Did God create evil?

[Tranquil Servant]

"Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?" --Lamentations 3:38

Which version of the Bible is this?
There are other versions with different translations....

 

[Skwim]

Which version of the Bible is this?
There are other versions with different translations....

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)

King James 2000 Bible

American King James Version

American Standard Version

Webster's Bible Translation

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

Which version of the Bible is this?
There are other versions with different translations....

Knew someone was gonna say this.

Go look up the other translations and note that they essentially say the same.

 

[InChrist]

Lamentations 3;38 is another one of those verses which skeptics love to take in isolation and out of context from the passage and the message it is teaching in an attempt to attack the character of God.



'The King James Version of Lamentations 3:38 seems to suggest that God speaks both good and evil. However, if one reads the verse in context, the preceding verses indicate that God does not do or approve of evil.4 The verse following indicates that people should not complain in view of their sins.5 What the verse really is saying that God decrees times of good things and times of judgment. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah during a time of judgment, when Judah had gone off into exile. Jeremiah was chosen by God to be the prophet to tell Judah to reform or be judged. The people did not believe Jeremiah, and, therefore, fell under God's judgment. In Lamentations 3:38, the word translated "good" is ṭôb (Strong's H2896).6 The word usually refers to good things5 as opposed to bad things. Again, râ‛âh3 does not refer to moral evil, but calamities, in this verse. Likewise, the Bible commentaries indicate that the verse refers to God's judgment based upon people's sin.7"

excerpt;

Did God Create Evil? Does the Bible Say So?

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

Lamentations 3;38 is another one of those verses which skeptics love to take in isolation and out of context from the passage and the message it is teaching in an attempt to attack the character of God.



'The King James Version of Lamentations 3:38 seems to suggest that God speaks both good and evil. However, if one reads the verse in context, the preceding verses indicate that God does not do or approve of evil.4 The verse following indicates that people should not complain in view of their sins.5 What the verse really is saying that God decrees times of good things and times of judgment. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah during a time of judgment, when Judah had gone off into exile. Jeremiah was chosen by God to be the prophet to tell Judah to reform or be judged. The people did not believe Jeremiah, and, therefore, fell under God's judgment. In Lamentations 3:38, the word translated "good" is ṭôb (Strong's H2896).6 The word usually refers to good things5 as opposed to bad things. Again, râ‛âh3 does not refer to moral evil, but calamities, in this verse. Likewise, the Bible commentaries indicate that the verse refers to God's judgment based upon people's sin.7"

excerpt;

Did God Create Evil? Does the Bible Say So?

Did you just copy-paste that, or did you really give it some thought? Look closer at that lexicon. The word "evil" as used in the original Hebrew is used all over the Old Testament, in such instances as the Tree of Good and Evil, descriptions of many evil thoughts and deeds, etc.

 

[Tranquil Servant]

Lamentations 3;38 is another one of those verses which skeptics love to take in isolation and out of context from the passage and the message it is teaching in an attempt to attack the character of God.



'The King James Version of Lamentations 3:38 seems to suggest that God speaks both good and evil. However, if one reads the verse in context, the preceding verses indicate that God does not do or approve of evil.4 The verse following indicates that people should not complain in view of their sins.5 What the verse really is saying that God decrees times of good things and times of judgment. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah during a time of judgment, when Judah had gone off into exile. Jeremiah was chosen by God to be the prophet to tell Judah to reform or be judged. The people did not believe Jeremiah, and, therefore, fell under God's judgment. In Lamentations 3:38, the word translated "good" is ṭôb (Strong's H2896).6 The word usually refers to good things5 as opposed to bad things. Again, râ‛âh3 does not refer to moral evil, but calamities, in this verse. Likewise, the Bible commentaries indicate that the verse refers to God's judgment based upon people's sin.7"

excerpt;

Did God Create Evil? Does the Bible Say So?

..Thank You!!

 

[Tranquil Servant]

God didn't nor does he create "evil". He allows evil. Why? So we can realize his wisdom and that he is all-knowing. His way is the right way. Food for thought: If God were alone would evil still exist?

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

God didn't nor does he create "evil". He allows evil. Why? So we can realize his wisdom and that he is all-knowing. His way is the right way.

Terrible, terrible justification. That's like saying that an emperor allows a lot of crime in his land so that people can admire him. This is not the sign of a benevolent ruler.

Food for thought: If God were alone would evil still exist?

Would it?

 

[Skwim]

God didn't nor does he create "evil". He allows evil. Why? So we can realize his wisdom and that he is all-knowing. His way is the right way.

Is this really the reason you realize he is wise and all-knowing, because he allows evil? REALLY? If so, I assume you judge the wisdom and knowledge of others by how well they ignore all the evil, corruption, and badness around them. I must say, this is one very odd basis of judgement you have. Most people judge wisdom and knowledge by how it's displayed.

