Strong’s Greek 3336 designates the act of “taking part in” or “receiving for one’s use.” The single New Testament appearance applies the term to food that is gratefully enjoyed as a good gift from God.

Canonical Occurrence

1 Timothy 4:3 – “They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Context in 1 Timothy

Paul warns Timothy about latter-time teachers who substitute man-made restrictions for God’s revealed goodness. The contested matter is not whether a Christian may eat, but whether forbidding certain foods is spiritually superior. The word translated “received” (metálēmpsin) pictures the normal, thankful sharing of created provisions within the community of faith. Paul re-grounds daily eating in creation theology: “God created” the food; therefore believers honor Him by partaking with gratitude (verses 4-5).

Biblical Theology of Grateful Participation

Genesis 1:29–31 establishes that food is a divine gift. Psalm 104:14-15 celebrates God who “makes grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate.” The New Testament consistently affirms this generosity: Jesus feeds multitudes (Matthew 14:13-21), teaches His disciples to pray for daily bread (Matthew 6:11), and institutes a meal of remembrance (Luke 22:19-20). Strong’s 3336 thus ties ordinary eating to the broader theme of thanksgiving, aligning believers’ hearts with God’s providence.

Polemic against Asceticism and Proto-Gnosticism

Early ascetic movements, influenced by dualistic philosophies, disparaged physical existence. By insisting that foods are “to be received” gratefully, Paul repudiates any notion that material creation is inherently impure. Colossians 2:20-23 issues a parallel rebuke: “Why, as though you lived in the world, do you submit to decrees such as… ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch’?” The apostolic answer is not indulgence but sanctified enjoyment through thanksgiving and prayer.

Christian Liberty and Responsibility

While 1 Timothy 4 highlights freedom, other passages balance liberty with love:

• Romans 14:3 – “The one who eats must not despise the one who abstains.”
• 1 Corinthians 8:9 – “Be careful that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

The same grateful “receiving” is tempered by sensitivity to others’ consciences. Liberty operates within the law of love.

Relation to the Lord’s Supper

Though 1 Timothy 4 addresses common meals rather than sacramental observance, the concept of thankful reception echoes the Eucharist. At the table, believers “receive” bread and cup with gratitude, proclaiming Christ’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The ordinary act of eating prepares hearts for the extraordinary meal of remembrance.

Pastoral Application

1. Teach grateful dependence: Encourage families to pause and give thanks before meals, reinforcing that daily provision comes from the Creator.
2. Guard against legalism: Expose doctrines that equate spiritual maturity with dietary restrictions not mandated by Scripture.
3. Cultivate balanced liberty: Counsel believers to enjoy God’s gifts responsibly, mindful of weaker consciences.

Historical Reflection

The early Church Fathers, notably Irenaeus and Athanasius, appealed to 1 Timothy 4 when refuting Gnostic disparagement of matter. Medieval monasticism at times drifted into extreme fasting; reformers such as Martin Luther cited Paul’s words to defend Christian freedom in diet and marriage. Modern missionary settings similarly confront food taboos; the verse remains a touchstone for contextualized discipleship.

Synthesis

Strong’s 3336 underscores the biblical affirmation that creation is good and that faithful believers honor God by receiving His gifts with thanksgiving. Against every age’s ascetic or materialistic distortions, Scripture calls the Church to a sanctified enjoyment that points beyond the meal to the Giver and sustains worship, fellowship, and witness.