“Our forefather Adam... used his freedom to turn toward what was worse and to direct his desire away from what had been permitted to what was forbidden. It was in his power 'to be united to the Lord and become one spirit with God...' (I Cor. 6:15). But Adam was deceived and chose to cut himself off voluntarily from God's happy end for him, preferring by his own free choice to be drawn down to the earth (cf. Gen. 2:17) than to become God by grace.” EndsEarthChristianUsedSpiritDesireTurnsChoicesUnitedLordGraceCuttingDirectOrthodoxAdamForbiddenDeceivedForefathersCfsFree Choice Author:Maximus the Confessor
“We must not only put bodily passions to death but also destroy the soul's impassioned thoughts. Hence the Psalmist says, 'Early in the morning I destroyed all the wicked of the earth, that I might cut off all evil-doers from the city of the Lord' (Ps. 101:8) - that is, the passions of the body and the soul's godless thoughts.” SoulBodyMightEarthChristianPassionEvilCitiesLordMorningCuttingDestroyedWickedOrthodoxDoersImpassionedEvil Doers Author:Maximus the Confessor
“The Logos came down out of love for us. Let us not keep Him down permanently, but let us go up with Him to the Father, leaving the earth and earthly things behind, lest He say to us what He said to the Jews because of their stubbornness: 'I go where you cannot come (Jn. 8:21).” SaidEarthChristianFatherBehindsLeavingJewOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianStubbornnessLogosEarthly ThingsFather Leaving Author:Maximus the Confessor