Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

Preface:   Evil is not sin. Evil is far more pernicious than sin. Evil is the thinking, the philosophy of Satan. In politics, evil is multiculturalism and liberalism. Evil also describes the purpose of some acts of sin and human good.

Credits:   There are four doctrines of Evil below. The first was taken from William Doud’s Grace Notes site (which has hundreds of doctrines). The second is a very brief doctrine from Tod Kennedy. The third one is by Mike Smith, and the last come from Jim Brettell; all of whom were probably very dependent upon the work of R. B. Thieme, Jr. Near the end, the different parts of speech in the Old Testament are examined. Finally, there is also a link at the bottom of the page to Warren Doud’s complete grace notes on the same doctrine.

An abbreviated way to understand this is, Bible doctrine is the thinking of God; evil is the thinking of Satan.

Doctrine of Evil

by Mike Smith; R. B. Thieme, Jr.

“EVIL” is Satan's system by which he administers his rule over this world. His system advocates using human good to solve the problems of life apart from the truth of God’s Word. It was devised by Satan to oppose God. Just as grace and doctrine represent the genius of God regarding the human race, so evil represents the genius of Satan regarding the human race.

Part of Satan’s evil plan is to beat Christ to the Millennium with his own production of what he thinks is a perfect world with himself as the god of it all.

The following seven points are taken from the notes of the 1st Thessalonians Series available on the Country Bile Church website (The Lesson numbers correspond to audios covering these notes). The notes also are from the notes on Evil from the late R.B. Thieme Jr., who was pastor of Berachah Church in Houston, Texas: Lesson Numbers

CHARACTERISTICS OF EVIL

1.     Evil is a factor that the believer must face which was not judged at the cross. The believer must realize that he cannot confess evil in something like the rebound technique, because evil was not judged at the cross.

2.     Human good and evil have been an issue since the fall of man, both before and after the cross. After the cross, the angelic conflict must continue in order to be resolved. The angelic conflict can only be resolved through human volition. Positive volition toward the cross results in faith in Jesus Christ, solving the problem of sin. But salvation could not resolve human good, lust, and evil, because the angelic conflict must continue with some issue.

3.     Man must be free to express his volition toward salvation and toward sin after salvation in the rebound technique. But evil must continue or there is no angelic conflict. This is because Satan must have his "equal time." Therefore, human good and evil continue right down to the Second Advent.

4.     Man must not only be free to express his volition toward the cross and toward sin after being saved in rebound, but he must also be free to express his volition in the same way Christ did on the cross when He rejected, separated from, and divorced Himself from human good and evil. This takes a lot of doctrine for the believer to do this experientially. The believer's positive volition toward doctrine develops divine viewpoint thinking which rejects evil.

5.     Anything not judged does not have a one-second solution. In one second, you can believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. Likewise, in one second you can confess a sin and be forgiven. But there is no one-second solution to anything dealing with

6.     That's why the post-salvation epistemological rehabilitation is a daily thing that must go on and on and on in order that you might be able to resist evil. The more doctrine you have, the more you reject evil.         

7.     All human good is the application of evil to experience.

CATEGORIES OF EVIL

1. RELIGION

Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world. It is all about Satan’s biggest lie that man can gain salvation or the approbation of God by his own works. Christianity is not a religion because in Christianity, God seeks man through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. There is a vast difference between God’s grace and man’s works / legalism.

Religion is the quintessence of evil, and things done in the name of religion include everything from mass murder, torture, persecution, robbery, extortion, lying, false imprisonment, blasphemy, and theft. It’s one thing to steal money from people, but getting them think they’re going to heaven because they’ve given money to the church is the worst evil. Religion lies to people so they’ll think they are spiritual or God will bless them in some way if they give money.

Penance is an integral part of religion. People perform penance who believe religion’s lies that Christ’s work on the cross was not sufficient enough, so they must continue doing something sacrificially in order to go to heaven. This is anti-grace, unbiblical, and evil.

Legalism is a by-product of religion that overflows into every facet of life. People observe taboos and endless rituals; they dress a certain way, wear their hair a certain way, talk a certain way, eat or drink certain things, and restrict their lives, not according to Scripture, but according to tradition and false notions about the Bible.

2. INTERNATIONALISM

Internationalism is Satan’s system for the administration of this world in opposition to nationalism. Both political and religious systems of internationalism are in opposition to the Word of God. The United Nations, the World Bank, the World Court, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the National Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches are all evil organizations.

Satan has a much easier job of controlling the earth if authority and power are concentrated in a small group or one person. The tower of Babel was the first attempt at internationalism, but God nipped that in the bud by confusing them with many languages. “The One World Order”, “The world community”, “the global village” etc. are synonyms for internationalism.

3. TYPICAL POLITICS

Not all politics or politicians are evil but most of them are. Most people who know anything about politics recognize that it is a dirty business because it is characterized by lies and deception. There is nothing wrong with people running for office and doing their best to get elected, but our political system has become exceedingly corrupt. Money is what one needs to get elected, not character or competence.

When politicians campaign, they promise that if elected, they will “bring home the bacon”. They brag about passing unconstitutional bills that will bring more money and jobs to their community.

One reason our nation is drowning in debt is because politicians promise the voters the moon and then go to the Federal Reserve to pay for it. The Federal Reserve always loans them “money” created out of thin air, and that’s why the price of an average new car today is around $30,000.

Most politicians and both major political parties give the impression that they’re able to solve the problems of the world if they only get your vote and more money to create better programs.

People who believe them are trusting in man rather than God.

Jeremiah 17:5 . . . Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Politicians are responsible for the awful welfare state that exists in our country. FDR promised “The New Deal” and LBJ promised “The Great Society” which are typical examples of disastrous unconstitutional programs encouraging people to depend on government rather than themselves and the Lord. Before the welfare state began, family and churches took care of people in need and people who were lazy or didn’t want to work didn’t receive support from Uncle Sugar.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 . . . For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Foreign aid, affirmative action, political correctness, homosexuals in the military, women in combat, undeclared wars, executive orders, signing statements, anti-Semitism, junkets, multiculturalism, exploding deficits, restrictive and enslaving regulation are a few things on the list of unconstitutional, unjust, and unbiblical activities, way too numerous to address here, that politicians are involved in.

