Passions in Orthodox Spirituality: Support from the Holy Bible

The following are some biblical verses that support the identification of the eight principal passions in Orthodox tradition:

1. Gluttony: Excessive desire for food and drink.

Proverbs 23:20-21: "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags."

2. Lust: Excessive desire for sexual pleasure.

Galatians 5:19-21: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality... I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

3. Avarice: Excessive desire for material possessions.

1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

4. Anger: Excessive desire to harm others.

Proverbs 29:22: "A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes many transgressions."

Ephesians 4:26: "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger."

5. Dejection: Excessive desire to withdraw from the world.

Proverbs 18:1: "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."

Hebrews 10:25: "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

6. Listlessness: Excessive desire to avoid effort, embracing idleness.

Proverbs 12:24: "The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor."

Ecclesiastes 10:18: "Through sloth, the roof sinks in, and through indolence, the house leaks."

7. Pride: Excessive desire for self-exaltation, glorifying oneself excessively.

Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

James 4:6: "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

8. Vainglory: Excessive desire for praise from others.

Matthew 6:1-2: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."

Proverbs 25:27: "It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory."

These verses provide biblical support for recognizing and overcoming the eight principal passions described in Orthodox spirituality.