Isaiah 45:7 - Did God Create Evil?

by VM44 14 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  M.J.

  My understanding is, (and I have a book on this subject, just have to find time to read it) that this was written in a period where pure monotheism was assumed by the Jews, and the natural presumption of this was that God was the source of everything--good and bad. The concept of an opposing "god" which accounted for all evil in the world springs up some time during the Persian period where the dualistic Zoroastrianism took root. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dualism

  There are Christian shools of thought (Calvinism) that God is indeed sovereign and in control over everything in the universe--and this includes evil. That He ordains everything in the universe according to his sovereign purpose, citing Eph 1:11. They argue that if God permitted evil unwillingly, you have moved into dualism (where an evil power must be at least equal to God).

  least equal to God)

  The paradox that God is sovereign over mankind's evil choices, yet this does not absolve mankind of responsibility over such choices seems to be what Paul is trying to explain in Romans 9:19-21:

  One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " [ h ] Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

  Check out the context surrounding this.
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  Narkissos

  As MJ says, it is the logical implication of Deutero-Isaiah's (= Isaiah 40--55) pure monotheism (Yhwh is the only god, hence "God," and the other gods are nothing, a very new teaching in the Israelite religion), and it may already be construed as both an influence from and a response to Persian dualism.

  The later invention of Satan as an enemy of God (not "the satan," aka the "witness for prosecution" who actually defends Yhwh's interests in Zechariah 3 and Job 1--2) indicates a recession from Deutero-Isaiah's pure monotheism to a practical dualism.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/67503/1.ashx
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  Deputy Dog

  VM44

  My take on this is simple, God created sin (evil) when he gave Law. For example

  Genesis 2:16

  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

  Until this point there was no sin or evil, they were free to do anything they wished.
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  M.J.

  I like that take on it, DD. If I were to create a computerized environment (a matrix, if you will), it's up to me to define and label any category or condition in this environment that I choose. Before I define all this, the categories don't even exist.
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  ellderwho

  it's up to me to define and label any category or condition in this environment that I choose. Before I define all this, the categories don't even exist.

  Yeah, I like to think Gods big enough to create all things. Whether powers or principalities..... All things. [ ] hee, hee, couldnt resist.