Many politicians are liars who will say or do anything to stay in power. They may kiss babies, go to church, or quote Scripture to build a facade of respectability, but they are not servants of God for good. They are servants of Satan for evil.

The reason they stay in power is because the people allow it, Jer. 5:23-31, 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

4. PSYCHOLOGY

The main problem with psychology is that it rejects the fact that God has given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness simply through growing in grace and knowledge of His Word.

2 Peter 1:2-3 . . . Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

1 Timothy 4:7b-8 . . . discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8) for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

God’s grace and His Word is sufficient to handle the problems of life. We don’t have to run to some over-educated, over-priced psychologist to get help because God and His Word is all we need.

Man’s problems cannot be solved through psychology or any other human endeavor that excludes the spiritual dynamics unique to the Church Age. Throughout the ages, people have found the answer to their problems in the Bible, and that hasn’t changed. God’s promises and solutions are still very real and truly sufficient. This is not an attack on psychologists. Many of them may be good people; they just need to find a new career.

5. REVOLUTION

Revolution is an evil that seeks to overthrow legitimate authority. It is a power grab based on power lust. Resistance to tyranny is legitimate, but revolution only replaces tyranny with anarchy.

Proverbs 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion:

There is one common denominator in all of these types of evil that the Bible calls the root of all kinds of evil: THE LOVE OF MONEY.

1 Timothy 6:8-10 . . . If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9) But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Deuteronomy 16:19 . . . "You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

Isaiah 56:11-12 . . . And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one. 12) "Come," they say, "let us get wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink; And tomorrow will be like today, only more so."

Ezekiel 22:12 . . . In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me," declares the Lord GOD.

The World Is Consumed By Evil

“The root evil in the cosmos is that in it there is an all-comprehensive order or system which is methodized on a basis of complete independence of God. It is a manifestation of all that Satan can produce as a complete exhibition of that which enters into the original lie. It is the consummating display of that which the creature—both angelic and human—can produce, having embarked on an autonomous career. The cosmos is not a battleground whereon God is contending with Satan for supremacy; it is a thing which God has permitted, that the lie may have its fullest unveiling.”

Chafer, L. S. (1993). Vol. 2: Systematic Theology (100). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, p. 84

Revelation 12:9 . . . And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . .

1 John 5:19 . . . We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Jeremiah 9:1-3 . . . Oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 2) Oh that I had in the desert a wayfarers' lodging place; that I might leave my people and go from them! For all of them are adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. 3) "They bend their tongue like their bow; lies and not truth prevail in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me," declares the LORD.

You can’t change either doctrine or evil, but they can change you. The believer who seeks to change evil is changed by evil.

“Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). In the light of all this disclosure, the dreams of religious guides who predict a transformed, regenerated cosmos as a result of human effort in Christian service are seen to be without foundation. Satan’s deceptions continue until he is bound and consigned to the abyss”. Chafer, L. S. (1993). Vol. 2: Systematic theology (100). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, p. 100.

Our Lord Himself referred to Satan as the prince of this world, John 12:31,14:30, 16:11. We surely are in Comos Diaolicus, the Devils World, but we are not of this world, John 17:14 &16. That’s why Phil. 3:20 says “our citizenship is in heaven”. Believers are called “aliens” and “strangers” in, 1 Pet 2:11.

“It is not the reason of man, but the revelation of God, which points out that governments, morals, education, art, commercialism, vast enterprises and organizations, and much of religious activity are included in the cosmos diabolicus. That is, the system which Satan has constructed includes all the good which he can incorporate into it and be consistent in the thing he aims to accomplish. A serious question arises whether the presence of gross evil in the world is due to Satan’s intention to have it so, or whether it indicates Satan’s inability to execute all he has designed. The probability is great that Satan’s ambition has led him to undertake more than any creature could ever administer.” (1993). Vol. 2: Systematic Theology (100). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, p. 100

We live in a dangerous and exceedingly evil environment but we have nothing to fear. Our Lord Jesus Christ has already conquered the world and has prayed to the Father on our behalf:

John 17:14-17 . . . "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15) "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16) "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17) "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Left to our own devices and abilities, we would be torn apart by Satan and his demonic horde, but he can do nothing to us without God’s permission. God protects His faithful children from evil. We are not to fear him but are to fear God.

1 John 4:4 . . . You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 . . . Finally, brethren, pray for us . . . 2) that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men . . . 3) But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Psalm 97:10 . . . Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 121:7 . . . The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

Psalm 37:16-19 . . . Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked. 17) For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the LORD sustains the righteous. 18) The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will be forever. 19) They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have abundance.

Our God is so great and so powerful that He can take the evil that is used against us and turn it into good.

Genesis 50:20 . . . As for you [Joseph’s brothers], you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good . . .

Psalm 21:11-13 . . . Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed. 12) For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces. 13) Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.

Psalm 91

We can allow ourselves to be influenced by the evil in this world, but we have another problem that comes from within us. Believers have both exterior and interior evil attacks or influence on their lives.

Matthew 15:18-19 . . . the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19) "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

Prov. 12:20 . . . Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.

Rom. 7: 15-25

What should our attitude be towards evil?

Amos 5:14-15 . . . Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! 15 Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate [courts]!

God has given us the ability to overcome evil.

Romans 12:21 . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 16:17 . . . The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps His way preserves his soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 . . . But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22) abstain from every form of evil.

The good is the plan of God for believers, X + Y + Z. Once under the influence of evil, the only possible recovery comes from learning doctrine. The constant intake of doctrine is the only insulation from evil, because doctrine goes where evil would reside; in the KARDIA, the heart, and there doctrine combats evil.

Proverbs 2:10-15 . . . For wisdom [B.D.] will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11) Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12) To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14) Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15) Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;

Proverbs 1:32-33 . . . For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33) but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

We are to fear God, not evil.

Psalm 23:4 . . . Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me . . .

The fear [respect, awe] of the Lord helps us to stay out of evil.

