The Epiousios Diet

There are too many diets to keep track of. Most become passing fads. Some are supported by medical data. Others are not. Each unique diet puts forth its own unique claim. One promises to reduce cholesterol levels. Another says it lowers blood pressure. Yet another one purports to reduce the chance of Alzheimer’s disease. Only one, the Epiousios Diet, claims to have eternal benefits. Have you heard of it? Have you tried it?  Please read more.

The Keto Diet is the recent rage.  It is a short duration, low carb, high fat diet focused on weight loss. The Paleo Diet was based on the principle of returning to what early humans ate during the Paleolithic era. Vegetarian diets cut out all animal protein. Vegan Diets are strictly plant-based diet and avoid any food that comes from an animal. The Mind Diet is high in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats from fish, nuts, and olive oil.

Almost every diet claims to either extend a person’s life span or at least improve the quality of life. Only one diet promises ETERNAL LIFE. That diet is the Epiousios Diet. What exactly is the EPIOUSIOS DIET? Where did it come from?

The epiousios diet is not a fad. It has been around for over 2,000 years. It was put forth by the world’s greatest physician. The author of this diet is none other than Jesus Christ.  His diet is the only diet that promises eternal life. We should all take this diet very seriously.

The Epiousios Diet comes to us from the Bible. The word epiousios (ἐπιούσιος) is only found in two places in the New Testament. The early Greek version of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11:3 used the word epiousios. Traditionally the word epiousios, as written in the Lord’s Prayer, has been translated in the English language. It is known to most of us as the word “daily” and used as an adjective to modify the word bread.

We recite the Lord’s Prayer with these words: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that anyone should change the way they recite the Lord’s Prayer. I am, however, strongly suggesting that we all need to try hard to understand what exactly Jesus was saying, if we want to receive the eternal benefits of His unique diet plan.

Many modern Biblical scholars reject the translation of “epiousios” bread to “daily” bread.  So what exactly did Jesus mean when He taught us to pray “Give us this day our epiousios bread?”  St. Jerome’s Latin translation, dating back to AD 382, when translated into English gives us the word super-substantial or super-essential. Theologian Brant Pitre, believes a more precise and accurate translation of epiousios is the word supernatural, and yet others believe it means necessary. Dr. William Barclay, professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow, sums things up when he writes, “Although we need not agree that any one of these explanations is the main meaning of the petition, we need not reject any of them as false. They all have their own truth and their own relevance.”

This brings me to my main point. Jesus gave us a prayer, and in this prayer He taught us to say, “Give us this day our epiousios bread.”  What exactly was Jesus telling us to pray for? I personally believe that Jesus wanted us to feast on HIM every day in order to have proper spiritual nutrition.

 

During the time of Moses, the Jews gathered new manna every day. Manna could not be stored up for a later day. Jesus tells us to pray each and every day for this epiousios bread. We can’t go to church on Sunday and expect it to sustain us all week. We need spiritual food daily. Some Catholic theologians believe Jesus was talking about the Eucharist when He was using the word epiousios. As I’ve pointed out, other Christians interpret this differently. No matter what the nutritional value of epiousios means to our spiritual diet, we should all agree that Jesus told us we need it daily.

There is only one diet plan that promises eternal life. Jesus gave us that diet. We must feast on Him! Some feast on Him in their Eucharistic meal, while others feast on Him when they consume the Words of Scripture. To be clear, no diet is spiritually nutritious unless Jesus is the main ingredient. If we seek eternal life, we should all be on the Epiousios Diet.  I will close with a thought provoking question. What does it mean to you to feast on Jesus every day?  

Dear Heavenly Father, too often we start new diets only to stop them soon afterwards. Help me to make the Epiousios Diet part of my life. I need Jesus as the main source of my nutritional needs every day. Amen.

As always, I love to read your comments below as well as hear from you personally by clicking here.

Brian Pusateri
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13 Comments

  1. Mary Glassgow on August 22, 2019 at 10:23 am

    Thanks for all of your letters, but this one is great! Always happy to learn something I did not know before. Keep up the good work. May God Bless you!

    • Brian Pusateri on August 22, 2019 at 10:38 am

      Mary

      Thank you for your post and for your very nice comments. Have a blessed day!

      Brian

  2. Felicia on August 21, 2019 at 7:43 am

    Thank you so much for your incites. I don’t always reply but I read your posts regularly. God Bless you.

    • Brian Pusateri on August 21, 2019 at 7:58 am

      Felicia

      You are most welcome. Thank you for being a 4th Day Letters reader and for your kind words.

      Brian

  3. The other Paul C on August 20, 2019 at 9:12 am

    The greatest thing about the diet is even if you stop the diet and ruin your eternal life with sin you only have to ask forgiveness and restart the diet for eternal health!
    Thank you Brian, I am restarting this diet!!!

    With Jesus ‘ Love,

    • Brian Pusateri on August 20, 2019 at 9:48 am

      Paul

      Thanks for your post. Bon Appetit!

      Brian

  4. Michael T. Schaefer on August 20, 2019 at 7:58 am

    Brian,
    Excellent message!
    In answer to your question.
    To let Him into ALL areas of my life daily. Invited or not He is Present.
    Jesus offers us Himself how much am I will to take in. Ultimately coming to that place like Adam in the Garden of Eden were they walked together or the Disciples on the road to Emmaus.
    God bless,
    Michael T.

  5. FRANK M OBERTTHORN on August 20, 2019 at 7:41 am

    amen to that!

  6. Paul C on August 20, 2019 at 6:52 am

    Part of my epiousios diet are the 4th day letters. Thanks for helping God spread the manna to us.

    • Brian Pusateri on August 20, 2019 at 6:58 am

      Paul

      The Holy Spirit is the Chef. I am just happy to deliver the food each week to everyone’s table.

      Brian

  7. Brian Pusateri on August 20, 2019 at 2:32 am

    Greg

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My prayers are with you.

    May God bless you and heal you and keep you in His care.

    Brian

  8. Greg on August 20, 2019 at 1:30 am

    Wow Brian, enlightening, never heard of that word and the depth of your research, well done! Thank you.

    Appreciate any/all prayers for spiritual strength and over my heart arrhythmias, blessings!

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