Bible Verses About The Encratites And Ascetic Heresy

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.

Direct Bible warning about forbidding marriage and abstaining from foods

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Apostolic food restriction text, but not Encratite doctrine itself

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

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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.

General fasting and prayer, not Encratite teaching

And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

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.

Strong companion verse on ascetic severity to the body

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.

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,

Warns against asceticism and judgment from visions

Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Generic warning about strange teachings and foods

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

About celibacy as a gift, not forbidding marriage