Some people claim that Paul—the apostle who wrote nearly half the New Testament—didn’t believe in fasting.
Their argument? “He never taught it in his letters.”
They say fasting wasn’t part of his message, lifestyle, or his revelation of grace. But is that true? Or have we misunderstood one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines in the early Church?
Let’s look at what Scripture actually says about Paul and fasting—because what you’ll find might surprise you.
The Argument Falls Apart
There’s a popular idea floating around comment sections and pulpits:
“If fasting is so important, why didn’t Paul teach it in any of his letters?”
Sounds reasonable—until you realize it’s built on two faulty assumptions:
- That Paul never fasted
- That if something isn’t written explicitly in an epistle, it doesn’t matter
But we don’t build doctrine on assumptions. We build it on Scripture.
Paul’s Background: A Life of Fasting
Before Paul ever met Jesus, he was a Pharisee. And Pharisees fasted twice a week.
Fasting wasn’t new to Paul. It was baked into his spiritual foundation. And when he came to Christ, that discipline didn’t disappear—it was redeemed.
No longer a dead ritual—fasting became a way to pursue power, sensitivity, and direction from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9: Paul’s First Fast as a Believer
After Paul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Acts 9 tells us:
“For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything.”
Some say he was just in shock. But scholars like Darrell Bock and I. Howard Marshall point out: this looks like a deliberate fast.
He had just realized he’d been persecuting the Messiah. That fast was an act of repentance, humility, and total surrender.
Acts 13: Direction Through Fasting
In Acts 13, Paul and the early church leaders are together in a time of prayer and fasting when the Holy Spirit says:
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
That wasn’t a planning meeting. It was a fast. And it launched Paul’s entire ministry.
Acts 14:23 — Appointing Elders With Fasting
Later, Paul repeats the pattern:
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord.”
Fasting wasn’t optional for Paul. It was strategic. It wasn’t superstition. It was method.
So while Paul may not have written a lengthy letter about how to fast, he modeled it repeatedly.
Let me remind you—he didn’t write a chapter on the virgin birth either. Yet no one says he rejected it.
Sometimes, silence means the early church already understood it. Paul didn’t separate himself from Jesus’ example. He followed it.
“Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1
Jesus Said We Would Fast
Jesus never said fasting would fade.
He said, “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15)
Those days are now.
Paul lived in them. We live in them. That’s why fasting is still part of the Christian life.
Don’t Settle for Watered-Down Faith
Paul didn’t reject fasting.
He:
- Fasted after conversion
- Ministered during fasts
- Launched his calling through fasting
- Appointed leaders through fasting
Fasting isn’t extra credit. It’s essential.
Want to Go Deeper?
I created a Free Fasting Starter Kit to walk you step-by-step into a powerful, effective fast. It includes scriptures, tips, and strategies to help you maximize your time with God.
And if you want to go deeper, my book A Complete Guide to Biblical Fasting will show you everything you need to know about fasting from a biblical perspective.