Proverbs 16:6 . . . By lovingkindness and truth, iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. Expanded Translation: By grace and doctrine one recovers from reversionism: and by proper respect for the Lord, one keeps away from evil.

It is clear from scripture that we can keep away from evil and live a life free from it. It is also clear from scripture that we do not live a life free from sin and never will in this life. There is no such thing as sinless perfection but there is freedom from evil.

Proverbs 19:23 . . . The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

Proverbs 3:7 . . . Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Psalm 112:7 . . . He [the mature believer] will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Psalm 121:7 . . . The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

Proverbs 1:33 . . . But he who listens to me [B.D.] shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil."

Proverbs 2:10-14 . . . For wisdom [B.D.] will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11) Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, 12) to deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; 14) Who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil;

Proverbs 15:3 . . . The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

Believers will be influenced by evil or by doctrine. If you are influenced by doctrine you have great blessing for life and for eternity but if you are influenced by evil, there is no blessing in time and you will be a peon in heaven.

So many people fall for evil because it is packaged in the name of good, sincerity, sweetness, and light.

The attacks are subtle and only Bible doctrine in the soul alerts the believer to the danger.

The truth of God’s Word is the antidote to evil. Psalm 54:5 He will recompense the evil to my foes; destroy them in Your faithfulness [EHMETH = truth].

Isaiah 5:20 . . . Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

There is absolutely no evil in God: Psa. 5:4 God cannot be tempted nor does He tempt anyone with evil: James 1:13.

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

The word RA evilרַע  does not mean wickedness in this instance, but rather “sorrow, difficulties, tragedies, or trouble; those things which are the fruit of evil, the fruit of sin. This is the Old Testament way of saying, “The wages of sin is death …” Rom. 6:23. Here, contrasts are presented, first between light and its opposite, darkness, then between peace and its opposite, calamity.

This same usage of the word “evil” is found in the following verse:

Jonah 3:10 . . . And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way [wickedness]; and God repented of the evil [judgment, calamity], that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

The same word is used twice in this verse but with two different meanings. When God saw that the Assyrians turned from their evil way, He changed his policy from cursing to blessing. He spared them and did not bring the great calamity He had threatened to bring upon them.

Evil is a type of thinking more than specific acts, and it involves every attempt to solve the problems of life apart from God's grace and Bible doctrine.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF EVIL:

Gun control

CPS snatching children away from parents for using corporal punishment.

Government sponsored welfare

The Women’s liberation movement

Hate crime legislation

Acceptance and promotion of homosexuality

All unbiblical and unconstitutional governmental agencies, treaties, programs, regulations, and taxes

The media’s liberal bias, preoccupation with trivial nonsense, and promotion of sexual degeneracy

Multiculturalism

School systems and teachers who advance evolution and promote anti-Christian worldviews.

Promotion of racial partiality and hyphenated Americans. Examples: Afro-Americans Anti-Semitism, the KKK, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens)

Political correctness (chair person, Native Americans, significant other, higher power, assault weapon)

Tele-evangelists who lie and prey upon the ignorant populace for financial gain

Courts and judges who ignore the God-given rights of the people

Food manufactures who poison and adulterate food so they can make more money

Law firms and lawyers who use the threat of litigation to extort money from people and businesses

The corporate practice of using lobbyists to bribe politicians

The Catholic Church’s cover-up of priests who sexually abused children of their parishioners

Churches that use the “Purpose Driven” marketing techniques to increase attendance

From Country Bible Church

Mike Smith

Lessons #75–80 (10,11-2010) 1Thessalonians 5:22

http://countrybiblechurch.us/Doctrines/word/Evil.doc

The Doctrine of Evil

by Jim Brettell

A.  Definition.

     1.  Evil is the policy of Satan.

     2.  Evil is the modus operandi of Satan from the time of his fall until the time when he will no longer rule this world.

     3.  Evil is Satan's system by which he administers the rulership of this world.

     4.  Evil is the system produced by Satan that calls for the production of human good in mankind that would initiate a pseudo-millennium.

     5.  All evil has two sources: sin and human good.

     6.  Evil is the innovations and functions of the person who is consistently functioning in the cosmic system.

     7.  Evil causes an adverse trend in society; it destroys society; it causes society to malfunction; it causes the removal of legitimate authority established under the laws of divine establishment.

     8.  Just as grace and doctrine represent the genius of God in His relationship with the human race, so evil represents the genius of Satan in his relationship with the human race.

     9.  The Church Age is the intensified stage of the angelic conflict and during this stage the mentality of the believer’s soul is the battleground in the conflict.

     10.There are two ways of thinking.

           a.  Divine viewpoint uses doctrine with which to think and this thinking glorifies Christ.

           b.  Human viewpoint uses evil with which to think and this thinking dishonors Christ.

           c.   Therefore, one issue in the angelic conflict is thought versus thought, that is, divine viewpoint versus human viewpoint.

     11.Recovery from sin is instantaneous through the use of the rebound technique, but recovery from evil takes time through post-salvation epistemological rehabilitation.

     12.Evil is the human good panacea which attempts to solve a problem of life apart from a pertinent doctrine or pertinent law of divine establishment.

     13.Since God preceded Satan, doctrine and the laws of establishment preceded evil because God is the source of doctrine and the laws of establishment and Satan is the source of evil.

     14.Evil is any distortion of truth, no matter how slight the distortion.

     15.Evil is often a distortion of doctrine or a distortion of the laws of divine establishment.

     16.Evil comes in many forms:

           a.  Evil is altruistic humanitarianism, philanthropy, religion, legalism, reversionism, socialism, political internationalism, government interference, distortions of the law, bribery in government, reducing military preparedness, gun legislation, public welfare, and the United Nations.

           b.  Evil is the notion that government can abolish sickness, mental illness, economic problems, frustrations, and human problems by legislation and human solutions. The world's problems can never be solved apart from Bible doctrine and the laws of divine establishment.

           c.   Evil also includes social action, the social Gospel, restriction of human freedom for the greater good, the distortion of law to solve social and economic problems; i.e., the interference of government in business and free enterprise, setting restrictive regulations, legislating car requirements, government quotas, gun legislation.

           d.  The greatest of all evils is religion.

           e.  Evil is the thinking that makes a person an apostate, a reversionistic liberal, a functional bleeding-heart, or a person on a guilt-trip.

     17.The worst and most detrimental thing that can happen to a believer is to come under the influence of evil because recovery from evil can be lengthy and very painful.

B.  Etymology.

     1.  Hebrew.

           a.  Noun AWEN means evil in the sense of nothingness or vanity.

           b.  Adjective RA means evil, bad, worthless.

           c.   Noun ROA means badness of quality, evil.

           d.  Verb RAA means to be evil.

     2.  Greek.

           a.  Adjective KAKOS means evil, bad, worthless.

           b.  Adverb KAKOS means wickedly.

           c.   Noun KAKIA means depravity or wickedness; e.g., religion.

           d.  Adjective PONEROS means evil, worthless, degenerate; as a noun means the evil one

           e.  Noun PONERIA means maliciousness, sinfulness.

           f.   PHALLOS means evil in the sense of worthless.

C.  The Origin of Evil: Satan.

     1.  Evil originated and existed before human history. The means by which it was transmitted from previous creature existence to human history is Satan himself.

     2.  The origin of evil is Satan's genius to devise a system to oppose God.

     3.  Evil originated in angelic creation in the greatest creature to ever come from the hand of God.

     4.  Profile of Satan.

           a.  He is the highest of all creatures.

           b.  He is the ruler of one-third of all angels. Mt. 8:28; 9:34; 12:26; Lk. 11:18-19.

           c.   If Satan could take on human appearance, as fallen angels did before the Noahic Flood, he would be the most beautiful, smartest, and strongest of all human beings. He would have every form of attractiveness.

           d.  He is the central antagonist of the angelic conflict. Heb. 1-2; Gen. 6; 1 Pet. 3:18-22.

           e.  Being a super-genius, he is a great organizer. Eph. 6.

           f.   He is the original murderer. 1 Jn. 2; Jn. 8:44.

           g.  He is the ruler of the world. Lk. 4:5-7; Jn. 12:31; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2.

     5.  Satan has devised a system whereby people can be nice, lovely, and look good to society, and yet behind a facade of good, there lurks an evil, destructive person who is often self-

     6.  Satan controls most of Christianity through his cosmic system. The thing that makes people function in the cosmic system is arrogance.

     7.  Satan's plan is related to beating Christ to the millennium with his own production of a perfect world.

           a.  The more the world follows Satan’s plan, the greater the occurrence of degeneracy.

           b.  His plan seeks equality by destroying success and failure with legislation.

     8.  Satan's plans always look good to the unlearned, but it always results in degeneracy. L. S. Chafer put it best in his Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, pp. 100-101, 108-111.

     9.  1 Jn. 3:8, "When anyone commits a sin, he has become the agent of the devil.

           a.  The old sin nature is the source of temptation; volition is the only source of sin.

           b.  The decision to sin places the Christian immediately in the cosmic system, making the Christian an agent of the devil.

           c.   The works of the devil can only be destroyed by residence and function inside the divine dynasphere.

           d.  We are the products of our own decisions, therefore, we can bring disaster on

     10.Satan's strategies are found in the following passages:

           a.  regarding nations: Rev. 12:20.

           b.  regarding unbelievers: 2 Pet. 2; Lk. 8:12; 2 Cor. 4:34; 2 Thes. 2:7-10; Col. 2:8; Rev. 17.

           c.   regarding believers: 2 Cor. 2:11.

           d.  to accuse believers: Job 1:6-11; Zech. 3:1-2; Rev. 12:9-10.

           e.  teaches that the Lord defends us: 1 Jn. 2:1-2.

     11.Satan seeks to frustrate God’s will for every believer in the following areas:

           a.  what we think: Eph. 4:14.

           b.  where we are located. 1 Thes. 2:18.

           c.   what we do. Jas. 4:7-8.

     12.Satan especially seeks to keep the believer from functioning at gate 4 of the divine dynasphere, where we learn and apply Bible doctrine.

     13.Satan seeks to destroy the believer's focus so that he gets his eyes on other people, on himself (in self-pity), or on things, (e.g., logistical grace is not sufficient).

     14.Arrogance is the system by which Satan keeps the believer functioning the devil's world. His system is designed to distract believers by such things as entertainment, improving the world (crusader arrogance), occupation with temporal solutions to man's problems, social action, the welfare state, communism, fear, and religion.

     15.Religion is created by Satan to counterfeit the plan of God. Religion is man seeking God’s approval based upon his own works. Satan counterfeits the following.

           a.  The Gospel. 2 Cor. 4:3-4.

           b.  Ministers. 2 Cor. 11:13-15.

           c.   Doctrine. 2 Tim. 4:1.

           d.  The communion table. 2 Cor.10:19-21.

           e.  Spirituality. Gal. 3:2-3.

           f.   Righteousness. Mt. 19:16-28.

           g.  The power and dynamics of the divine dynaspheres. 2 Thes. 2:8-10.

           h.  He has counterfeit gods. 2 Thes. 2:3-4.

           i.    Counterfeit function in the cosmic system. Mt. 23:13-26.

     16.Satan's system of false teachers is part of his strategy.

           a.  They have a false and hypocritical facade, Mt. 7:15; Rom. 16:18.

           b.  They use human public relations as a system of flirtation. Gal. 4:17-18; 2 Tim. 3:5-7.

           c.   They appeal to arrogance and pride. 2 Cor. 10:12.

           d.  They promote idolatry as part of the devil's communion table.

D.  Characteristics of Evil.

     1.  Evil is a factor that the believer must face which was not judged at the cross. The believer must realize that he cannot confess evil in something like the rebound technique, because evil was not judged at the cross.

     2.  Human good and evil have been an issue since the fall of man, both before and after the cross. After the cross, the angelic conflict must continue in order to be resolved. The angelic conflict can only be resolved through human volition. Positive volition toward the cross results in faith in Jesus Christ, solving the problem of sin. But salvation could not resolve human good, lust, and evil, because the angelic conflict must continue with some

     3.  Man must be free to express his volition toward salvation, and toward sin after salvation in the rebound technique. But evil must continue or there is no angelic conflict. This is because Satan must have his "equal time." Therefore, human good and evil continue right down to the Second Advent.

