Возрастание

And God blessed them and said: increase and multiply, and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28). There are two types of growth: one - of the body, the other - of the soul. The growth of the soul is the ascent through knowledge to perfection, and the growth of the body is the development from small to normal height. In fact, “grow” is said to dumb animals in the sense of bodily development, in the sense of improving their nature. When we are told to “grow,” it means the inner man and his growth in God. Such was Paul, striving forward, consigning to oblivion (achievement) in the past. This is the improvement of the worldview, the strengthening of piety, the striving for the better, so that we always adhere to true being, to the oblivion of what has been achieved, in order to strive for what is lacking for piety. Isaac did the same, about whom the Scripture contains the following testimony: and this man was magnified and became very great (Gen. 26:13). For he did not retreat (from his path) and did not stop, having achieved little success, but constantly moved forward with large steps, ascending through the deeds of virtue: with a quick step he passed through abstinence, achieved justice, and from it rose to courage. This is how, by moving purposefully, the righteous reaches the highest point of goodness. So, “grow” by growing according to God and perfecting according to the inner man (3). You might be interested in: