What is evil? Can God be guilty of it?

[KingJ]

Evil is best defined as the action of hurting someone or something with no loving intent of discipline and or rehabilitation. Someone being God, angels and humans. Something being all insects and animals. Yes, it something that God can be guilty of.

It is a basic reality. A moral absolutism. It is the underlying basis for all sin. IE All sin = evil = sin.

According to scripture, God, angels and every single human have the knowledge of good and evil Gen 3:22.

Many like to dance around on the definition of evil. Teach that evil is a social construct. Teach that God can do no evil as evil is defined as disobedience to Him. Many are ignorant and brainwashed. People get easily confused on what is evil, as, like sin, it has degrees. A thought can be evil. It can for example be step 1 of 10 required to perform a gross evil of raping someone.

According to scripture it is not a social construct. It is a creation by God. He has created an environment of free will. We are given both knowledge of, space and time to perform both good and evil actions. A gift that He has given His highly intelligent creation. Humans and angels. There is therefore no need to suggest that some have different views of evil. We should all be able to agree on what actions are evil. The only space for debate is on enlightenment. Not all are enlightened as to why an action is evil.

There are three important facts to grasp and discuss on this topic. 1. All God's laws can be traced to doing what is good and right. 2. Both good and evil actions have degrees. 3. God is only good.

1. All God's laws can be traced to doing what is good and right!

To explain this, we need to look at examples.

A - Do not commit adultery = hurts God, spouse and children.

God is hurt as His plan for mankind is reproduction in the secure space of a united family. He is also hurt because He loves the spouse and children that are hurt. The spouse you betrayed has their heart shattered. The children experience a broken bond between their parents and will grow up in a broken family.

B - Respect the Sabbath = Hurts God

I mention this as many would wonder who is hurt by it. Think it is a silly law!

To understand how God is hurt by this you need to meditate on something sentimental. Think of a marriage anniversary. Would you like it if your spouse forgot it? If they did not honour it? Think of Christmas or good Friday. The days we celebrate Jesus. God is touched by this. Now imagine you decide to dishonour those days by purposely sinning on that day. God is very sentimental with us. He freed the Hebrews from 400 years of slavery. The Sabbath is a special day for God and Hebrews. An Jew disrespecting the Sabbath is figuratively spitting in His face! Pulling a middle finger to Him!

C - Grievous sexual sin = Hurts God

I use this example as most contention on 'evil being subjective' is around sexual sin. You may not be hurting the person you are engaging in the sin with. But you are most certainly hurting God, your Creator. For example, if committing a homosexual act, when you can visibly see the purpose for which you were created, it is most certainly pulling the middle finger to your Creator. God created a woman and man vastly different and to perform certain roles within a marriage and family environment. LGBTQIA++ makes a mockery of this and His clear will for family structure seen from Adam, Eve and their children. Or we could also use Noah, his wife and children as a case study.

2. Both good and evil actions have degrees.

The purest form of a 'good' is altruism. And the greatest example of altruism, is to lay your life down John 15:13.

The purest form of evil is torture. Torture as defined here Discussion on Torture. There is no greater evil then to torture someone. If you don't agree, put your hand up and ask someone to place you in a brazen bull for 3 hours. Anyone disagreeing that torture is not the most evil action possible has not meditated on it.

Many Christians are guilty of moving the goal posts on the topic of torture. They like to dance around the fact of it being the greatest act of evil possible as they want you to swallow a pill of God torturing the wicked in hell for all eternity being ''fine''. Something ''not evil''. This is very offensive to any thinking person!! and brings us to the next point:

3. God is only good.

The devil, many fallen angels, many false teachers and many ignorant Christians want you to believe God is A. pure evil or B. a mix of good and evil and never C. only good!

A. God is only evil - God created evil. Earth is one big sick and twisted experiment from an evil God who gets a kick from seeing people suffer. He will torture with maggots, fire and separation people who don’t attend the right church, for all eternity.

B. God is a mix of good and evil - God performed the greatest act of 'good' possible in that He died on the cross for you John 3:16 but oneday He will also perform the greatest act of evil, when He eternally tortures you in hell!

C. God is only good!

A and B are the demented, biased and ignorant views of wicked and lazy people!

