The Journey of the

Spiritual Life
Taken from Evagrius of Ponticus (345-399)
Precursor to Gregory the Greats Seven
Deadly Sins

Evagrius Goal
To Know and love God
Question to ask: What prevents us from

knowing God?
The way to love God is to learn to love our
neighbor.
We develop virtues that redirects our
emotions and passions to that which is
good.
We repent from a life oriented against God
and learn how to see ourselves within the
broader purposes of Gods love

Spiritual Journey as viewed

through the classics
1. Eight deadly thoughts have a counter part of
2.

3.
4.
5.

eight godly virtues

If we succumb to any or all of the deadly
thoughts, we create a roadblock that makes
pure contemplation of God impossible.
As we learn to love our neighbor we learn to
love God.
Each of us will be assailed by all eight deadly
thoughts at some time or another.
Question: How will we react to the
gravitational pull of each deadly thought
when it arrives?

Spiritual Journey Is Not

Easy
The church is raising strong willed

children.
Spiritual journey is about shaping the
will without wounding the spirit
God often sends trials and tribulations to
break down our rebellion and build up
our faith and character.
Western culture often separates the
relevance of spiritual and material
realities, thus handicapping us in
developing Spiritual disciplines.

Eight Deadly Thoughts

1. Gluttony
2. Lust or impurity
3. Greed or avarice
4. Anger
5. Melancholy or depression
6. Indifference or discouragement
7. Envy or vainglory
8. Pride

See Colossians 3:5 & 8; Ephesians 4:17-19,31;

Galatians 5:19-21; Proverbs 6:16-19

Reasons to address the deadly

thoughts
1. Greatest concern: the disorienting effect of

the deadly thoughts. They can throw us off

course to our aim of pursuing life with God.
2. Each deadly thought arrives at a particular
moment in our spiritual journey and its
lingering spiritual effects can last a lifetime.
3. Each deadly thought is interdependent with
all of the rest.
4. Although we face the deadly thoughts
individually, their power is cumulative if left
unresolved.

Methodology
Ephesians 4:20-24;
Colossians 3:5-10

Obedience
James 1:22-25

Demons Strategy
1. Perceptions/images
2. Memories
3. Imagination
4. Thoughts I Pet 5:8-9

Purpose:
5. Blinding us to God
6. Darkening our soul
7. Dull our thinking
8. Arouse passions which dulls our
thinking I John 3:8-10; James 4:7-10

Eight Godly Virtues

1. Temperance (overcomes gluttony)
2. Chastity (overcomes lust and impurity)
3. Generosity (overcomes greed and avarice)
4. Mildness (overcomes anger)
5. Wisdom (overcomes melancholy and

depression)
6. Diligence (overcomes indifference and impatient
discouragement)
7. Happiness (overcomes envy)
8. Humility (overcomes pride)
See Colossians 3:12-17; Galatians 5:22-24; Phil. 4:8

Environment
Community of trust
Community of vulnerability
Community of accountability
Results: Positive resolution as are

cumulative.
Resolution at one level leads to positive

resolution at subsequent levels.

Negative resolution are cumulative
Left unresolved leads to defeat

Seven Deadly Sins

Graham Campolo
Fairlie Bazyn
1. Pride
Sloth
Pride
Pride
2. Anger
Lust
Envy
Envy
3. Envy Anger
Anger Anger
4. Lust
Pride
Sloth
Avarice
5. Gluttony Envy
Avarice Lust
6. Sloth
Gluttony
Gluttony
Gluttony
7. Avarice
Greed
Lust
Sloth

Evagrius Order of
Thoughts
Animal Vices the Irrational-Instinctive
Gluttony
Adultery
Greed

Emotional Vices
Anger
Melancholy/Depression

Human Vices the Rational Will

Slothfulness/Laziness
Vainglory/Envy
Pride

Seven Questions on
Spirituality
1. What is the goal of the spiritual life?
1. To know God and to enjoy God forever
2. To be Spirit controlled and love our

neighbor
2. What is the path to the goal?
1. Preparation and the purgation of vice
2. The list of vices may differ according to

history
3. What motivates us to begin the

spiritual life?
1. Fear, remorse, guilt, confusion,

loneliness, a desire for justice, for truth,

for understanding, etc.

Seven Questions cont.

4. What helps us make progress in the

spiritual life?
1. Prayer, mediation on scripture, retreats

5. What hinders us in making progress in

the spiritual life?

