 55. The noun translated “food” or “eating” appears eleven times in the New Testament. It ranges from the most ordinary concept of daily nourishment to profound theological statements about the work of Christ and the nature of God’s kingdom. By studying the contexts—Jesus’ teaching, apostolic guidance on liberty, and warnings against materialism—one gains a panoramic view of how Scripture links physical sustenance to spiritual realities. Material Provision under Divine Care Food is first presented as a gift God faithfully supplies. Jesus tells the disciples, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (John 4:32), pointing to the Father’s hidden provision. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 9:10: “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Here, daily bread illustrates God’s ability to enrich believers for every good work, anchoring charitable ministry in the certainty of divine care. Spiritual Nourishment: Christ the True Food In John 6 Jesus directs attention beyond physical sustenance: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). He then declares, “My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink” (John 6:55). Earthly meals, though necessary, can never satisfy the deepest hunger. Only participation in the life-giving sacrifice of the Son provides that satisfaction, anticipating both the Lord’s Supper and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Impermanence of Earthly Goods Twice in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20). The same term for “food” depicts “rust,” a corrosive consumption that silently devours wealth. Material abundance is therefore unstable; eternal investments are secure. Christian Freedom and Sensitivity Regarding Food Early believers faced tension over dietary regulations and marketplace meat. Paul urges the Corinthians, “Now about eating food sacrificed to idols… we know that an idol is nothing at all” (1 Corinthians 8:4), yet he also teaches deference to weaker consciences. Similarly, Colossians 2:16 cautions against legalistic judgment about diet. Romans 14:17 sets the priority: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Food is morally neutral, but love limits liberty for the sake of unity. Holiness over Hedonism Hebrews 12:16 warns believers not to be “godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.” A fleeting appetite can lead to irrevocable loss. The passage exhorts Christians to prize spiritual inheritance above temporal gratification, a call especially relevant in cultures of excess. Eschatological Perspective Jesus’ discourse in John 6 links present faith to future resurrection: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Physical eating becomes a metaphor of the coming age when the Lamb’s banquet replaces scarcity, echoing prophetic visions of abundant feasting (Isaiah 25:6). Until then, each meal can foreshadow the consummation of redemption. Historical Background First-century diets depended on grain, oil, and wine; meat was rare and often associated with temple sacrifices. Jewish kosher distinctions and Gentile idolatrous markets created friction within mixed congregations. Apostolic teaching neither dismissed Old Testament revelation nor imposed cultural uniformity; instead it preserved gospel unity by rooting identity in Christ rather than cuisine. Ministry Application • Worship: The Lord’s Table proclaims Christ as the sustaining Bread of Life. Doctrinal Implications 1. Christology: Jesus is both Provider and Provision. Through these passages the Spirit teaches believers to enjoy temporal gifts without idolatry, prize the imperishable life secured by Christ, and express the gospel in generous, others-centered living. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:19 N-NFSGRK: σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει καὶ NAS: where moth and rust destroy, and where KJV: moth and rust doth corrupt, and INT: moth and rust destroy and Matthew 6:20 N-NFS John 4:32 N-AFS John 6:27 N-AFS John 6:27 N-AFS John 6:55 N-NFS Romans 14:17 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 8:4 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 9:10 N-AFS Colossians 2:16 N-DFS Hebrews 12:16 N-GFS Strong's Greek 1035 |
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