Rigorous self-denial of bodily pleasures and needs. This can be motivated either by a praiseworthy desire to dedicate oneself completely to God, or by an erroneous belief that the physical body is evil.
Types of ascetic practice
The ascetic practice of fasting
Esther 4:15–16 See also Judges 20:26; 2 Samuel 1:11–12; Jeremiah 36:5–6; Luke 2:37
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
The ascetic practice of wearing sackcloth and ashes
Daniel 9:3 See also 1 Kings 21:27; Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:3
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
The ascetic practice of celibacy
1 Corinthians 7:1 See also Exodus 19:15; 1 Samuel 21:4; 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:36–38; Revelation 14:4
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
People who practised asceticism
The Nazirites and asceticism
Numbers 6:1–8; Judges 13:4–5, Judges 16:17
John the Baptist and asceticism
Matthew 3:4 parallel Mark 1:6; Matthew 11:18 parallel Luke 7:33
John's disciples, the Pharisees and asceticism
Matthew 9:14 parallels Mark 2:18, Luke 5:33; Luke 18:12
The Jews and the ascetic practice of regular fasting
Leviticus 23:26–32; Zechariah 7:1–5
Jesus Christ refuses to enforce ascetic practices
Mark 2:18–19 parallels Matthew 9:14–17, Luke 5:34–35
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
Ascetic practice symbolises separation from the world and dedication to God
Asceticism as a sign of repentance
Jonah 3:6–9 See also 1 Samuel 7:6; Ezra 10:6; Joel 1:13–14
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Asceticism accompanying prayer
Ezra 8:23 See also 2 Samuel 12:16; Nehemiah 1:4; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 7:5
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.
Ascetic dedication to God's service
1 Corinthians 9:27 See also Daniel 1:8; Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 7:32–35
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
False asceticism opposed
Rejection of fasting without true repentance
Condemnation of ostentatious asceticism
Asceticism not necessary for right worship and conduct
Colossians 2:20–23; 1 Timothy 4:1–5 Asceticism that is based on a negative view of the material world is rejected.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.