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Prayer & Worship

Fasting

False Knowledge (gnosis)

1 Tm 4:3abstention from food is evil [1]verse used to challenge Catholic teachingSome anti-Catholics try to use this verse to condemn the Catholic practice of fasting.

Firstly, Catholics believe God's creation is good, just as the bible says. Catholics also know that "fasting" is used throughout the NT, even by Jesus, as the citations below will show. So something else must be going on in this passage.
1 Tm 6:20avoid profanities of "false knowledge"Paul's conclusion helps make clear what he is talking about throughout 1 Timothy. In the Greek, the word for "knowledge" is "gnosis." This was a common term used for the secret "knowledge" of some false teachers. (nb: Biblical commentators believe Paul is addressing either Judaistic numerology schemes or an early form of Gnosticism derived from the former.) Such "knowledge" wrongly held that only spirit was good and (thus) matter was evil. Some had falsely concluded that marriage and eating were evil too because they perpetuated our material selves. Paul is giving Timothy instruction on why and how to avoid these false teachings and the "false gnosis" schemes they are based on.
1 Tm 4:4-5God's creations are goodHere again Paul is addressing an aspect of a heresy (nb: biblical commentators believe Paul is addressing either Judaistic numerology schemes or an early form of Gnosticism derived from the former) and their belief that matter is evil.

Fasting in New Testament

Mk 7:18-19Christ declares all food clean
Mt 9:15Jesus: disciples to fast in the futureJesus tells of how His followers will fast in the future after He is gone.
Mk 2:20Jesus: disciples to fast in the future
Lk 5:35Jesus: disciples to fast in the future
Mt 6:16-18Jesus' rules concerning fastingPublic fasting is not here condemned, but rather seeking after vainglory and the praise of man.
Mt 17:20Jesus: fast needed to cast demon outHere Jesus describes a situation where fasting is a requirement.
Mk 9:28Jesus: needed to cast out this demon
Lk 2:36-38Anna in prayer and fasting
AA 13:3prayer/fasting preparationsEven in the earliest days of the Church, prayer and fasting was an important practice.
AA 14:22prayer with fasting
AA 27:33Apostles in prayer with fasting
Mt 4:2Jesus fasts in the desert40 days and nights of fasting.
"When Christ fasted forty days, he fasted to set an example to carnal men."—S. Cyril

Fasting in Old Testament

Dn 10:3Daniel fasts for 3 weeks
Tb 12:8Prayer is good with fasting
Er 8:21-23fasting before GodEzra proclams a fast before God, asking God to show them the right path they are to follow; and God responds favorably.
Ps 68:10-12fasting for the soulFasting helps our soul. We humble ourselves before God.
Je 36:9All of Jerusalem called to fastNeeded to show they have turned away from their wicked ways; and to place their supplications before the Lord.
Jl 1:4sanctification through fastingFasting is used to prepare ourselves before God
Zc 7:5-6Fast for God not selfDo you sorrow for the injury done to me; or did your regret only your own loss? When eating, was it for ourselves or God's glory?

Notes:

[1]: verse used to challenge Catholic teaching