The truth from scripture is that God is only good. We know from Rom 9:21 that if He wanted to, He could be evil. But we know from the rest of scripture, that what God does in fact decide to do, is be a good God, good to the very maximum of what is possible! There is an appearance of evil from God as He created it. But it is only an appearance as evil is a necessary part of the gift of free will. Free will being a good and necessary gift for the highly intelligent creation that we and angels are!

People that knew God better than you or I, had the following to say about Him (Christians please bold and underline these passages in your bible!) :

1. God is good and His mercy endures forever Psalm 136:1.
2. God is love and whoever does not know love does not know Him 1 John 4:8.
3. God is righeous in all His ways Psalm 145:17
4. God is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5
5. It should be unthinkable that He do what is wicked or pervert justice Job 34:12
6. For God so loved the world that He gave His Son John 3:16. God the Son, Jesus, is God the Father, God almighty Isa 9:6.
7. Only God is perfectly good Mark 10:18.

As God is perfectly good and hates what is evil. It is not wrong to define evil as everything He disapproves of. IE Disobeying any of His laws. IE Rejecting Jesus.

 

[Peter1]

Evil is done by Humans no one else they choose to do it.There are hundreds of millions of people who prey on other humans all day long and get up the next day and do it all over again.Murder rape molestation among a huge list of crimes going on daily.Absolute evil on the earth growing daily.How many people phone or emailed you today to steal your money.Don't blame it on God look in the mirror he has told us what to do but absolutely no one listens this world proves that..As God always says "if only you would listen to me today" he would give us all. Just like he kept telling Israel.If you refuse to believe in the fall of humanity God can look pretty evil but your wrong it did happen don't forget what this is all about and why Jesus came.

 

[KingJ]

Evil is done by Humans no one else they choose to do it.There are hundreds of millions of people who prey on other humans all day long and get up the next day and do it all over again.Murder rape molestation among a huge list of crimes going on daily.Absolute evil on the earth growing daily.How many people phone or emailed you today to steal your money.Don't blame it on God look in the mirror he has told us what to do but absolutely no one listens this world proves that..As God always says "if only you would listen to me today" he would give us all. Just like he kept telling Israel.If you refuse to believe in the fall of humanity God can look pretty evil but your wrong it did happen don't forget what this is all about and why Jesus came.

I agree with your thoughts. Would just note that evil can be done by angels and God as well.

We will judge angels 1 Cor 6:3 and God has said that He can create a vessel unto dishonor in Rom 9:21. However, in God's defense, He chooses not to do evil. He does what pleases Him Psalm 135:6 and what pleases Him is being light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5. Righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17.

 

[Dave M]

Evil is best defined as the action of hurting someone or something with no loving intent of discipline and or rehabilitation. Someone being God, angels and humans. Something being all insects and animals. Yes, it something that God can be guilty of.

You sure like to complicate things, and what you say does not line up with scripture at all once again, you have made it up in your head. Stop ignoring scripture or twisting it to your liking, it is simple and plain as day, do not be deceived.

Romans 6:23​

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
nothing about discipline or rehabilitation, sin is evil and will end with eternal torment of people who do not repent, no two ways around it, that is why we are told to fear God. He knows us better then we know our self.

Matthew 25:46​

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Revelation 14:11​

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 20:10​

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

[Dave M]

. Would just note that evil can be done by angels and God as well.

God can not do evil are you out of your mind, t

​

James 1:13​

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

​

Deuteronomy 32:4​

“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

 

[KingJ]

You sure like to complicate things,

How so? I start off with a simple definition and then a thorough explanation which is all supported with scripture! Name one line that is not!

and what you say does not line up with scripture at all once again, you have made it up in your head. Stop ignoring scripture or twisting it to your liking, it is simple and plain as day, do not be deceived.

You make an accusation and do not support it. Quote a passage you disagree with. I am really getting upset with people that make such generic accusations like they are butthurt and too lazy to read an efforted post.

As for tying up with scripture. You have to be kidding me!!! Every single law in the OT and NT has to do with someone or something getting hurt. Therefore after much thought and meditation on the topic, I concluded that the best definition of evil, is the one I posted in the first line of the OP. It is 10000% supported by scripture. To say it is not, requires you to show me a single law from God that does not have to do with a someone or something not being hurt!!

