Asceticism

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

(A philosophy that leads to severe austerities in subordinating the body to the control of the moral attributes of the mind)

Extreme application of

Rebuked by Jesus

• Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
• Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Rebuked by Paul

• Colossians 2:20–23 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restriction…
• 1 Timothy 4:1–4 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God…
• 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

See Stoicism

Instances of the Practice of

John the Baptist

• Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
• Luke 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Those who practiced celibacy "for the kingdom of heaven's sake,"

• Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”