2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 11:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Abba Pimen the Great taught that we must persistently resist sin, remaining steadfast even in the face of setbacks and failures in our spiritual battle.

In a figurative sense, prepare for battle with fervor! Engage in an unwavering struggle that longs for ultimate triumph! As St. Isaac proclaimed, it is far better to face death than to live in a state of sinfulness. What indeed is a life immersed in transgression? It scarcely merits the title of life; the Scriptures have termed it death, the onset of eternal separation, which could lead to everlasting death unless it is vanquished through the life found in Christ. Consider the numerous frail elders, gentle maidens, and fragile children who have claimed victory. Will you permit yourself to be swayed by doubt and relinquish the triumph and the crown of everlasting glory for a fleeting moment of painful indecision, which deceitfully presents itself as a false semblance of virtue? Do not fear the fortified presence of sin’s tempest; steadfastly ‘strengthen thy warfare against the storm,’ as Scripture advises, ‘and excavate and…’