ABSTINENCE (ab'sti-nens), is a refraining from the use of certain articles of food usually eaten ; or from all food during a certain time for some particular object. It is distinguished from Temperance, which is moderation in ordinary food ; and from Fasting, which is abstinence from a religious motive.
(1) Jewish. The first example of abstinence which occurs in Scripture is that in which the use of blood is forbidden to Noah (Gen. ix :4). (Sec BLOOD.) The next is that men tioned in Gen. xxxii :32: 'The children of Israel cat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day, because he (the angel) touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.' This practice of particular and commemorative absti nence is here mentioned by anticipation long after the date of the fact referred to, as the phrase `unto this day' intimates. No actual instance of the practice occurs in the Scripture itself, but the usage has always been kept up; and to the present day the Jews generally abstain from the whole hind-quarter on account of the trouble and expense of extracting the particular sinew. By the law, abstinence from blood was confirmed, and the use of the flesh of even lawful animals was forbidden, if the manner of their death rendered it impossible that they should be, or uncertain that they were, duly exsanguinated (Exod. xxii :31 ; Deut. xiv :21). A broad nil was also laid down by the law, defining whole classes of animals that might not be eaten (Lev. xi). (See Axim.u.; Foal) Certain par:: of lawful animals, as being sacred to the altar, were also interdicted. These were the large lobe of the liver, the kidneys and the fat upon them, as well as the tail of the 'fat-tailed' sheep (Lev. iii :9-11). Everything consecrated to idols was also forbidden (Exod. xxxiv :15). In conformity with these rules the Israelites abstained generally from food which was more or less in use among other people. Instances of abstinence from allowed food are not frequent, except in com memorative or afflictive fasts. The forty days' abstinence of Moses, Elijah and Jesus arc pecu liar cases requiring to be separately considered. (See FASTING.) The priests were commanded to abstain from wine previous to their actual minis trations (Lev. x:9), and the same abstinence was
enjoined to the Nazaritcs during the whole period of their separation (Num. vi :5). A constant abstinence of this kind was, at a later period, voluntarily undertaken by the Rechabitcs (Jer. xxxv :16, 18). (Sec RECI1 MUTES.) (2) Christian. Among the early Christi:.n con verts there were some who deemed themselves bound to adhere to the Mosaical limitations regarding food, and they accordingly abstained from flesh sacrificed to idols, as well as from animals which the law accounted unclean ; while others contemned this as a weakness, and exulted in the liberty wherewith Christ had made his followers free. This question was repeatedly referred to St. Paul, who laid down some admir able rules on the subject. the purport of which was, that everyone was at liberty to act in this matter according to the dictates of his own con science; but that the strong-minded had better abstain from the exercise of the freedom they possessed, whenever it might prove an occasion of stumbling to a weak brother ( Rom. xiv. 1-3; Cor. viii). In another place the same apostle reproves certain sectaries who should arise for bidding marriage and enjoining abstinence from meats which God had created to be received with thanksgiving (I Tim. iv :3, 4). The council of the apostles at Jerusalem decided that no other abstinence regarding food should be imposed upon the converts than 'from meats offered to idols, from blood, and from things strangled' (Acts xv St. Paul says (I Cor. ix:25) that wrestlers, in order to obtain a corruptible crown, abstain from all things; or from everything which might weaken them. He requires Christians to abstain from all appearance of evil (i Thess. v:22) ; and, with much stronger reason, from everything really evil, and contrary to religion and piety.
The Essenes, a sect among the Jews which is not mentioned by name in the Scriptures, led a more abstinent life than any recorded in the sacred books. As there is an account of them elsewhere (see ESSENES.), it is only necessary to mention here that they refused all pleasant food, eating nothing but coarse bread and drinking only water ; and that some of them abstained from food altogether until after the sun had set.