What an insulting and low effort reply!

Romans 6:23​

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
nothing about discipline or rehabilitation, sin is evil and will end with eternal torment of people who do not repent, no two ways around it, that is why we are told to fear God. He knows us better then we know our self.

Matthew 25:46​

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Revelation 14:11​

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 20:10​

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

You quote scriptures that do not define what evil is? What is the point you are making with these? I am not following!

These passages do not debunk anything I have typed. Please try focus on the question you asked, the topic of this thread!

 

[KingJ]

God can not do evil are you out of your mind, t

​

James 1:13​

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

​

Deuteronomy 32:4​

“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Firstly, try understand that in my OP I clearly make the point that God does not do what is evil.

Now, onto your line, you are incorrect. God, if He wanted to, could do what is evil.

To your scripture, nobody can tempt God, but God does not need to be tempted to do evil. Thank you for Deut 32:4, it is yet another verse solidifying the fact that God chooses to do what is perfect and just!

The passage of scripture that is rather clear that God can do evil is a popular one used by Calvinists. Most likely the most important verse for their sick ideology.

Rom 9:19-23 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.

Try reading different bible versions too. This passage is crystal clear that God can (if He wanted to) from the same lump of clay make a vessel unto honor or dishonor. Grasp that making a vessel unto dishonor is partiality and that partiality is a gross evil! You and I both agree, that He does not make vessels unto dishonor. That would clearly negate free will and contradict 1 Tim 2:4 God wills all to be saved!

--------------------------

Now, I have put together a simple and well explained definition of what evil is, I would like to hear your definition of it.

I have this feeling that you and others want to somehow excuse God of being evil when according to your personal belief, He will do what is clearly evil (Torture! in hell for all eternity!). I honestly roll on the floor and laugh when I hear anyone say that '''torture''' is not evil. Please bear this in mind when you type your definition.

 

[Peter1]

I agree Satan is involved but how much - you can't say it all Satan.When one of these fallen Angels comes its a demonic possession that happens in stages.Really they don't have to do anything people will choose to do evil themselves in this material money driven world every single thing is about money and there is no where else left for them to hit you to take more but they will find a way.You have to see the evil that some in humanity choose themselves - the wolves in the bible.

How many people have found out that that nice person is really a wolf and paid the price - you have no idea of the thought going on in another persons head and you do know if your a wolf or not.You can also become the wolf.

 

[Dylan569]

Evil is best defined as the action of hurting someone or something with no loving intent of discipline and or rehabilitation. Someone being God, angels and humans. Something being all insects and animals. Yes, it something that God can be guilty of.

It is a basic reality. A moral absolutism. It is the underlying basis for all sin. IE All sin = evil = sin.

According to scripture, God, angels and every single human have the knowledge of good and evil Gen 3:22.

Many like to dance around on the definition of evil. Teach that evil is a social construct. Teach that God can do no evil as evil is defined as disobedience to Him. Many are ignorant and brainwashed. People get easily confused on what is evil, as, like sin, it has degrees. A thought can be evil. It can for example be step 1 of 10 required to perform a gross evil of raping someone.

According to scripture it is not a social construct. It is a creation by God. He has created an environment of free will. We are given both knowledge of, space and time to perform both good and evil actions. A gift that He has given His highly intelligent creation. Humans and angels. There is therefore no need to suggest that some have different views of evil. We should all be able to agree on what actions are evil. The only space for debate is on enlightenment. Not all are enlightened as to why an action is evil.

There are three important facts to grasp and discuss on this topic. 1. All God's laws can be traced to doing what is good and right. 2. Both good and evil actions have degrees. 3. God is only good.

1. All God's laws can be traced to doing what is good and right!

To explain this, we need to look at examples.

A - Do not commit adultery = hurts God, spouse and children.

God is hurt as His plan for mankind is reproduction in the secure space of a united family. He is also hurt because He loves the spouse and children that are hurt. The spouse you betrayed has their heart shattered. The children experience a broken bond between their parents and will grow up in a broken family.

B - Respect the Sabbath = Hurts God

I mention this as many would wonder who is hurt by it. Think it is a silly law!

