The change in conditions, alterations and transformations
are necessities of the essence of beings, and essential necessities cannot be
separated from the reality of things. So it is absolutely impossible to
separate heat from fire, humidity from water, or light from the sun, for they
are essential necessities. As the change and alteration of conditions are
necessities for beings, so laws also are changed and altered in accordance with
the changes and alterations of the times. For example, in the time of Moses,
His Law was conformed and adapted to the conditions of the time; but in the
days of Christ these conditions had changed and altered to such an extent that
the Mosaic Law was no longer suited and adapted to the needs of mankind; and it
was, therefore, abrogated. Thus it was that Christ broke the Sabbath and
forbade divorce. After Christ four disciples, among whom were Peter and Paul,
permitted the use of animal food forbidden by the Bible, except the eating of
those animals which had been strangled, or which were sacrificed to idols, and
of blood. [Acts 15:20] They also forbade fornication. They maintained these
four commandments. Afterward, Paul permitted even the eating of strangled
animals, those sacrificed to idols, and blood, and only maintained the
prohibition of fornication. So in chapter 14, verse 14 of
his Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord
Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any
thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
Also in the Epistle of Paul to Titus, chapter 1, verse 15:
“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Now this change, these alterations and this abrogation are
due to the impossibility of comparing the time of Christ with that of Moses.
The conditions and requirements in the later period were entirely changed and
altered. The former laws were, therefore, abrogated. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, table talks
in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’)
