In the context of biblical dietary laws and early Christian teachings, the consumption of animals that have died by strangulation is explicitly prohibited. This prohibition is rooted in the broader biblical injunctions against consuming blood, as strangulation does not allow for the proper draining of blood from the animal's body.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament lays the foundation for dietary restrictions concerning blood. In Leviticus 17:10-14, the Israelites are commanded not to consume blood, as it is the life of the flesh. The text states, "And I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people" (Leviticus 17:10). This command underscores the sanctity of life and the symbolic significance of blood as life-giving and sacred.

New Testament Teachings

The early Christian church, grappling with the integration of Gentile believers, addressed dietary laws in the context of maintaining unity and holiness. In Acts 15, during the Jerusalem Council, the apostles and elders convened to discuss the requirements for Gentile converts. The council concluded that Gentile believers should abstain from certain practices, including the consumption of blood and meat from animals that had been strangled. Acts 15:28-29 states, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality" .

This directive was intended to promote fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians by respecting Jewish dietary laws, which were deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The prohibition against consuming strangled animals was thus a practical application of the broader command to abstain from blood.

Theological Implications

The prohibition against eating strangled animals reflects a theological emphasis on the sanctity of life and the importance of blood as a symbol of life and atonement. In the sacrificial system, blood was central to the atonement process, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood was shed for the remission of sins. By abstaining from blood and strangled animals, believers acknowledge the sacredness of life and the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice.

Practical Observance

For early Christians, adhering to these dietary restrictions was a matter of obedience and respect for the diverse backgrounds within the church. It served as a means of maintaining purity and unity, ensuring that the community lived in a manner that honored God and respected the consciences of fellow believers.

In summary, the biblical prohibition against consuming animals that have died by strangulation is deeply intertwined with the broader command to abstain from blood, reflecting the sanctity of life and the theological significance of blood in the biblical narrative.Acts 15:20,29
But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Nave's Topical Index

Acts 21:25
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Nave's Topical Index

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Strangled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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