To understand how God is hurt by this you need to meditate on something sentimental. Think of a marriage anniversary. Would you like it if your spouse forgot it? If they did not honour it? Think of Christmas or good Friday. The days we celebrate Jesus. God is touched by this. Now imagine you decide to dishonour those days by purposely sinning on that day. God is very sentimental with us. He freed the Hebrews from 400 years of slavery. The Sabbath is a special day for God and Hebrews. An Jew disrespecting the Sabbath is figuratively spitting in His face! Pulling a middle finger to Him!

C - Grievous sexual sin = Hurts God

I use this example as most contention on 'evil being subjective' is around sexual sin. You may not be hurting the person you are engaging in the sin with. But you are most certainly hurting God, your Creator. For example, if committing a homosexual act, when you can visibly see the purpose for which you were created, it is most certainly pulling the middle finger to your Creator. God created a woman and man vastly different and to perform certain roles within a marriage and family environment. LGBTQIA++ makes a mockery of this and His clear will for family structure seen from Adam, Eve and their children. Or we could also use Noah, his wife and children as a case study.

2. Both good and evil actions have degrees.

The purest form of a 'good' is altruism. And the greatest example of altruism, is to lay your life down John 15:13.

The purest form of evil is torture. Torture as defined here Discussion on Torture. There is no greater evil then to torture someone. If you don't agree, put your hand up and ask someone to place you in a brazen bull for 3 hours. Anyone disagreeing that torture is not the most evil action possible has not meditated on it.

Many Christians are guilty of moving the goal posts on the topic of torture. They like to dance around the fact of it being the greatest act of evil possible as they want you to swallow a pill of God torturing the wicked in hell for all eternity being ''fine''. Something ''not evil''. This is very offensive to any thinking person!! and brings us to the next point:

3. God is only good.

The devil, many fallen angels, many false teachers and many ignorant Christians want you to believe God is A. pure evil or B. a mix of good and evil and never C. only good!

A. God is only evil - God created evil. Earth is one big sick and twisted experiment from an evil God who gets a kick from seeing people suffer. He will torture with maggots, fire and separation people who don’t attend the right church, for all eternity.

B. God is a mix of good and evil - God performed the greatest act of 'good' possible in that He died on the cross for you John 3:16 but oneday He will also perform the greatest act of evil, when He eternally tortures you in hell!

C. God is only good!

A and B are the demented, biased and ignorant views of wicked and lazy people!

The truth from scripture is that God is only good. We know from Rom 9:21 that if He wanted to, He could be evil. But we know from the rest of scripture, that what God does in fact decide to do, is be a good God, good to the very maximum of what is possible! There is an appearance of evil from God as He created it. But it is only an appearance as evil is a necessary part of the gift of free will. Free will being a good and necessary gift for the highly intelligent creation that we and angels are!

People that knew God better than you or I, had the following to say about Him (Christians please bold and underline these passages in your bible!) :

1. God is good and His mercy endures forever Psalm 136:1.
2. God is love and whoever does not know love does not know Him 1 John 4:8.
3. God is righeous in all His ways Psalm 145:17
4. God is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5
5. It should be unthinkable that He do what is wicked or pervert justice Job 34:12
6. For God so loved the world that He gave His Son John 3:16. God the Son, Jesus, is God the Father, God almighty Isa 9:6.
7. Only God is perfectly good Mark 10:18.

As God is perfectly good and hates what is evil. It is not wrong to define evil as everything He disapproves of. IE Disobeying any of His laws. IE Rejecting Jesus.

YOU wrote "Evil is best defined as the action of hurting someone or something with no loving intent of discipline and or rehabilitation. Someone being God, angels and humans. Something being all insects and animals. Yes, it something that God can be guilty of."

I am truly repulsed by assertions in the Title and opening of your OP. First, if you are going to use an English translation of scripture, don't make up your own definitions, use standard English definitions that we find in English dictionaries, as well as in Bible Dictionaries. The American Heritage Dictionary for "evil", gives "1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked, 2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain, harmful, 3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous". So, it can mean moral evil, sin; or it can mean misfortune and ruin. The 1890 Strong's defines H7451 "evil" thus:

From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun:—adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine ra’ah; as adjective or noun.]
H7489 רָעַע ra`a` (raw-ah') v.
1. (properly) to spoil. 2. (literally) to ruin by breaking to pieces. 3. (causative) to make good for nothing. 4. (figuratively) to be good for nothing. 5. (physically, socially or morally) to be bad.

