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Why did Paul teach against asceticism? What danger(s) did he see in it?
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If the heresy Timothy was combating indeed had twin influences from the Judaizers and the Gnostics, it is understandable why Paul had to teach against ascetism, such as forbidding people to marry and to eat certain foods (1 Tim 4:3). Ascetism actually denies the goodness of God in giving us good things to enjoy (1 Tim 4:4-5). Its danger is also to return to a semblance of justification by works. It is triggered by a doubt that Christ’s atonement is sufficient to save us, so that we have to mistreat our bodies to make up for it. It is fuelled by a hidden pride that I am better than other Christians if I can abstain from so many things. Spirituality has been objectified by a list of pious acts, the motive of which is to glorify myself. In essence this is no different from the Pharisees.
#Timothy
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It is a false Humility. God blesses us with things to enjoy.
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Paul was teaching against anything that takes the place of our salvation only from faith in God. He does not want us to feel that we can earn it through our works or behaviors.
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Asceticism is an extreme from of self-discipline. Avoiding all of life’s pleasures isn’t what is being instructed. The love of those things is the problem. The addiction to those things is the problem. There needs to be contentment in what God has given, self discipline, but there is a caution here to not mistranslate the verse. The danger is moving further and further from the Lord.
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Denying ourselves to make us look like more spiritual or Godly, but that is the wrong focus. We are not made better by our works, our relationship with God makes our works better.