Fasting: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Fasting means something in Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. On this page you will also find search and cross-referencing tools.
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In Christianity
General definition (in Christianity)
: archive.org: Nave's Topical BibleFasting definition and references: 鈥揙bserved on occasions of public calamities 2 Samuel 1:12
鈥揂蹿蹿濒颈肠迟颈辞苍蝉 Psalms 35:13; Daniel 6:18
鈥揚rivate afflictions 2 Samuel 12:16
鈥揂pproaching danger Esther 4:16
鈥揙rdination of ministers Acts 13:3; 14:23
鈥揂ccompanied by prayer Daniel 9:3
鈥揅onfession of sin 1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1,2
鈥揌耻尘颈濒颈补迟颈辞苍 Deuteronomy 9:18; Nehemiah 9:1
鈥揇uring forty days
鈥揗辞蝉别蝉 Deuteronomy 9:9,18
鈥揓别蝉耻蝉 Matthew 4:1,2; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1,2
鈥揌补产颈迟耻补濒
鈥揃y John鈥檚 disciples Matthew 9:14
鈥揃y Anna Luke 2:37
鈥揃y Pharisees Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 18:12
鈥揃y Cornelius Acts 10:30
鈥揃y Paul 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27
鈥揑n times of bereavement
鈥揙f the people of Jabesh-gilead, for Saul and his sons 1 Samuel 31:13; 1 Chronicles 10:12
鈥揙f David, at the time of Saul鈥檚 death 2 Samuel 1:12
鈥揙f Abner鈥檚 death 2 Samuel 3:35
鈥扬谤辞濒辞苍驳别诲
鈥揊or three weeks, by Daniel Daniel 10:2,3
鈥揊or forty days, by Moses Exodus 24:18; 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9,18
鈥揈濒颈箩补丑 1 Kings 19:8
鈥揓别蝉耻蝉 Matthew 4:2
鈥揝别别 Humiliation
鈥揝别别 Humility
鈥�Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Ezra 8:21-23; Psalms
35:13; 69:10; Isaiah 58:3-7; Jeremiah 14:12; Daniel 10:3; Joel 1:14; 2:12,13; Zechariah 7:5; 8:19;
Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15; 17:21; Acts 27:9,33,34; 1 Corinthians 7:5
鈥�Instances Of
鈥揙f the Israelites
In the conflict between the other tribes with the tribe of Benjamin, on account of the wrong suffered by a Levite鈥檚 concubine Judges 20:26
When they went to Mizpeh for the ark of the covenant 1 Samuel 7:6
鈥揙f David
Upon the death of Saul 2 Samuel 1:12
During the sickness of the child born to him by Bath-sheba 2 Samuel 12:16-22
While interceding in prayer for his friends Psalms 35:13
In his zeal for Zion Psalms 69:10
In prayer for himself and his adversaries Psalms 109:4,24
鈥揙f Ahab, when Elijah prophesied the destruction of himself and
his house 1 Kings 21:27; with 20:29
鈥揙f Jehoshaphat, at the time of the invasion of the confederated
armies of the Canaanites and Syrians 2 Chronicles 20:3
鈥揙f Ezra, on account of the idolatrous marriages of the Jews Ezra 10:6
鈥揙f Nehemiah, on account of the desolation of Jerusalem and the
temple Nehemiah 1:4
鈥揙f the Jews, when Jeremiah prophesied against Judea and Jerusalem Jeremiah 36:9
鈥揑n Babylon, with prayer for divine deliverance and guidance Ezra 8:21,23
鈥揙f Darius, when he put Daniel in the lions鈥� den Daniel
6:18
鈥揙f Daniel
On account of the captivity of the people, with prayer for their deliverance Daniel 9:3
At the time of his vision Daniel 10:1-3
鈥揘inevites, when Jonah preached to them Jonah 3:5-10
鈥揃y Paul, at the time of his conversion Acts 9:9
鈥揙f the disciples, at the time of the consecration of Barnabas
and Saul Acts 13:2,3
鈥揙f the consecration of the elders Acts 14:23
Fasting refers to:鈥擳he word (tsum ) never occurs in the Pentateuch. The Mosaic law, though directing minutely the foods to be eaten and to be shunned, never enjoins fasting. The false asceticism so common in the East was carefully avoided. On the yearly day of atonement, the 10th day of the 7th month, Israelites were directed to "afflict the soul" (Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27; Numbers 30:13). This significant term implies that the essence of scriptural "fasting" lies in self humiliation and penitence, and that the precise mode of subduing the flesh to the spirit, and of expressing sorrow for sin, is left to the conscientious discretion of each person. In Acts 27:9 the yearly day of atonement is popularly designated "the fast."
