Asceticism defined by MacArthur

Excerpted from MacArthur’s commentary on Col 2.20-23, “An ascetic is one who lives a life of rigorous self-denial. In addition to practicing legalism and mysticism, the Colossian errorists were attempting to gain righteousness through self-denial.

The church has been intimidated for centuries by those who advocated poverty as a means to spirituality. It has not always remembered that money itself is not the root of evil, but the love of it (cf. 1 Tim. 6:10). Many of God’s choicest servants in the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Job, and Solomon, were extremely wealthy.”

John F. MacArthur Jr., Colossians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1992), 122.

Colossians 2:20–23 (ESV)

20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”

22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?

23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.