 

[InChrist]

[FONT=&quot]I believe if God were alone there would be no evil because only the goodness of God would be active without others in existence to do things apart from God’s goodness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As I have said before God did not create evil because evil is not a created thing, just as darkness is not created. Darkness is the absence of light. In the beginning account of creation when God said, “Let there be light.”, He was dispelling the darkness. Darkness exists only where the light is not present. He did not say let there be darkness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God gave His created beings the ability to choose Him or not. Since God is Light and His presence dispells darkness then choosing Him brings light, but rejecting Him brings darkness, which is really only a lack of light. It is the same with evil. According to the scriptures, God is good and the only source of righteousness and goodness. So when God is rejected His goodness and righteousness is not present, leaving only evil. because there is no “good” apart from God. It is the rebellion of created beings using their will to live and act apart from God’s light and goodness which reveals the lack of God’s presence and exposes darkness and evil.[/FONT]

 

[Tranquil Servant]

God= the creator of all creations, the all-mighty, the all-knowing, the wisest, and the most righteous.
Why wouldn't the all-knowing Creator of this world set the standards of what's right and wrong(?)because of his wisdom and knowledge?... It's the fact that he is all-knowing and the most righteous that makes him the most wise. He knows everything which is known and unknown he knows what will happen before it happens so why wouldn't he instruct us on how to live or what we should do or not to do? Naturally, if we love and respect him, we will take heed to what he says but if we don't, not only are we displaying disbelief and disrespect but we would have to suffer the consequences of our mistakes. God gives us laws and instructions for a purpose and a reason. At the same time he gave us a free will; so we could experience sin or evil for ourselves. When God told Adam and Eve not eat from the tree of good and evil, he warned them if they did they would die. Then Satan came and twisted the truth; telling them they wouldn't die and God didn't want them to be like him (God). It wasn't the fruit that gave them the knowledge, it was the experience; the fact they had a "taste" of what it's like to disobey God. But, God didn't put them to death right there and then; he let them live so they could "reap what they sow."

 

[Tranquil Servant]

God knows what evil is because he set the standards. Evil=anything that goes Against God.

 

[Tranquil Servant]

Is this really the reason you realize he is wise and all-knowing, because he allows evil? REALLY? If so, I assume you judge the wisdom and knowledge of others by how well they ignore all the evil, corruption, and badness around them. I must say, this is one very odd basis of judgement you have. Most people judge wisdom and knowledge by how it's displayed.

[FONT=&quot]I believe if God were alone there would be no evil because only the goodness of God would be active without others in existence to do things apart from God’s goodness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As I have said before God did not create evil because evil is not a created thing, just as darkness is not created. Darkness is the absence of light. In the beginning account of creation when God said, “Let there be light.”, He was dispelling the darkness. Darkness exists only where the light is not present. He did not say let there be darkness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God gave His created beings the ability to choose Him or not. Since God is Light and His presence dispells darkness then choosing Him brings light, but rejecting Him brings darkness, which is really only a lack of light. It is the same with evil. According to the scriptures, God is good and the only source of righteousness and goodness. So when God is rejected His goodness and righteousness is not present, leaving only evil. because there is no “good” apart from God. It is the rebellion of created beings using their will to live and act apart from God’s light and goodness which reveals the lack of God’s presence and exposes darkness and evil.[/FONT]

:shoutThank God for someone who is.. InChrist, who sees what I see and (see signature)......

 

[Skwim]

:shoutThank God for someone who is.. InChrist, who sees what I see and (see signature)......

Didn't think you could come up with a straight answer. Thanks for staying true to character.

 

[Hufflechuff]

God= the creator of all creations, the all-mighty, the all-knowing, the wisest, and the most righteous.
Why wouldn't the all-knowing Creator of this world set the standards of what's right and wrong(?)because of his wisdom and knowledge?... It's the fact that he is all-knowing and the most righteous that makes him the most wise. He knows everything which is known and unknown he knows what will happen before it happens so why wouldn't he instruct us on how to live or what we should do or not to do? Naturally, if we love and respect him, we will take heed to what he says but if we don't, not only are we displaying disbelief and disrespect but we would have to suffer the consequences of our mistakes. God gives us laws and instructions for a purpose and a reason. At the same time he gave us a free will; so we could experience sin or evil for ourselves. When God told Adam and Eve not eat from the tree of good and evil, he warned them if they did they would die. Then Satan came and twisted the truth; telling them they wouldn't die and God didn't want them to be like him (God). It wasn't the fruit that gave them the knowledge, it was the experience; the fact they had a "taste" of what it's like to disobey God. But, God didn't put them to death right there and then; he let them live so they could "reap what they sow."

You say if God were alone then evil would not exist. That's not much of a claim. If anyone were alone evil would not exist.

You've employed a circular argument in saying God is the most righteous, and so sets the standards of right and wrong. How can he be considered righteous before right and wrong have a definition? If he is righteous then 'right' already has a definition outside of God. If he is only righteous because he meets his own definition of what is right then that is not righteousness - it sounds more like narcissism.

