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To: Cronos
that makes God the author of evil which is anathema

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

3,759 posted on 06/22/2011 12:48:17 PM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC; Cronos

If you a Christian and follow Christ, and deduce from Christ’s teaching, Holy Scripture or otherwise that God is the author of sin and evil, that God hates, that He is mutable and subject to passions; then somewhere, somehow, friend, you have made a wrong turn.


3,762 posted on 06/22/2011 8:56:29 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: AndrewC; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; count-your-change; ...

A little insight on Isaiah 45:7 for your consideration, which may mess with some people’s theology, but it is what it is.

http://bible.cc/isaiah/45-7.htm

New International Version (©1984)
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

English Standard Version (©2001)
I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.

GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I make light and create darkness. I make blessings and create disasters. I, the LORD, do all these things.

King James Bible
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

American King James Version
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

American Standard Version
I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things.

Darby Bible Translation
forming the light and creating darkness, making peace and creating evil: I, Jehovah, do all these things.

English Revised Version
I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things.

Webster’s Bible Translation
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

World English Bible
I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.

Young’s Literal Translation
Forming light, and preparing darkness, Making peace, and preparing evil, I am Jehovah, doing all these things.’

*************************************************************************
I do note that the Douay-Rheims Bible version also credits God with creating evil, so Catholics are in no position to criticize anyone else for accepting that translation.

That said,....

http://biblos.com/isaiah/45-7.htm

In the Hebrew, the word that is translated as *evil* is also translated otherwise in different portions of the OT.

Strongs lists the Hebrew word as *ra*, (7451)

http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/7451.htm

According to Strong’s the short definition is *adversity*. Elsewhere is it translated as......

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress

From ra’a’; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) — 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. (Incl. Feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

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I find that the concept of God creating evil is inconsistent with the nature of God as revealed elsewhere in Scripture. OTOH, I do not see it inconsistent at all to see God creating calamity, adversity, or affliction. Precious few people seek God out when everything is going well and they are fat, dumb, and happy. He uses the pressure of adversity to show us our need for Him, our dependence on Him, and thus to bring us to Himself.

IMO, the translation of *ra* into *evil* was not the best one because it does not fit with the rest of the revealed character of God in Scripture.


3,774 posted on 06/23/2011 3:18:26 AM PDT by metmom (Be the kind of woman that when you wake in the morning, the devil says, "Oh crap, she's UP !!")
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To: AndrewC
Isa 45:7 he gives contrasts (form light, create darkness), the next is "I make peace" -- the opposite of "making peace" is not "making sin" but causing strife. The word translated "evil" is from the Hebrew that means "adversity" or "affliction" or "calamity" or "misery."

The entire theme of Is 45 is about Cyrus the Great (Khorosh) and talks about how Israel will be punished or rewarded for obedience or disobedience

3,879 posted on 06/24/2011 11:06:00 AM PDT by Cronos ( W Szczebrzeszynie chrzaszcz brzmi w trzcinie I Szczebrzeszyn z tego slynie.)
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