     4.  Man must not only be free to express his volition toward the cross and toward sin after being saved in rebound, but he must also be free to express his volition in the same way Christ did on the cross when He rejected, separated from, and divorced Himself from human good and evil. This takes a lot of doctrine for the believer to do this experientially. The believer's positive volition toward doctrine develops divine viewpoint thinking which rejects evil.

     5.  Anything not judged does not have a one-second solution. In one second, you can believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. Likewise, in one second you can confess a sin and be forgiven. But there is no one-second solution to anything dealing with evil.

     6.  That's why the post-salvation epistemological rehabilitation is a daily thing that must go on and on and on in order that you might be able to resist evil. The more doctrine you have, the more you reject evil.

     7.  All human good is the application of evil to experience.

     8.  The whole purpose of water baptism as a picture of retroactive positional truth was to teach the rejection of evil.

     9.  Evil and its various aspects become the greatest distraction to doctrine, because it catches doctrine at the point of your thinking.

E.  Biblical Documentation.

     1.  The mature believer should be able to distinguish between honor and evil.

           a.  Heb. 5:13-14, "But solid food [sound doctrine] is belonging to the mature, the ones who because of academic self-discipline keep having their perceptive faculties well-trained with reference to differentiating between both the honorable and the evil."

           b.  Therefore, the mature believer rightly divides the Word of Truth so as to distinguish between honor and evil.

     2.  Motivating evil exists in the thought pattern of the soul. Evil and degeneracy start with a thought.

           a.  Mt. 6:23, "But if your eye is evil, the entire body is full of darkness [cosmic involvement].

           b.  Mt. 15:19, "For out of the right lobe comes evil thoughts.

     3.  Bible doctrine resident in the soul plus yieldedness to God the Holy Spirit avoids thinking evil.

           a.  Impersonal love from maximum doctrine in the soul eliminates evil.

           b.  It takes much doctrine to reject evil.

     4.  The divine dynasphere is the only real protection against evil.

           a.  1 Cor. 13:5, "The love [virtue-love] does not behave dishonorably, is not preoccupied with self, is not hypersensitive, does not think evil."

           b.  "Love" refers to virtue-love.

           c.   Personal love can think evil, but impersonal love, a function of the royal family honor code, cannot think evil.

           d.  It is virtue-love which defeats evil.

     5.  The believer in the cosmic system is constantly frustrated by evil.

           a.  Rom. 7:19, "For what I desire I do not do, but what I do not desire [evil], this I keep

           b.  Sincere do-gooders are significant practicers of evil.

           c.   The more involved a person becomes in sincere human good crusades, the more he intensifies his evil.

     6.  The believer is therefore warned to beware of those who practice evil. Phi. 3:2.

           a.  Even legitimate things are mutilated or distorted.

           b.  To beware does not necessarily mean to avoid, but to understand.

     7.  Believers are specifically warned not to be influenced by evil, but by doctrine. 3 Jn. 11. "Beloved, do not be imitators of the evil but of the good.

     8.  False doctrine is both evil and insanity. Ecc. 9:3 refers to psychotic arrogance.

     9.  Those who are under the influence of evil always have a price.

           a.  1 Tim 6:10, "The love of money is the root of all evils."

           b.  It is a dangerous temptation to any poor believer to chase after money so as to neglect Bible doctrine.

     10.Influence by evil explains why prayers are not answered. Job 35:9-13

     11.Believers are often led into the cosmic system and evil by their Christian friends.

           a.  1 Cor. 15:33, "Evil companions corrupt good morals.

           b.  2 Thes. 3:2-3, "That we may be delivered from perverse and evil men, for all believers do not have doctrine; but the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen you and protect you from evil."

     12.God protects the believer with positive volition toward doctrine and lives inside the divine dynasphere.

           a.  Pro.12:21, "No evil happens to the righteous.

           b.  Ps. 37:17, "But the Lord sustains the righteous.

           c.   Ps. 91:10, "No evil will befall you; . . .

           d.  Ps 121:7; Pro. 1:33, "The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will guard your soul."

           e.  Pro. 2:11-13, "The wise sees the evil and hides himself, but the stupid goes on and is punished for it."

     13.The attitude of the mature believer toward evil is stated in Ps 84:10. "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand days in the cosmic system. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of My Lord than to dwell in the tents of evil."

     14.Submission to the authority of establishment prevents evil and the influence of evil. Ecc. 8:2-5. A leader can do anything he wants in his private life as long as he does his job well as a leader. Rulers do have a right to their privacy.

     15.The laws of divine establishment are designed to protect the citizens of the nation from evil.

           a.  Rom. 13:3-4 "Do you desire not to fear the authority? Therefore, keep on doing the good and you will have recognition from it. For it [government] is a minister of God to you for the purpose of good. But if you do evil, be afraid. For he does not wear the sword for nothing.”

           b.  Capital punishment is designed to separate out evil crimes.

           c.   Evil in the soul is like hydrophobia; it must be removed from society. If it is not, crime rages wild in society.

           d.  Once under the influence of evil, the criminal may never change; he may always be destructive; however, criminals with no evil can be resuscitated.

           e.  By protecting against evil, the laws of divine establishment give freedom and protection for evangelization and for the teaching of Bible doctrine.

     16.The domination of good in a nation determines its historical prosperity, while the domination of evil determines its historical judgment. Pro. 12:20; Ps. 34:16

           a.  If the nation through its law does not remove its criminals by death, the Lord will punish the entire nation for their failure. Disaster will come in one or more forms.

                 i.    Is. 13:11, "Thus I will punish the world for its evil. I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and abase the pride of the dictator."

                 ii.   Is. 47:10-11

           b.  That which limits crime is humility and respect for authority.

                 i.    Failure to cope with evil leads to destruction of the nation. Micah 1:12

                 ii.   Amos 5:14-15, "Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the court; consequently, the Lord God of the armies will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

     17.Evil is distinguished from war and disease. Jeremiah 28:8

           a.  Sin and evil occur in war, but war as a category is not evil. War brings national freedom. The same is true of disease.

           b.  Our Lord said there is a time for war, a time to talk, and a time to kill.

           c.   War is not sin; it is inevitable and a necessity.

           d.  Disease in itself is not sinful, though sin and evil are associated with disease. Not all people who are sick are being disciplined by God.

