Intro

This blog gains its name from the book Steele's Answers published in 1912. It began as an effort to blog through that book, posting each of the Questions and Answers in the book in the order in which they appeared. I started this on Dec. 10, 2011. I completed blogging from that book on July 11, 2015. Along the way, I began to also post snippets from Dr. Steele's other writings — and from some other holiness writers of his times. Since then, I have begun adding material from his Bible commentaries. I also re-blog many of the old posts.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Does God Create Evil?

QUESTION: Explain Isaiah 45:7: "I make peace and create evil." Does God create evil?

ANSWER: Yes. Evil has two meanings, sin which is moral evil, and suffering which is natural evil in consequence of sin. This sequence of suffering God has ordained. It comes to many who are not guilty, such as infants suffering and dying, and the wives and children of men who have the alcoholic or opium habit. In fact, we all suffer because of Adam's sin.

Isaiah is asserting the unity of God in opposition to the Persian dualism, Shirman, the evil Being equal in years and in power with Ormuzd, the good Being, and worshiped just as all pagans worship the devil. Isaiah insists that God is not co-ordinate with the devil, but the Supreme Creator and Ruler.

— From Steele's Answers p. 21.
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