Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Asceticism?

13 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Asceticism in the Bible

Discover 13 Bible verses about asceticism. This comprehensive collection of Scripture quotes reveals God's wisdom and guidance on asceticism, with verses from across the Old and New Testaments.

13
Total Verses
0
Old Testament
13
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Asceticism

  1. 1
    Matthew 11:18
    For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Matthew 11:19
    The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Matthew 19:12
    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.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Luke 7:33
    For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Luke 7:34
    The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
    KJV
  6. 6
    Colossians 2:20
    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, rudiments: or, elements
    KJV
  7. 7
    Colossians 2:21
    (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
    KJV
  8. 8
    Colossians 2:22
    Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
    KJV
  9. 9
    Colossians 2:23
    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. neglecting: or, punishing, or, not sparing
    KJV
  10. 10
    1 Timothy 4:1
    Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
    KJV

Subtopics of Asceticism

Extreme application of
Rebuked by Jesus
Rebuked by Paul
INSTANCES OF THE PRACTICE OF
John the Baptist
Those who practiced celibacy "for the kingdom of heaven's sake,"
Extreme application of, rebuked by Jesus

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Asceticism? (13 Verses)

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
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.
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, rudiments: or, elements
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
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. neglecting: or, punishing, or, not sparing
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
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.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

How to Study What the Bible Says About Asceticism

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about asceticism. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about asceticism and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about asceticism is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on asceticism needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about asceticism with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about asceticism, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Asceticism?

You have studied 13 verses about asceticism. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about asceticism?
Discover 13 Bible verses about asceticism. This comprehensive collection of Scripture quotes reveals God's wisdom and guidance on asceticism, with verses from across the Old and New Testaments. The Bible contains 13 key verses about asceticism spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about asceticism are there?
There are 13 key Bible verses about asceticism compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about asceticism?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about asceticism is Matthew 11:18 — "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil."
Where in the Bible does it talk about asceticism?
Asceticism is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 13 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Asceticism

Topics Included

This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics:

asceticism