κρέας

From the study of Romans 14:21

Range of meaning

Flesh or meat, especially as food. The plural krea means 'pieces of meat, meats'.

Against the English

KJV and YLT have 'flesh', modern versions 'meat'. Both are accurate. What the modern reader misses is why meat was a problem in Rome at all.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 1 Cor 8:13 Paul says almost the same thing in the first person: 'I will never eat krea, so as not to make my brother stumble.' Jewish texts show devout Jews avoiding Gentile meat and wine (Dan 1:8–16; Judith 12:1–4; Greek Esther 4:17x; Josephus, Life 14). In Rome, Seneca says he gave up meat in his youth under Pythagorean teaching (Epistles 108.22).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 8:13

Range of meaning

Brōma: food of any kind. Kreas: meat, flesh. The plural krea means portions or pieces of meat, often meat from a sacrifice.

Against the English

Modern versions say 'food… meat'. KJV says 'meat… flesh' because in 1611 English 'meat' meant food in general (as in 'meat and drink'), and 'flesh' meant what we now call meat.

How it drifted

In English, 'meat' narrowed from 'food' to 'animal flesh'. A modern reader of the KJV therefore sees 'meat' twice and misses the shift from general food to meat in particular.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek cities much of the meat eaten came from animals sacrificed at temples. It was eaten at sacred meals in temple dining rooms, distributed at civic festivals, or sold on. A Latin inscription found at Corinth names a meat and food market (macellum) (Cadbury, JBL 1934). Scholars debate how much market meat had actually passed through a temple (Theissen; Meggitt).