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NASB | Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, "Can it really be that God has said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" [Rev 12:9-11] |
Subject: Who created evil? |
Bible Note: Hello Sal, I've been following this thread and (correct me if I am wrong) you seem to hung up on one particular verse in th KJV; Isa 45:7. Is'nt it true that when God created all things, that He saw that they were all good? I am a calvinist and I believe that all things that occur have been ordained by God to occur. Yet God is not the author of sin. I also agree with others who have pointed out that evil (and I would add "good") are not created things. It is also true that evil could not "be" unless God had ordained that it "be". The very fact that evil "is" means that it was in accordance with His good pleasure and suited His eternal purpose. I would recommend C.S Lewis' book "Mere Christianity". Lewis shows that evil is merely a distortion of good. He also shows that nothing is purely evil in itself. For instance, pleasure is a good thing in itself, however when one seeks pleasure in fornication, the good becomes twisted because fornication is forbidden by God. Evil is the pursuit of that which is good, but in the wrong way. Wealth is good thing in itself, but theft is the wrong way to acquire it. Until the commandment was given there was no sin. Did God create sin? The Bible says "God is not the author of sin". So then, what is sin but the pursuit of that which is good in itself (the Tree of Knowlege) by the wrong means (disobediance to the commandment). I really hope this helps. John (So. Brooklyn)Reformed |