8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

1/17

Evil in the Bible

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

2/17

Topics for this evening

Genesis

Job

Inter testament period

Gospels

Revelation

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

3/17

Genesis

Adam and Eve (Genesis 2.4b-

3:24)

In this passage, a snake

convinces Eve to eat of the fruitof tree of knowledge of good

and evil

God finds out ( O NO!)

The snake is frequently seen as

Satan This is commonly called The

Fall

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

4/17

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

5/17

Job

Job is really a treatise on

suffering

What is the meaning of

suffering?

Evil is not a concern in

Job

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

6/17

BUT??????? 1:6 Heavenly beings came before

God and presented themselves

HUH?????

One theory..

Actually a divine council ofheavenly beings ruled by God

One of these beings is Satan

Satan is the eyes and ears of God ashe walks on the earth seeing whatis going on

God is posing a question to Satan

which is does Job worship Godbecause of what God gave him orbecause of who God is?

Another theorySelf questioningby God

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

7/17

Inter Testament Period

Period between the writing of the Old

Testament and New Testament 430 BC to

50 AD

Jewish Apocalypse

Hellenistic Religion

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

8/17

Jewish Apocalypse

Apocalypseliterature focusing on

the end times

Victory of Gods people over evil

Bizarre images Conflict between good and evil on

both a cosmic level and earthly

level.

OTDaniel

Other writings 1 Enoch 4 Ezra

Qumran community

Influence on NT

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

9/17

Hellenistic Religion

Hellenistic religion brought an

emphasis on miracles such as

healings and exorcisms

Mystery cults

Gnosis

Pessimistic worldview

Worldly existence captive to anti-

God forces

Mythology

Evil is a topic of discussion as well

as literal demons and evils

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

10/17

Gospels

Evil is characterized thefollowing ways:

Tendency within us

Personal being outside ofourselves

Powerful angel goneastray

Cosmic power Organized force vs. God

Focus on Luke

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

11/17

Luke

Temptations

Devil=slanderer or adversary

Temptation is the main focus of this

story about evil

Devil will be back

Jesus and Beelzebul (Luke 11)

Beelzebul=Baal the Prince

Jesus recognizes Satan as well as the

power of Satan

But He also sees Satan as overthrown

by a stronger power (aka Jesus)

Jesus=the beginning of the end of evil

See Satan fall like lightening

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

12/17

Paul

Ephesians (6)

Put on the whole armor ofGod so that you may be

able to stand up to thewiles of the Devil.

Struggle is against rulers,authorities, and against thecosmic powers of this

present darkness, againstthe spiritual forces of evilin heavenly places

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

13/17

Revelation

Where does one begin????

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

14/17

Cosmic Battle

Angels vs. beasts and Satan

Satan being thrown into a pool of fire

Revelation 12:1-9

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

15/17

Question

Revelation 6

4 Horsemen of the

apocalypse Seems pretty evil to

me

But it comes from

heaven

?????

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

16/17

Next week

Theologians respond to the theodicy

triangle

8/9/2019 Good and Evil Part 2

17/17

Questions?