It is obvious that the various contexts determine the particular meaning stated.

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]." (Isa 45:7 KJV)
"I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things."
Isa 45:7 NRSVue (USA)
"I make the light, I create the darkness; author alike of wellbeing and woe, I, the Lord, do all these things." Isa 45:7 REB (UK)

To apply the word "guilty" to God Almighty is outright blasphemy! I embrace the 1646 First London Confession of Faith which reads:

"God had decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning all things, whether necessary, accidental or voluntary, with all the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory: (Yet without being the author of sin, or having fellowship with any therein) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree: And God hath before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice."

"Those that have union with Christ, are justified from all their sins by the blood of Christ, which justification is a gracious and full acquittance of a guilty sinner from all sin, by God, through the satisfaction that Christ hath made by His death for all their sins, and this applied (in manifestation of it) through faith."

"This God—his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him." Psa 18:30 NRSVue

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." 1Jn 1:5 NRSVue

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;" Rom 14:10 RSVA

God does not stand before the judgment of sinful man!!

God is just and holy -

O LORD, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this.” (Ezra 9:15, NRSV)
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (Ps 19:9, NRSV)
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. (Ps 145:7, NRSV)
And I heard the altar respond, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just!” (Rev 16:7, NRSV)

 

[Rhema]

Every single law in the OT and NT has to do with someone or something getting hurt.

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:​

(James 2:8 KJV)

The Royal Law of Love, "has to do with someone or something getting hurt."



I trow not.

Rhema

 

[Rhema]

To say it is not, requires you to show me a single law from God that does not have to do with a someone or something not being hurt!!

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.​

(Leviticus 19:17-18 KJV)

That should suffice.

 

[Rhema]

The 1890 Strong's defines H7451 "evil" thus:

From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun:—

Just a general comment, everything that comes after the dash is not part of Strong's definition, but are the words used by the KJV translators.

(Maybe somebody doesn't know that....)

Kindly,
Rhema

 

[KingJ]

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:​

(James 2:8 KJV)

The Royal Law of Love, "has to do with someone or something getting hurt."



I trow not.

Rhema

Love is a separate topic.

 

[KingJ]

YOU wrote "Evil is best defined as the action of hurting someone or something with no loving intent of discipline and or rehabilitation. Someone being God, angels and humans. Something being all insects and animals. Yes, it something that God can be guilty of."

I am truly repulsed by assertions in the Title and opening of your OP. First, if you are going to use an English translation of scripture, don't make up your own definitions, use standard English definitions that we find in English dictionaries, as well as in Bible Dictionaries. The American Heritage Dictionary for "evil", gives "1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked, 2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain, harmful, 3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous". So, it can mean moral evil, sin; or it can mean misfortune and ruin. The 1890 Strong's defines H7451 "evil" thus:

From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun:—adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong. [Including feminine ra’ah; as adjective or noun.]
H7489 רָעַע ra`a` (raw-ah') v.
1. (properly) to spoil. 2. (literally) to ruin by breaking to pieces. 3. (causative) to make good for nothing. 4. (figuratively) to be good for nothing. 5. (physically, socially or morally) to be bad.

It is obvious that the various contexts determine the particular meaning stated.

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]." (Isa 45:7 KJV)
"I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things."
Isa 45:7 NRSVue (USA)
"I make the light, I create the darkness; author alike of wellbeing and woe, I, the Lord, do all these things." Isa 45:7 REB (UK)

You state ''truly repulsed'' and then mock the translation of scripture used?

To apply the word "guilty" to God Almighty is outright blasphemy! I embrace the 1646 First London Confession of Faith which reads:

"God had decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning all things, whether necessary, accidental or voluntary, with all the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory: (Yet without being the author of sin, or having fellowship with any therein) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree: And God hath before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice."

I can agree with this. Which section of my OP are you targeting?