But God, while not discountenancing outward acts of sorrow expressive of inward penitence, declares, "is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal the bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest thy naked that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" (Isaiah 58:4-7.) Compare similar warnings against mistaking outward fasting as meritorious before God: Malachi 3:14; Matthew 6:16.
The only other periodical fasts in the Old Testament were those connected with the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar: the fast of the 4th month commemorated its capture (Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:6-7); that of the 5th month the burning of the temple and the chief houses (Jeremiah 52:12-14); that of the 7th the murder of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41:1-3); that of the 10th the beginning of the siege (Zechariah 7:3-5; Zechariah 8:19). Jeremiah 52:4, "did ye at all fast unto ME, even to ME?" Nay, it was to gratify yourselves in hypocritical will worship. If it had been to Me, ye would have separated yourselves not merely from food but from your sins.
Once that the principle is acted on, "he that eateth eateth to the Lord, and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not" (Romans 14:6), and "meat commendeth us not to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we eat not are we the worse" (1 Corinthians 8:8), fasting and eating are put in their true place, as means not ends. There are now 28 yearly fasts in the Jewish calendar. Daniel's (Daniel 10:3) mode of fasting was, "I ate no pleasant bread," i.e.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+547): Anasana, Nirahara, Upavasa, Langhana, Upavasin, Uposhana, Uposhita, Apatarpana, Naktavrata, Abhojana, Aupavasta, Anashvas, Anahara, Nirasana, Abhakshana, Vayubhakshana, Anilashin, Akshapana, Padakricchra, Upavasaka.
Relevant text
Search found 285 books and stories containing Fasting, Fastings; (plurals include: Fastings, Fastingses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (by Philip Schaff)
Chapter VII - How peace of mind should be sought < [The Works of John Cassian.]
Sermon XIX < [The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great.]
Miracle performed by Paul Bishop of the Novatians at the Baptism of a Jewish Impostor < [The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus.]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 5.153 < [Section XIV - Duties of Women]
Verse 6.23 < [Section III - Details of the Hermit鈥檚 Life]
Verse 11.203 < [Section XXVI - Expiation for riding a Camel and other similar Offences]
A Dictionary of the Bible (Hastings) (by Andrew Robert Fausset)
Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter 79 - Punyaka Described by Uma < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]
Chapter 65 - Krishna Visit with Aditi < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]
Chapter 82 - Narada Gives a history of Vratas Performed by Other Ladies < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]
Ante-nicene Fathers (by Alexander Roberts)
Chapter XII < [Two Epistles Concerning Virginity.]
Similitude Fifth. Of True Fasting and Its Reward: Also of Purity of Body < [The pastor of Hermas]
VIII. On Fasting. In Opposition to the Psychics < [Tertullian]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 36 - Validity of rule governing visit to Dv膩rak膩 and a bath in Gomat墨 < [Section 4 - Dv膩rak膩-m膩h膩tmya]
Chapter 6 - Greatness of Vasi峁ａ弓ha鈥檚 Hermitage < [Section 3 - Arbuda-kha峁囜笉a]
Chapter 60 - The Importance of the Intercalary Month < [Section 1 - Avant墨k峁tra-m膩h膩tmya]