John Cassian

In his own words on 2 Timothy

• 2 Timothy 1:7

  Therefore there are two degrees of fear. The one is for beginners—that is, for those who are still under the yoke and under servile dread. In regard to this it is said, "The slave shall fear his master." And in the Gospel, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing." And consequently he says, "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever." For he is instructing us to pass from the fear of punishment to the fullest freedom of love and to the confidence of the friends and sons of God. And the blessed apostle, who had long since passed beyond the degree of servile fear, thanks to the power of the Lord's love, disdains lower things and professes that he has been endowed with greater goods.

  CONFERENCES 11.13.3-5

• 2 Timothy 2:5

  One who wants to extinguish the natural desires of the flesh should first hasten to overcome those vices whose ground is contrary to our nature. For if we desire to test out the force of the apostle's counsel, we ought first to learn what are the laws and what the discipline of the world's contest. This is so that finally by a comparison with these, we may be able to know what the blessed apostle meant to teach to us who are striving in the spiritual contest.

  INSTITUTES 5.12

• 2 Timothy 3:12

  Abba Germanus said: "Since you have given us the remedies for every illusion, and since the diabolical snares that used to trouble us have been disclosed to us by your teaching and by the Lord's gift, we beseech you likewise to explain to us completely this phrase from the Gospel, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." For it seems quite contrary to the words of the prophet, which say, "On account of the words of your lips I have kept to hard ways." Indeed, even the apostle says, "All who wish to live devoutly in Christ suffer persecution." Whatever is hard and has reference to persecution, however, can be neither light nor easy." Abba Abraham said, "We shall demonstrate by the easy proof of experience itself that the words of our Lord and Savior are most true, if we set out on the path of perfection in lawful manner and in accordance with the will of Christ.… For what can be heavy or hard to the person who has taken up Christ's yoke with his whole mind, is established in true humility, reflects constantly upon the Lord's suffering and rejoices in all the hardships that come upon him?"

  CONFERENCES 23-24