"Those that have union with Christ, are justified from all their sins by the blood of Christ, which justification is a gracious and full acquittance of a guilty sinner from all sin, by God, through the satisfaction that Christ hath made by His death for all their sins, and this applied (in manifestation of it) through faith."

"This God—his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him." Psa 18:30 NRSVue

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." 1Jn 1:5 NRSVue

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;" Rom 14:10 RSVA

I can agree with this. Which section of my OP are you targeting?

God does not stand before the judgment of sinful man!!

Well, that is whole topic on its own. On one hand, you are correct. We are but a mere human and God is God. But on the other hand, there are many scriptures that point to God wanting us to judge Him and agree with what He does being good and righteous. Do you disagree with that?

God is just and holy -

O LORD, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this.” (Ezra 9:15, NRSV)
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (Ps 19:9, NRSV)
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. (Ps 145:7, NRSV)
And I heard the altar respond, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just!” (Rev 16:7, NRSV)

I can agree with this. Which section of my OP are you targeting?

--------------------------------------------

I like that your post is passionate and shows effort. But please, learn to properly read someone else's post before jumping on your horse.

It is also wise to quote an actual passage you want to comment on. Otherwise, you leave the reader confused as to what you are going on about.

 

[KingJ]

Guys, type your definition of what evil is. I would like to hear it!

@Rhema , @Dylan569 , @B-A-C , @Dave M

 

[KingJ]

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.​

(Leviticus 19:17-18 KJV)

That should suffice.

I said ''To say it is not, requires you to show me a single law from God that does not have to do with a someone or something not being hurt!!''.

As such, I have to ask, do you think that ''hate, suffer sin upon, avenging, bearing a grudge and not loving'' are actions that have nothing to do with ''hurting'' someone?

You have not properly read or grasped the point being made. Please try again.

 

[Dylan569]

Just a general comment, everything that comes after the dash is not part of Strong's definition, but are the words used by the KJV translators.

(Maybe somebody doesn't know that....)

Kindly,
Rhema

When quoting from Strong's, not only is the definition of importance; how the KJV uses the word expands on how the meaning can be so variable over the multiple times a word is found. Yes, I know what part is definition and what is listing of KJC usage.

 

[Rhema]

Love is a separate topic.

Love is a LAW... It's a COMMAND.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.​

(John 13:34 KJV)

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.​

(John 15:12 KJV)

These things I command you, that ye love one another.​

(John 15:17 KJV)

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.​

(Romans 13:8 KJV)

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.​

(Galatians 5:13 KJV)

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;​

(Ephesians 4:2 KJV)

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.​

(1 John 3:23 KJV)

How many times do you need it said (there are more)??

Every single law in the OT and NT has to do with someone or something getting hurt.

Have you no humility to even admit that even the Scripture disagrees with you?

show me a single law from God that does not have to do with a someone or something not being hurt!!

Done. It's just a matter of seeing you express a contrite heart or not.

God's blessing,
Rhema

 

[Rhema]

Guys, type your definition of what evil is. I would like to hear it!

@Rhema , @Dylan569 , @B-A-C , @Dave M

Autognosticism.

 

[Rhema]

Yes, I know what part is definition and what is listing of KJC usage.

But some here don't, and I was speaking to them.
(KJC ???)

how the KJV uses the word expands on how the meaning can be so variable

I'm sure you know that the KJV scholars had no clue about the Koine Greek dialect.

But as to the importance of definitions. One would first need to start with the Greek, and I would suggest that one uses a better (an actual) lexicon, like LINK to the Liddell Scott Lexicon.

I find the BDAG to be very insular and quite edited.

For a better and less complicated lexicon, I use -

Cambridge Greek Lexicon | Faculty of Classics

Cambridge University Press published the much-anticipated Cambridge Greek Lexicon on the 22 April 2021.

www.classics.cam.ac.uk

But there's no online source, and it would need to be a critical topic for me to spend the time and twiddle my fingers to type in the entire entry.

Kindly,
Rhema
Of course there's always Kittel's Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament

Theological Dictionary of NT - Accordance Bible Software

Considered by many scholars to be the best New Testament Dictionary ever compiled.

www.accordancebible.com