1. Lack of faith, flagrant sins, pride in our

progress
6. How do we measure progress?
1. Are we maturing in our walk?

7. What are the fruits of the Spirit?

1. Love, joy, peace, friendship,

discernment, self-control and victory

over death. See Isa 11:2; Gal 5:22

Lectio Divina
Five interlocking parts to combat deadly
thoughts
1. Reading a passage of scripture to
yourself aloud
2. Meditating or thinking aloud what you
have read
3. Praying about what has risen up in your
mind and heart in mediation
4. Contemplation simply resting silently
in God for a time
5. Responding in action

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina

Gluttony Overcome by
Temperance
Definition: Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume

more than that which one requires. Gluttony is the

insatiable desire to take things in, to consume, and to
attempt to satisfy desire through gorging (subsistence
culture vs unlimited resources). Seduces us into
believing that satisfaction in life can come from sources
other than God. Overindulgence, drunkenness and over
eating.
Root cause: loss of confidence in Gods provision and the
epitome of human selfishness
Example: fear of loss of a job so we compulsively
overwork. Compensation for poor self-image. OT
examples Gen. 25
Spiritual discipline: fasting breaking the hold of the all
consuming thing (self-control).

Gluttony Overcome by
Temperance
Scriptural teaching: Lev. 10:9; Num 6:3; Deut.

8:1-3; Prov. 21:20; 25-26; 23:19-21; Dan. 1:8-20;

10:1-3; Matt. 6:16-18; 16:24; I Cor. 9:27; I Tim
3:2, 11; Titus 1:10-16; I John 3:17;
Virtue: put on temperance (moderation in
action, thought, or feeling: restraint. Kept or
held within limits: not extreme or excessive).
Confidence that there will always be more to
come and God will provide. Take only what is
needed. Starve a habit and live a balanced life
(moderation in all things)
Trust and a hope in a future that does not
presently exist
Trust that our future needs will be met and that
we do not need to hoard now, so long as we

Lust or impurity overcome by

Chastity
Definition: Lust is an inordinate craving for the

pleasures of the body. Lust ruins lives. Belief in a

lie that relationships are not necessary
Root cause: Egocentrism and the belief that the
person after whom we lust exists only to satisfy
our unbridled desires.
Example: Illusionpromises satisfaction but
leaves you empty; Immaturityunable to chose
one; Denial of deathwe become less attractive &
desirable. Lust dehumanizes the person.
Spiritual discipline: Put on chastity or love
Scriptural teaching: Deliverance; I Cor 6:15; I Cor
7:25, 32-34
Virtue: Chastity works to properly balance love
with the capacity to be loved. Chastity is found in

Greed overcome by
Generosity
Definition: Greed is the desire for material wealth

or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is

also called Avarice or Covetousness. Greed knows
no limits (never enough). Always grasping for
more money, fame, or filling others minds with
ourselves. Greed leads to a lack of respect for the
needs of others.
Root cause: Self-center on our own needs (Gen
3:6)
Example: Greed provides for the what ifs in life
aging, famines, sickness, poverty, depending on
others (Jer 22:13-17; I Kings 21:1-19).
Spiritual discipline: Generosity

Greed overcome by
Generosity
Scriptural teaching: Exodus 20:17; 22:22-

23; Eccl. 4:8; Jer 6:13; Matthew 5:3; 6:14; II Cor. 8:1-15; I Tim 6:3-10; Luke 3:1114; 12:20-21; I Cor 6:9-10; Heb. 13:5-6;
Virtue: Put on generosity. Our greatest
good is found in sharing with others in
community. It celebrates contributions.
Its not about me but about others.
(Deut 15:10; Ps 37:21, 25-26; Prov 11:25;
I Tim 6:18; II Cor 9:6-15)

Anger overcome by
Mildness
Definition: Anger is manifested in the individual

who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is

also known as Wrath. Anger arises from a sense
of violation a violation of self, of agreements,
of principles. Anger comes when we feel a
threat to our social status or a desire to control
other peoples lives.
Root cause: Anger is an emotion related to one's
psychological interpretation of having been
offended, wronged or denied and a tendency to
undo that by retaliation.
Example: Evagrius writes: the most fierce
passion is anger. In fact it is defined as a boiling
and stirring up of wrath against one who has
given injury. It tends to lead to a preoccupation

Anger overcome by
Mildness
Spiritual discipline: Confession and self-

restraint (Gen 4:3-7; Prov 25:28; I John

1:9-11)
Scriptural teaching: Gen. 4:4-7; Exodus
20:13; Prov. 15:1-2; 27:4; 29:8-11;
Matthew 5:5, 21-26, 38-42; Rom. 12:1421; II Cor. 12:20; Col. 3:8-10; James 1:1921
Virtue: Put on mildness. The center of
our life should be on God and not others.
God needs to totally satisfy our need to
be valued and recognized.

