ἀσκέω

From the study of Acts 24:16

Range of meaning

Originally to work raw material skilfully (to fashion or dress something). Then to train or practise, as athletes and soldiers train. Then, among moral philosophers, to practise virtue by repeated discipline. In the first century: to take pains, make a practice of, work at deliberately and repeatedly.

Against the English

KJV "exercise myself" keeps the training picture well (in 1611 "exercise" meant practise or drill). BSB "strive" and NASB "do my best" convey effort but lose the sense of habit and training. ESV "take pains" is close in meaning but loses the athletic picture.

How it drifted

The noun ἄσκησις later gave English "ascetic" and "asceticism", words tied to monastic self-denial. Nothing in this verse points to fasting or renunciation. The word means disciplined practice, and here the thing practised is a clear conscience.

Used elsewhere in the period

A common moral word in Hellenistic philosophy: the Stoics spoke of ἄσκησις, training in virtue, and Epictetus has a discourse on it. Philo regularly calls Jacob "the Practiser" (ὁ ἀσκητής), the soul that reaches virtue by training. Josephus uses ἀσκέω of practising piety and virtue. This is its only use in the NT, though Paul uses training language elsewhere (1 Cor 9:24–27; 1 Tim 4:7–8, with γυμνάζω).