Злопамятство
What is Resentment?
Resentment is defined as a passion that drives an angry person to seek revenge, whether the offense was real or imagined, and scripture warns against it.
Question 34. What is resentment? Answer. Resentment is a passion that moves an angry person to take revenge on the one who offended him, whether he truly offended him or only seemed to. Scripture speaks of this sin thus: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of God does not work righteousness.” (James 1:19–20). And in another place: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31).
The Fruits of Resentment
Resentment breeds quarrels, enmities, murders, and a desire for vengeance, and is countered by the virtue of patience.
Question 35. What sins are born from this ingrained anger or resentment? Answer. From resentment are born quarrels, enmities, murders, rage, the desire to take revenge, to harm, and the like. Patience is set against this sin. The Apostle, teaching this virtue, says: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36).
Read the original Russian
Вопрос 34. Что есть злопамятство?
Ответ. Злопамятство есть страсть, побуждающая разгневанного человека мстить оскорбившему его, действительно ли сей оскорбил его, или мнимым образом. О сем грехе Священное Писание говорит так: «да будет всяк человек скор услышати [и] косен глаголати, косен во гневе, гнев бо мужа правды Божия не соделовает» (Иак. 1, 19–20). И в другом месте: «Всяка горесть и гнев и ярость и кличь и хула да возмется от вас, со всякою злобою» (Еф. 4, 31).
Вопрос 35. Какие грехи рождаются от сего закоренелого гнева или злопамятства?
Ответ. От злопамятства вновь рождаются ссоры, вражды, убийства, бешенство, желание мстить, вредить и подобные. Сему греху противополагается терпение. Апостол, научая сей добродетели, говорит: «Терпения бо имате потребу, да волю Божию сотворше, приимете обетование» (Евр. 10, 36).
Orthodox Confession (Pravoslavnoe Ispovedanie) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit