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I must admit that I'm joining this a tad late but in post 4654 you make the claim that Dr. E is stating Calvin believed God is the "author of evil" and then turn around and defend Calvin by saying that he stated no such thing. While I haven't peruse all of the posts, I can't find where Dr. E makes this claim. But your position sound very much like the Westminster Confession which states God is not the author of evil and is in full agreement with Calvin. God is not an author of evil.

Perhaps I can sort this out for you since you were on vacation. Someone who claims to be a Calvinist was arguing that God is the source of evil. kosta and Kolo rebutted by making a distinction between foreknowledge and will. God's foreknowledge of evil does not mean he creates evil. I chimed in and said that was a distinction the early Protestant reformers made as well. Then Dr. E responded that that was not true.

I think we have reached a consensus that John Calvin taught and wrote that God in not the author of evil. And that is the point I wanted to make. These discussions are difficult enough without distorting what Calvin taught.

I chimed in and said that was a distinction the early Protestant reformers made as well. Then Dr. E responded that that was not true.

If you follow the discussion back, you'll see that I never made any remarks concerning Calvin's or Luther's opinions as to God being "the author of sin."

You made the statement in post #4535 --

I am certain that I read recently that the early Protestant reformers, that would include Luther and Calvin, made the same distinction that Kolokotronis makes between God's foreknowledge and God's will.

To which I replied in post #4636 --

LOL. Broaden your reading materials; your statement couldn't be farther from the truth.

I then gave you five links which clearly explained Luther's and Calvin's position regarding "God's will" and "God's foreknowledge." Both men held that God's will determines existence, not men and any trailing foreknowledge of their actions.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING: MARTIN LUTHER'S DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION
THE ETERNAL PREDESTINATION OF GOD and THE SECRET PROVIDENCE OF GOD by John Calvin
CALVIN ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD by John Murray
A BRIEF DECLARATION OF PREDESTINATION by Theodore Beza
ELECTION AND REPROBATION by Free Presbyterian Church

I finished the post by offering up a verse from Peter, in which Peter explains that those who stumble were "appointed to stumble" by the direct, predestining will of God, just like those who were appointed to glory were so designated by the direct, predestining will of God.

"Christ is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation..." -- 1 Peter 2:8-9A

If you had read any of the links I sent you, or even the essay which began this thread, you'd understand that Luther, Calvin, and by the grace of God, members of this forum, understand and believe that all things are created by God for His glory, and that God is not the author of sin.

I hope everyone has a lovely Resurrection Day.