On Jewish Foods

Contents

1. 1Novatian thanks his congregation for their letters, explains why he writes during his absence, and introduces this third letter against the Jews, on the food laws.
2. 2Novatian argues that the food laws must be read spiritually, since God declared all creatures very good and preserved even the unclean ones in the ark, and he outlines the history of human food from fruit to grain to flesh.
3. 3Novatian interprets the clean and unclean animals as pictures of human virtues and vices: chewing the cud means meditating on God's commands, a divided hoof a firm walk in virtue, and each forbidden animal a particular vice.
4. 4Novatian adds that many foods were also forbidden to the Jews to curb the gluttony they showed when they preferred Egypt's food to the manna.
5. 5With Christ, the end of the Law, food distinctions have ceased; Novatian cites Paul and the Gospels to show that God is worshiped by faith and virtue, not by foods.
6. 6Freedom from food laws is not license for gluttony; Novatian points to Christ's beatitudes, Lazarus, and Paul, and denounces Christians who drink wine on an empty stomach in the morning.
7. 7Food sacrificed to idols remains forbidden, since it makes the eater a guest of demons; Novatian closes with a doxology.