The stickiest wicket of 'em all

[Bold Believer]

Just where does evil come from? Man has asked this question down through the ages? Does the Scripture give an answer? I think it does. It may not be one to our liking.

God created evil. (Isaiah 45:7)

I asked myself the same question: how is that possible, since God doesn't sin and is incapable of evil? After serious thought, it came to me. God created evil as a PRINCIPLE, IDEA or CONCEPT. Christ created all things. Creating the 'ra' or principle/concept/idea of evil does not make God evil or sinful, it merely establishes that evil exists in the scheme of the cosmos.

Why would God create such a principle? To show its inferiority to righteousness and holiness.

There is no other way that evil could have come into existence.

I look at evil like an egg. The egg is harmless...until someone breaks it. So as long as evil was unreleased in the cosmos...no big deal. God wouldn't 'break the egg' so to speak, He couldn't because HE is Ultimate Holiness and incapable of sin and evil.

Enter Satan. The Adversary, literally, the one who withstands. Obviously like all beings, Satan is a creation. He is not the equal of God in the evil sense.

Ezekiel says of him that he was perfect (upright, blameless) UNTIL evil was discovered (Heb: matsa, found or encountered) in him. How in the world did evil get in him in the first place? The only logical answer: It was placed there for a reason, and that reason is to serve the ultimate purpose of God.

Naturally the next question on everyone's mind is: Do you mean to tell me that God created Satan with evil in him? YES. And that of course begs the question WHY? To serve His ultimate purpose, to show mankind his love by sending His very Word in human form to die for us.

To those who ask could God morally do this, the answer is found in Romans 9. and the example of the potter and the clay. The clay is God's to use for any purpose He so desires. He can make an elegant dinner plate or a commode and neither of the two can say "Why did you make me this way,"

[MorningGlory]

Very interesting concept, B.B.

[EricH]

The scriptures do not tell us where evil ultimately came from.

[Bold Believer]

Yes they do. Isaiah 45:7 tells us exactly where evil came from. God created its principle. We as Believers don't want to look at it. Evil is embodied in Satan the adversary first and foremost.

[EricH]

Yes they do. Isaiah 45:7 tells us exactly where evil came from. God created its principle. We as Believers don't want to look at it. Evil is embodied in Satan the adversary first and foremost.

Isiaiah 45:7 would not be the best passage to use as a proof text for the concept the God created evil. The Hebrew word ra can be translated in many different ways (natural disaster, calamity) and can apply to many different typres of things. It can refer to evil in general, but context has to be the determining factor. Isaiah 45:7 says this:

I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7 HCSB).

In this case ra (translated in the Holman as calamity) is paired with the word shalom (peace or wholeness). Probably here the implication is not moral evil, but calamity in general (the opposite of peace).

Even if we were to grant that in this passage ra does mean moral evil, we would need to look elsewhere to understand in what sense God created it. Especiall since ni other places it states that God is not to be blamed for evil or held responsible for it.

[Bold Believer]

Yes they do. Isaiah 45:7 tells us exactly where evil came from. God created its principle. We as Believers don't want to look at it. Evil is embodied in Satan the adversary first and foremost.

Isiaiah 45:7 would not be the best passage to use as a proof text for the concept the God created evil. The Hebrew word ra can be translated in many different ways (natural disaster, calamity) and can apply to many different typres of things. It can refer to evil in general, but context has to be the determining factor. Isaiah 45:7 says this:

I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7 HCSB).

In this case ra (translated in the Holman as calamity) is paired with the word shalom (peace or wholeness). Probably here the implication is not moral evil, but calamity in general (the opposite of peace).

Even if we were to grant that in this passage ra does mean moral evil, we would need to look elsewhere to understand in what sense God created it. Especiall since ni other places it states that God is not to be blamed for evil or held responsible for it.

God is not responsible for moral evil. All He did was create the principle that allows moral evil to exist.

It is written:

Eph 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

and again:

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

and yet again:

Jhn 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Things do not 'just happen'. Evil did not just pop in out of nowhere.

[kross]

Just where does evil come from? Man has asked this question down through the ages? Does the Scripture give an answer? I think it does. It may not be one to our liking.

God created evil. (Isaiah 45:7)

I asked myself the same question: how is that possible, since God doesn't sin and is incapable of evil? After serious thought, it came to me. God created evil as a PRINCIPLE, IDEA or CONCEPT. Christ created all things. Creating the 'ra' or principle/concept/idea of evil does not make God evil or sinful, it merely establishes that evil exists in the scheme of the cosmos.

Why would God create such a principle? To show its inferiority to righteousness and holiness.

There is no other way that evil could have come into existence.

I look at evil like an egg. The egg is harmless...until someone breaks it. So as long as evil was unreleased in the cosmos...no big deal. God wouldn't 'break the egg' so to speak, He couldn't because HE is Ultimate Holiness and incapable of sin and evil.

Enter Satan. The Adversary, literally, the one who withstands. Obviously like all beings, Satan is a creation. He is not the equal of God in the evil sense.

Ezekiel says of him that he was perfect (upright, blameless) UNTIL evil was discovered (Heb: matsa, found or encountered) in him. How in the world did evil get in him in the first place? The only logical answer: It was placed there for a reason, and that reason is to serve the ultimate purpose of God.

Naturally the next question on everyone's mind is: Do you mean to tell me that God created Satan with evil in him? YES. And that of course begs the question WHY? To serve His ultimate purpose, to show mankind his love by sending His very Word in human form to die for us.

To those who ask could God morally do this, the answer is found in Romans 9. and the example of the potter and the clay. The clay is God's to use for any purpose He so desires. He can make an elegant dinner plate or a commode and neither of the two can say "Why did you make me this way,"

I have pointed out that GOD created Satan in threads before, you will be amazed at how many people are going to disagree with you and tell you that Satan made a free will choice and GOD never planned for it, as if Satan acted outside the nature GOD gave him and surprised GOD. Have fun with this truth. I will try to stand back and watch the fur fly.

[JCISGD]

Your right it is not to my liking and goes against what i understand of God. But that does not mean your wrong or that its not true.

I do think EricH is right though, the obvious rules over the obscure and it is obvious that God created all things good imo.

[Bold Believer]

Your right it is not to my liking and goes against what i understand of God. But that does not mean your wrong or that its not true.

I do think EricH is right though, the obvious rules over the obscure and it is obvious that God created all things good imo.

When evil was only an inactive principle, it was good that it was not active. Everything was good and perfect until Satan was permitted to unleash it. Nothing happens without the permission of God. NOTHING. Satan did not do his own thing. Evil did not appear out of nowhere. Anything less is to insult the sovereignty of God.

[JCISGD]

Your right it is not to my liking and goes against what i understand of God. But that does not mean your wrong or that its not true.

I do think EricH is right though, the obvious rules over the obscure and it is obvious that God created all things good imo.

When evil was only an inactive principle, it was good that it was not active. Everything was good and perfect until Satan was permitted to unleash it. Nothing happens without the permission of God. NOTHING. Satan did not do his own thing. Evil did not appear out of nowhere. Anything less is to insult the sovereignty of God.

Thats your assumption you may be right but i dont think youve proved it yet.