He knows everything which is known and unknown he knows what will happen before it happens so why wouldn't he instruct us on how to live or what we should do or not to do?

This is illogical. If he knows what will happen why bother to instruct us? Or is he also bound to act in accordance with what he knows the future holds? If so he doesn't even have free-will himself.

In the Garden of Eden the serpent told the truth - that eating the fruit would give knowledge, which it did. God lied - he said they would die, but they didn't. (But he already knew this would happen, right? So why lie?)

Reap what they sowed. Not very forgiving of him - particularly if he knew beforehand what would happen.

So God was the first being to tell a lie. And he was the first being to inflict punishment, through eternal torture. Sure sounds like he introduced evil to the world.

 

[no-body]

[FONT=&quot]I believe if God were alone there would be no evil because only the goodness of God would be active without others in existence to do things apart from God’s goodness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As I have said before God did not create evil because evil is not a created thing, just as darkness is not created. Darkness is the absence of light. In the beginning account of creation when God said, “Let there be light.”, He was dispelling the darkness. Darkness exists only where the light is not present. He did not say let there be darkness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God gave His created beings the ability to choose Him or not. Since God is Light and His presence dispells darkness then choosing Him brings light, but rejecting Him brings darkness, which is really only a lack of light. It is the same with evil. According to the scriptures, God is good and the only source of righteousness and goodness. So when God is rejected His goodness and righteousness is not present, leaving only evil. because there is no “good” apart from God. It is the rebellion of created beings using their will to live and act apart from God’s light and goodness which reveals the lack of God’s presence and exposes darkness and evil.[/FONT]

But what is defined as "the goodness of God" look at some of the terrible things God does from a human perspective out of "goodness" in the bible.

Meister Eckhart has this covered. If God was alone (which he technically is) there would be (and is) no good or evil. God is best. God simply is.

 

[Tranquil Servant]

I'm sorry I should've been clear in the beginning when I posted this thread...I really only wanted comments from people who actually believe in God; not from those who try to prove he doesn't exist or who aren't sure if he exists or not (aka sophisticated and educated people).

 

[no-body]

I'm sorry I should've been clear in the beginning when I posted this thread...I really only wanted comments from people who actually believe in God; not from those who try to prove he doesn't exist or who aren't sure if he exists or not (aka sophisticated and educated people).

If you want to stifle debate go post in the proper DIR.

I believe in "God" (such as it is) and you haven't answered me. Or do you mean only those who believe in the bible versions Abrahamic God?

 

[Hufflechuff]

I'm sorry I should've been clear in the beginning when I posted this thread...I really only wanted comments from people who actually believe in God; not from those who try to prove he doesn't exist or who aren't sure if he exists or not (aka sophisticated and educated people).

Reading back through this thread there is very little where anyone says god doesn't exist. It looks like most people are working from the position that, if we assume/imagine/pretend that God exists, did God create evil? I don't think anyone has said (unless I've missed it) that of course he didn't because he doesn't exist?

Your post does give me the impression that you have perhaps grown tired of trying to defend the indefensible?

 

[rusra02]

This question came to me while I watched an Anime movie with my husband on Netflix called "Dante's Inferno". The storyline is a crazy one. There's a lot of Greek mythology mixed in with Christianity. However, towards the end of the movie, a character said to be "Satan, Lucifer, or the Devil" said something which just didn't feel right (maybe because it was coming from a character said to be Satan); He basically said God created evil. Then my husband who is Muslim agreed. I can agree that God created everything in existence but I believe "evil" is something God Knows of because anything that goes against God's will is considered to be a sin or evil. Satan, the fallen angels and mankind came to know sin only after God gave the free will or the choice to choose. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge between good and evil. Did Eve know she was committing an evil act when she ate from the tree? Is a sin not considered a sin just because we don't know it's evil? A sin is a sin. why? because when we make a choice inspired by our own desires or based on ideas that did not come from God, It will produce a negative outcome. I believe, God allows us to have a free will so we can learn the difference between good and evil. An evil act is based on intentions and although sometimes we think our intentions are good, God knows better than we do.
This led me to another question. Why has God displayed violence but tells us to refrain from violence? I believe it's because only God can judge and is the only just Judge which means that only he can apply justice in the way he deems necessary. unfortunately, sometimes his judgement requires some to pay with their lives. It is because mankind has placed so much judgement on one another, that this world is in chaos. Micah 7:2-4, Matthew 7:1-3

I think your comments are correct. God does not create evil, or wickedness. Isaiah 45:7 says in some translations that God creates evil, but the Hebrew word Can also be translated (more correctly), "calamity". Deuteronomy 32:4 describes Jehovah this way: "The Rock, perfect is his activity,for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice;righteous and upright is he."
When God destroys the wicked, bringing calamity upon them, it is always deserved and in harmony with justice. And as the Source of life, God has the right to destroy those who willfully harm others and bring such evil as we see today. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)