F.  The system of evil has two cosmic Dynasphere.

     1.  Cosmic one (26 gates) is called the interlocking systems of arrogance in which the believer grieves the Holy Spirit.

     2.  Cosmic two (nine gates) is called the interlocking systems of hatred in which the believer quenches the Spirit.

G.  Evil and the Emotional Revolt of the Soul.

     1.  Emotion revolts in the fourth stage of reversionism against mentality.

     2.  You can always tell historically when emotion takes over because there is a tremendous change in culture, for example, in music and drama, which go from being great, honorable, and romantic to being perverse, sick, and irrational.

     3.  Many people are still propagandized by music, drama, and art trends.

     4.  Emotion has no ability to think, no standards, no honor, no morality, and no establishment.

H.  Grace Versus Evil.

     1.  Every generation in the human race has to choose between the grace policy of God and the evil policy of Satan.

     2.  It is the genius of God that has perpetuated the issue of volition throughout human history and throughout the human race, therefore, the issue before the royal family is whether it is influenced by doctrine or evil? Adam and Eve faced this same issue in the Garden of

     3.  Doctrine is the grace provision that neutralizes evil in the soul, Ps 54:5; Rom 12:21.

     4.  The mandate of Rom. 12:21 regarding evil: "Stop being conquered by evil, but conquer evil by means of the good."

           a.  This refers to the function of the plan of God, X+Y+Z.

           b.  The divine system for the administration of the good is residence and function in the divine dynaspheres, therefore, the only way to "overcome evil with good" is to advance in the plan of God through the consistent perception of doctrine.

     5.  Evil distorts grace, Ps 38:19-20, 52:1.

           a.  The Psalm 38 passage says that anytime a person follows the absolute good and doctrine, he is subject to many attacks of evil, both subtle and obvious.

           b.  1 Cor. 15:33, "Be not deceived; evil companions corrupt good morals."

     6.  There is no evil in God. Ps. 5:4; Jas. 1:13-15.

           a.  It is impossible for any of God's attributes to be evil. He is minus the evil things Satan does all the time.

           b.  That there is no evil in God indicates the great dividing line in the angelic conflict.

I.   Protection from Evil.

     1.  There is divine protection from evil for the positive believer.

           a.  Ps 37:16-19, "They [mature believers] will not be ashamed in the time of evil; in the day of depression they will still have abundance.

           b.  Ps 91:10, 97:10, 119:101, 121:7; Prov 2:10-14.

           c.   Prov 1:33, "He who listens to Me shall live in security, and shall be at ease without fear of evil.

           d.  Prov 16:6, "By occupation with the Lord, one avoids evil.

           e.  Prov 19:23 teaches that there is divine protection from evil all around.

     2.  The constant intake of doctrine is our insulation from evil, and doctrine in the right lobe combats evil.

J.   More Principles on Evil.

     1.  Reversionists are influenced by evil.

           a.  Psalm. 36:1-4

           b.  John. 3:19

     2.  Evil rationalizes. Isaiah. 5:20, "Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil." Since evil must avoid any guilt reaction, it must rationalize by distorting the conscience and setting up its own norms and standards.

     3.  Conspiracy and revolution is evil.

           a.  Psalm 64:4-5 To shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear. They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, "Who can see them?" (NORMS AND STANDARDS)

           b.  Proverbs 17:11 A rebellious man seeks only evil, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. (NORMS AND STANDARDS)

     4.  If a person is anti-authority, he is evil, because evil always attacks authority. No problems can ever be solved by assassination.

     5.  Evil is self-destructive, Ps 34:21; Prov 24:19-20. This explains why David lived while Saul died the sin unto death. Evil people always try to solve the world's problems by violence; e.g., anti-Semitism, which is three evils and two sins.

     6.  Evil seeks to build happiness on someone else's unhappiness, Ps 35:12. When evil is repaid for good, it always hurts the soul of the one who did good. You haven't lived until this happens to you!

     7.  God judges evil, Ps 34:16; Isa 13:11. God uses Evil One to punish Evil Two because evil responds to evil. People respond to their leaders, and if the leader is evil, so will the people be evil. As an illustration, Hitler was accepted in his evil, and so was his nation evil.

     8.  Bible doctrine and evil were here before we came into the world. You cannot change either doctrine or evil, but they can change you. The believer who seeks to change evil is changed by evil.

     9.  The principle of historical trends.

           a.  The uptrends of history are caused by the evangelization of mankind, followed by the communication and reception of the mystery doctrine of the Church Age.

           b.  The downtrends of history are caused by a maximum number of people living in Satan's cosmic system under the influence of evil.

           c.   Therefore, there are no tragedies in history. Historical disaster is related to certain cosmic trends based on evil, e.g., the demand for power exceeds the need for power.

           d.  Isa 47:11, "Evil shall come upon you and you will not understand its origin. Consequently, national disaster shall fall on you, and you will not be able to avert it; suddenly destruction shall come to you, and you will not understand."

     10.Remember that evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world, and Satan is the greatest creature genius. Using his genius against God led to his evil, for his arrogance led to revolution which led to evil.

     11.While evil and sin originate from Satan, the source of man's evil is different. Man's sin comes from his old sin nature, whereas the source of evil is his right lobe in the mentality of his soul. Sin comes from the old sin nature; evil comes from your thinking, from the thoughts of your right lobe and frame of reference. Remember, you are what you think.

     12.Good and evil must continue as part of the angelic conflict. Good and evil must continue to challenge us as to which way we will go: Satan's way or God's way.

     13.Evil will not be solved until Satan is removed as the ruler of this world, until he is incarcerated at the Second Advent in Gehenna.

