Bible Verses About Monasticism And Ascetic Life

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Bible background on prayer and fasting

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Bible passage linking prayer and abstinence

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Bible warning against ascetic severity without power

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Bible background on fasting

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Bible background on the right kind of fast

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

passage on fasting while oppressing others

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

Bible passage on choosing virginity

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel's fast as a biblical background example

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

Fast linked with chastening the soul

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Bible passage that marriage is not sin

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Virginity imagery in Revelation

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Bible passage distinguishing unmarried and married

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Bible text often used for celibacy

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

Bible text on virgins and judgment

And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

Priestly virgin-wife regulation, background only

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Bible passage on sanctification and abstaining from fornication

And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Bible text on bodily training and godliness

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Bible warning against forbidding marriage

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Bible text on renouncing passions

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Bible background on training for godliness

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Bible warning against asceticism as disqualifying

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Bible athlete image for self-control

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Bible background on discipline

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Bible bodily discipline language

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

Bible sequence of self-control and godliness

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

Shows fasting was a known practice among disciples