Melancholy overcome by
Wisdom
Definition: The loss of confidence in the goodness of

the world and our place in it. Our very existence

doesnt matter.
Root cause: it comes from deprivation of our desires
or deprivation of the things we desire most
Example: How would my life be better if I had .
Often our opinion about ourselves is affected by
comparing with others.
Spiritual discipline: put on wisdom; who are we in
Christ
Scriptural teaching: Jeremiah 45; Eccl. 8:1
Virtue: the ability to recognize the role our life
plays in the greater affairs of the world.

Indifference overcome by
Diligence
Definition: Indifference is the avoidance of physical or spiritual

work. It happens when we lose confidence that the way we

spend our life really matters.
Root cause: the daily affairs of life dont matter
Example: Too lazy to love in marriage; too lazy to love others;
too lazy to nurture children; too lazy to enjoy life; too lazy to
grow in Christ; too lazy so procrastinate.
Spiritual discipline: put on diligence through the power of the
Holy Spirit; address the fear of failure.
Scriptural teaching: Habakkuk 3:17-19; Romans 8:11ff
Virtue: the perseverance that helps us get through tough times.
Belief that the ultimate purpose of our life rests in Gods hands
Belief that God will eventually reverse our fortune
Maintaining confidence in the providence of God even when there is

no immediate evidence to justify such confidence

Have a community of encouragers to help you (Exodus 17)

Envy or vainglory overcome by

Happiness
Definition: is the desire for others' traits, status,

abilities, or situation. When we feel inadequate

about our own gifts and abilities and begin to
resent the gifts and abilities of others. Fear of
losing our place. Envy ultimately prevents us
from seeing our own gifts and celebrating the
role we have to pay in the social networks and
organizations where we find our grater meaning.
Root cause: seeking the praise of men, selfcentered insecurity
Example: see sheet
Spiritual discipline: put on happiness

Envy or vainglory overcome by

Happiness
Scriptural teaching: see sheet
Virtue: celebration of the mutual

contribution that we make together.

Recognizing our own competencies and
celebrating the skills and abilities of
others
Only when our egocentrism is controlled
and our ability to be other-centered is
fully developed.

Pride overcome by Humility

Definition: is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that

interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace

of God. It has been called the sin from which all others
arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. Pride is the result
of a disproportionate sense of our own contribution or
importance
Root cause: sees the contributions of others as a threat
to the view we want to hold of ourselves.
Example: Pride can take on various forms: spiritual,
intellectual (Prov 16:18; 16:5; 29:23; I Cor 8:1-2; Romans
12:16; Prov 3:5,) material (Deut 8:18; I Chron
29:12Psalm 62:10; I Timothy 6:9; James 1:17) and social
(I Cor 1:10-17; Acts 6:1; James 2:1-13). Ruins
relationships, destroys those we love, and can destroy a
nation.

Pride overcome by Humility

Spiritual discipline: put on humility
Scriptural teaching: Matthew 5:5;

Romans 12:3-8; Phil 2:3-5; James 4:6;

Virtue: seeing ourselves properly in the
greater purposes of Gods design
without feeling threatened by the
achievements of others.
Danger: false sense of humility which
masks our pride or result of our self
abasement. Shame views self as
defective and is not humility.
Warning: God seemingly hates pride the

End Result
Goal: Being able to discern and respond

appropriately to any physical, mental or spiritual

stimulation. To achieve a full and harmonious
integration of the emotional and spiritual life
under the direct influence of Gods divine love
Result: A deep calm based on obedience to the
commandments of God and the practice of
virtue. (see Romans 12:21 or Hebrews 12:13)
Warning: The passions that the eight deadly
thoughts arouse inhibit the work of the Holy
Spirit in our lives and keep us from loving God
and our neighbor.