     14.Evil can only be avoided by establishing a command post of the soul, Heb 13:10. Evil can only be handled in each generation by those who are influenced by Bible doctrine.

     15.Evil cannot understand life. In evil, there is no such thing as reality. People who are influenced by evil do not know reality nor can they face reality. When disaster strikes, people do not recognize the evil that originated it.

     16.Evil is blind to the correct interpretation of history and does not understand life. This is because scar tissue on the soul believes the lie. Evil is divorced from reality. Reality says there is sin and evil in life.

K.  Jesus Christ controls history.

     1.  In spite of evil, Jesus Christ continues to control history in three ways.

           a.  Direct control based on His own divine sovereignty will be brought more forcibly to the earth at the Second Advent.

           b.  Indirect control occurs through the laws of divine establishment. Destroying the laws of divine establishment results in anarchy and revolutions. Any people who have ever tried violent solutions have never found answers to their problems. Violence and revolution has never been the answer. God will demonstrate this at the Gog and Magog Revolution at the Second Advent.

           c.   Permissive control is God permitting evil to run its course during the angelic conflict.

     2.  Prov 16:3-4 summarizes the principle. Therefore, evil is going to run its course in human history, but evil should not be a deterrent to your spiritual growth. You advance spiritually in spite of evil. In other words, you don't throw up your hands and say "It's useless!"

     3.  Isa 45:7, "The One forming light and creating darkness [God created the creature who created darkness]; the One manufacturing prosperity and the One creating the evil one; I Jehovah, am the One manufacturing all of these things [Jesus Christ controls history]."

L.  The saturation of evil means national destruction.

     1.  A vigorous nation can sin vigorously, but that doesn't mean destruction will fall upon it. Sin is not the issue; evil is.

     2.  The fourth cycle of discipline is economic disaster, Lev 25-26. The fifth cycle of discipline is being taken over by a foreign power. Isa 47:10-11, "Because you have trusted in your evil . . . " is a description of nations influenced by evil.

     3.  Nations not influenced by Bible doctrine or by the laws of divine establishment have a tendency to be influenced by one or more forms of evil.

     4.  There are three things a nation must have for survival and blessing: evangelism, spiritual growth in local churches by means of pastor-teachers teaching doctrine, and the laws of divine establishment functioning within the framework of the government.

M. Evil never understands grace function, Mt 19:27-30.

     1.  Matt 20 is the Parable of the Vineyard Workers. (Note especially verse 16.)

     2.  The Bible always advocates capitalism and free enterprise.

     3.  Evil is always antagonistic towards grace and always seeks to manipulate grace.

     4.  God's standards for maturity and qualifications for blessing are the same for every believer: advance to spiritual maturity.

     5.  It is therefore blind arrogance for any believer to suggest or imply that he has achieved what no other believer ever has, or that he has had some unique experience, or that his life is more important than anyone else's.

     6.  Blind arrogance divorces the believer from the reality of spiritual things. Blind arrogance comes in many forms: legalism, salvation by works, spirituality by works, maturity by works. All three are signs of evil.

     7.  So the person who assumes that the plan of God stands or falls on the basis of his behavior is arrogant and under the influence of evil. The plan of God depends on the essence of God, never on what we do.

     8.  Peter was like the arrogant person who sets up false standards, and then by complying with those false standards concludes that he is a great believer. Arrogance assumes many incorrect things, and always slips so easily into evil. (For more amplification, see Phil #59.)

     9.  Like believers in reversionism and evil, the labor union of Matt 20 had erroneous standards. Only blind arrogance made them cling to their standards instead of yielding to the superior standards of management. Labor becomes evil by complaining and judging management. The Bible calls the owner AGATHOS, for he kept his word.

     10.So blind arrogance keeps the believer from yielding to the superior standard of God's matchless and perfect grace. Grace is related to doctrine, never to works.

     11.Rewards for the believer in eternity depend on God's policy of grace, not on the arrogant, legalistic, anthropocentric evil standards of blind fundamentalism. God neither blesses in time nor rewards in eternity on the basis of arrogant standards of legalists. All His blessing is based on His grace standards.

     12.You don't make covenants or contracts with God. When you know and love Him, you depend on His wisdom to deal faithfully with you at all times.

     13.So the "first" in this passage are those under the influence of evil. The "last" are the mature believers, depending on God's grace standards.

N.  Evil as Distinguished from evil.

     1.  Evil is distinguished from evil in the administration of the fifth cycle of discipline. Jonah 3:10

     2.  The people were first thinking evil, which led to the fifth cycle of discipline, which is always administered through evil. But God let them off from the fifth cycle of discipline, allowing the other evil to continue. So there are two kinds of evil.

           a.  There is evil in a national entity when the people are negative to the laws of divine establishment, or when believers reject Bible doctrine and go into reversionism.

           b.  The fifth cycle of discipline is called an evil. "An evil to an evil nation." In other words, God matches the punishment to the crime. He uses evil one to judge evil two.

O.  Testimonies Concerning Evil.

     1.  Jacob: Gen 48:16, "The angel who has redeemed me from all evil.

     2.  Joseph: Gen 50:20, "You intended evil against me, but God meant it for good.

     3.  David: Ps 84:10, 37:25-27, "I have been young, now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread. Depart from evil and do good; therefore, live a long time.

     4.  Job: Job 28:28, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; to shun evil is understanding of doctrine.

     5.  Solomon: Prov 16:6,17, "And by occupation with the Lord one stays away from evil. The highway of the mature believer is to depart from evil.

     6.  Isaiah: Isa 59:15, "And the one who turns aside into evil makes himself vulnerable.

     7.  Jeremiah: Jer 23:21-22, 9:3.

     8.  The Lord Jesus Christ: Jn 17, "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to guard them from evil."

P.  The Final Mandate.

     1.  1 Thes 5:22, "Abstain from every form of evil."

     2.  Evil is both a principle and a function.

           a.  As a principle, it is associated with something you believe.

           b.  As a principle, it is a thought in the head,

           c.   As a function, it is something that you do.

           d.  As a function, it is the application of what you believe.

