(1Ti 4:8). An ascetic mortification of the flesh and denial of personal gratification (comp. Col 2:23) to which some sects of the Jews, especially the Essenes, attached importance.
Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body -- a wisdom with no true value -- they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
For "physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come."
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