On Fasting
by Tertullian
A defence of stricter fasting, written in Tertullian's later and more rigorous years.
1. Connection of Gluttony and Lust. Grounds of Psychical Objections Against the Montanists.2. Arguments of the Psychics, Drawn from the Law, the Gospel, the Acts, the Epistles, and Heathenish Practices.3. The Principle of Fasting Traced Back to Its Earliest Source.4. The Objection is Raised, Why, Then, Was the Limit of Lawful Food Extended After the Flood? The Answer to It.5. Proceeding to the History of Israel, Tertullian Shows that Appetite Was as Conspicuous Among Their Sins as in Adam's Case. Therefore the Restraints of the Levitical Law Were Imposed.6. The Physical Tendencies of Fasting and Feeding Considered. The Cases of Moses and Elijah.7. Further Examples from the Old Testament in Favour of Fasting.8. Examples of a Similar Kind from the New.9. From Fasts Absolute Tertullian Comes to Partial Ones and Xerophagies.10. Of Stations, and of the Hours of Prayer.11. Of the Respect Due to “Human Authority;” And of the Charges of “Heresy” And “Pseudo-Prophecy.”12. Of the Need for Some Protest Against the Psychics and Their Self-Indulgence.13. Of the Inconsistencies of the Psychics.14. Reply to the Charge of “Galaticism.“15. Of the Apostle's Language Concerning Food.16. Instances from Scripture of Divine Judgments Upon the Self-Indulgent; And Appeals to the Practices of Heathens.Conclusion.