The problem that God "created evil"

[IFB Mole]

I saw on another thread that one issue that troubles some that grapple with the DOG (Doctrines Of Grace) is the problem of evil or God "creating evil".

Click http://www.sgbcsv.org/literature/ProblemOfEvil.pdf

 

[Jim1999]

This should not be an issue with grace because nowhere in scripture was either evil or sin created. It evolved through man because of disobedience to God. God's permissive will allows evil and sin to develop through humankind, but He does not create it; it is impossible for God to create evil or sin.

"By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin....."

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Grasshopper]

Perhaps this verse is a good place to start:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

 

[Amy.G]

Perhaps this verse is a good place to start:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

NKJV
Isa 45:7 I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.'

NLT
Isa 45:7 I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.

NASB
Isa 45:7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.

NIV
Isa 45:7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things.



This use of the word "evil" is strictly a KJV wording.

God did not create evil.

 

[Crabtownboy]

This should not be an issue with grace because nowhere in scripture was either evil or sin created. It evolved through man because of disobedience to God. God's permissive will allows evil and sin to develop through humankind, but He does not create it; it is impossible for God to create evil or sin.

"By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin....."

Cheers,

Jim

I am not arguing with my question, but seeking information.

Did evil exist before mankind was created. Did evil exist when Satan rebelled and was thrown out of heaven? It would seem the answer was yes in that the serpent tempted Adam and Eva. Thus it seems to me that evil existed before Adam and Eve.

I know this is a topic that has been discussed for centuries and centuries.

 

[Marcia]

Perhaps this verse is a good place to start:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

The word translated "evil" there is actually a word meaning "calamity" and in context, is showing that God is sovereign over the natural world. It is not about moral evil.

First of all, the Hebrew word for evil "rah" is used in many different ways in the Bible. In the KJV Bible, it occurs 663 times. 431 times it is translated as "evil." The other 232 times it is translated as "wicked", "bad", "hurt", "harm", "ill", "sorrow", "mischief", "displeased", "adversity", "affliction", "trouble", "calamity", "grievous", "misery", and "trouble." So we can see that the word does not require that it be translated as "evil." This is why different Bibles translate this verse differently. It is translated as "calamity" by the NASB and NKJV; "disaster" by the NIV; and "woe" by the RSV;
Second, the context of the verse is speaking of natural phenomena.

"I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, 7The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these." (Isaiah 45:5-7).
​

Notice that the context of the verse is dealing with who God is, that it is God who speaks of natural phenomena (sun, light, dark), and it is God who is able to cause "well-being" as well as "calamity." Contextually, this verse is dealing with natural disasters, and human comfort issues. It is not speaking of moral evil; rather, it is dealing with calamity, distress, etc. This is consistent with other scriptures.
http://www.carm.org/diff/Isa_45_7.htm

 

[Marcia]

I am not arguing with my question, but seeking information.

Did evil exist before mankind was created. Did evil exist when Satan rebelled and was thrown out of heaven? It would seem the answer was yes in that the serpent tempted Adam and Eva. Thus it seems to me that evil existed before Adam and Eve.

I know this is a topic that has been discussed for centuries and centuries.

Evil does not exist as a thing in itself. It is the lack of good or denial of good just as darkness is lack of light.

When Satan rebelled, that was evil - that came from his will. Angels have will, like man. This does not mean God created evil or caused Satan to rebel. But giving angels will allowed them to choose to rebel, which was evil because it was going against God. Going against God is evil, but that does not mean evil is a thing,

Evil results from actions and from the sinful nature.

Yes, I think there was evil before Adam and Eve because Satan had rebelled already.

 

[Jim1999]

Marcia is bang on regarding evil if we take it back before man was created and including the angelic realm.

Guess I was only thinking that God did not create evil or sin, but allowed it to happen under His permissive will.

I must learn to be more verbal in my replies. Getting old, you know!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Aaron]

NKJV
Isa 45:7 I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.'

NLT
Isa 45:7 I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.

NASB
Isa 45:7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.

NIV
Isa 45:7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things.



This use of the word "evil" is strictly a KJV wording.

God did not create evil.

Amen. The calamity of the Fall, was under God's government and according to His plan.

 

[Hawkins]

Perhaps this verse is a good place to start:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

I think that in a sense of His Sovereignty, then yes. Evil was created and thus wheat and weeds will finally depart, wheat only harvest will be available, by then evil will be destroyed forever. Alternatively, freewill is granted, good and evil are execised, goats and sheeps can thus be told apart. God gets all His sheeps then evil will be destroyed once and for all.

 

[Salamander]

Um, one should define evil from the perspective of how it is taken as evil.

God did not create "evil" in the sense that evil works of men were ever instituted by God, rather that God does things to reprove man and warn him of the impending danger of forgetting God: the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell.

Man views the onset of wrath as "evil", yet the most accepted view of evil is a wicked work or influence.

One should be careful when they view an act of God as anything wicked because God has His purpose to turn that which was meant for evil into the good God had always meant it to be.:godisgood:

God is good and there is no shadow of turning in Him.