partly, because of this the pagan unbelievers accused these faithful Christians of drinking human blood. This was one of the false charges against which spokesmen for the Christian congregation had to defend themselves. They stopped the mouths of these foes of Christianity by explaining that human blood was far superior and more valuable than animal blood; and the Christians were so far from drinking human blood that it was contrary to the law of their God to drink the blood of even the lower animals, dumb, unreasoning creatures. Numerous is the testimony to the effect that those faithful Christians did not take human blood into their systems for any purpose.—See Origines Ecclesiasticae, or, Antiquities of the Christian Church, by Joseph Bingham [1668-1723], Book 17, chapter 5, paragraph 20.a

22. When did pretending Christians begin to argue against the law of God given to Noah? And how?

²² It was only after the time of the Roman Catholic theologian Augustine (354-430), bishop in North Africa, that persons claiming to be Christians began to argue that the divine rule prohibiting Christ’s followers from partaking of blood as food was merely a temporary prohibition and that it did not apply now. This argument, however, was part of the falling away of Christian pretenders from the true faith that the apostle Paul foretold.—2 Thess. 2:1-3.

23. Since Jehovah does not change, in what way do Christians follow Jude’s exhortation and keep themselves innocent?

²³ After God foretold the coming of his Son Jesus Christ to the temple for judgment work, God said: “I, Jehovah, change not.” (Mal. 3:1-6, AS) True, faithful Christians of today follow the exhortation of the disciple Jude, “to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones.” (Jude 3) According to this faith they keep innocent regarding blood. They avoid the penalty of violating God’s unchanged holy law of sanctity of blood. The life or soul of no man is demanded by God at their hand.

Keeping “Clean from the Blood of All Men”

 1. By what saying did Paul indicate there was another way in which Christians must keep clean respecting blood?

ASIDE from literal blood of man, beast and bird, those who do not desire to displease God and deserve punishment from him have to be alert to another way in which they must keep clean from blood. The apostle Paul indicated this way when he said to the Christian overseers from the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor: “And now, look! I know that all of you among whom I went preaching the kingdom [of God, AV; Vg; Lamsa] will see my face no more. Hence I call you to witness this very day that I am clean from the blood of all men.” (Acts 20:25, 26) Of all persons, how could Paul say that? And how are his words and example a warning to us today?