Although this came from a website operated by Jim Brettell (by way of R. B. Thieme, Jr.), I can no longer find it online.

Evil in the Old Testament

One of the great words in the Old Testament is the word for evil, one which linguists dispute over. Strong, who completed his landmark work a century ago has been updated by the Brown Driver Briggs lexicon. Most of the time, whereas Strong might see two or three words, there is, in reality, one Hebrew word. This is one of the few situations where BDB finds three words where Strong saw but one. There is strong disagreement among scholars as to whether there are three words and when is is it this word and not that word? Here is what the disagreement breaks down to: BDB sees this word as an adjective, as a masculine substantive and as a feminine substantive whereas Strong saw it as an adjective which could be, and often was, used as a noun. In the Hebrew, a adjective, in general, will agree with the noun in gender and in number (with some exceptions when it comes to number). With a word this great, used hundreds of times in the Old Testament, I do not yet feel qualified to make final, sweeping judgement. We could, however, study how it has been used thus far in Genesis. In the masculine, the word is ra‛ (עַר ) [pronounced rah] and it means adversity, affliction, calamity, evil, displeasing, misery, distress. The feminine form is râ‛âh (הָעָר ) [pronounced raw-AWH]. To add to the confusion, there is a verb râ‛a‛ (עַעָר ) [pronounced raw-AH] which means to be bad, to be evil, and, unfortunately is not easily distinguished from the adjective or noun when it is in the Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular.

How to organize this, even in the book of Genesis, is tough. I want to classify it by how it is used, in which of the three ways; but then I want to classify it under its various meanings (as is done in a lexicon); but a chronological usage, as revelation is progressive, would be a possible choice.

      I.Evil as a masculine substantive:

1.  We are introduced to evil when God causes to grow out of the ground the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (see the appropriate doctrine). Prior to the eating of this tree, man lived in what is termed innocence. There was but one sin and that was partaking of this tree. Gen. 2:9

2.  Man was warned that if he ate from this tree, in that day, dying he would die. Gen. 2:17

3.  Satan tempted the woman by telling her that if she ate from this tree, she would become like God, understanding good and evil. Gen. 3:5

4.  After Adam and the woman ate of the tree, God said that they have become like us [possibly, him], knowing both good and evil. Gen. 3:22

5.  Man's wickedness or evil was great on the earth in Gen. 6:5 (since this is modified by an adjective, we can ascertain that evil here is a substantive). This gives us some clue as to the meaning of evil. The earth was filled with violence and all flesh had become corrupted (Gen. 6:11–12)

6.  In a passage where it would be disputed whether ra‛ is an adjective or a substantive, Laban points out to Jacob that he could do him harm, meaning that he could take his life and then take his wives and children back with him (Gen. 31:29).

7.  

      II.Evil as a feminine substantive:

1.  The first use of evil as a feminine substantive is found in Gen. 19:19. Lot is basically a city person who is told to flee Sodom. He does not want to go to the mountains because some disaster might befall him. That is the word ra‛ah. It is an evil not in the sense of vile, insidious and pernicious but circumstantial, causing either death or great discomfort to Lot. This use is completely different from what we have already studied.

2.  The second time we find this adjective in the feminine, it again is clearly a weaker use of the word evil. Isaac and Abimelech are having disagreements over the wells and Abimelech realizes that God is with Isaac. He then takes an oath from Isaac to do him no harm. Gen. 26:28–29

3.  

      III.Evil as an adjective:

1.  Every purpose and impulse of man was continually evil in Gen. 6 (Gen. 6:5) (we know that this is an adjective since it is modified by an adverb).

2.  Man's the purposes and impulses of man's heart is evil from his youth up (Gen. 8:21). This means that even prior to the age of God-conciousness, man's old sin nature is fully functioning.

3.  God classified the men of Sodom as evil; their evil was so great, that God had to wipe out five cities in that area. Their evil manifested itself in homosexual lust and sex crimes, in this case, homosexual rape (Gen. 13:13

4.  This word is not always used for unbelievably insidious evil. When asked by Abraham's slave to give Rebekah to him for Isaac, Laban said, "This matter comes from the Lord, so we cannot speak to you bad or good." Gen. 24:50

5.  Although many translations translate this use of evil as a verb, we have the feminine adjective when describing the wives of Esau in Gen. 28:8. As a substantive, the feminine seems to weaken the strength of the concept of evil, and here seems to be a similar usage. In Isaac's eyes, these two Canaanite women were not pleasing.

6.  While Laban is pursuing Jacob, God warns Laban in a dream not to speak to Jacob in a manner which is bad or good. It sounds as though he has been enjoined not to pass judgment over Jacob and what Jacob did, however that is the first thing he does, following it by a recounting of his dream and what God said to him. So there is more to this than just speaking good or evil. What is implied is that Laban passes legal judgement over Jacob and uses his superior force to enact punishment. However, Jacob himself offers to execute the person guilty of stealing the household idols (Gen. 31:19–32).

7.  We find the adjectival use of ra‛, matched with the feminine of the word pillar, when Laban and Jacob erect a pillar to demarcate the boundary between them, so that neither one would cross over that boundary to do the other one harm. Gen. 31:52

8.  Joseph takes to his father an unfavorable report concerning his brothers in Gen. 37:2. The adjective ra‛a and the noun are both in the feminine gender.

9.  It is used to describe an animal in vv. 20 & 33; both are in the feminine and this could be conceivably translated a wild beast as contrasted with a domesticated animal.

     IV. Evil used as a verb:

1.  The verb is found for the first time in Gen. 19:7 & 9 when Lot attempts to dissuade the crowd of degenerates from raping the two angels which have come to Sodom. In the causative stem, he is asking these degenerates to not cause evil to the strangers. In v. 9, the men in the crowd tell Lot that they will cause evil to him as well.

2.  

     V. Conclusion:

1.  In most cases, ra‛, when used as a masculine substantive, implies degenerate evil, often with sexual degeracy overtones.

2.  As a masculine adjective, the meaning may be softened somewhat by the context.

3.  As a feminine substantive, the meaning is definitely softened into meaning harm, bad, unfavored.