Epicurus

[Mogget]

Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able?


Then he is notomnipotent.


Is he able but not willing?


Then he is malevolent.


Is he both able and willing?


Then why cometh evil?


Is he neither willing nor able?


Then why call him god?


~Epicurus

 

[marlowe007]

Contrary to popular belief, Epicurus was not making an argument for atheism here. Even he himself believed in gods that lived happily in a distant wold of their own, not caring about mortals.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

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[Lanny P]

The problem is with the entire chain of "logic." Logic doesn't dictate that an ominpotent, all-loving God is obligated to create a perpetual Happy Land for his creatures. The question "Then why cometh evil?" is a legitimate one, but there can be any number of answers consistent with an ominpotent, all-loving God: Because what we perceive as evil is actually not evil from the perspective of an ominpotent, all-loving God ... or (my belief) that an omnipotent, all-loving God knows that encounters with evil are a necessity if his creatures are going to mature as morally responsible beings.

 

[Jpark]

This is going to be fun.

 

[Jpark]

Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able?


Then he is notomnipotent.


Is he able but not willing?


Then he is malevolent.


Is he both able and willing?
Yes.

Then why cometh evil?
Evil cometh to fulfill the perfect will of God.

For the perfect will of God is manifest in this:

Lucifer sinned (Ezekiel 28:16), and incited autonomy (Genesis 3:5), rebellion, and disobedience in man, and he brought the knowledge of evil to man, for he was a good angel who became evil, and Adam sinned and through Adam, sin entered the world, and death through sin (Romans 5:12), so that the Son of God is manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and will be crucified (Matthew 26:39) and will shed His blood (Matthew 26:28).

For God so loved the world (John 3:16) that His Son indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (1 Peter 1:20). Know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin (1 John 3:5).

Is he neither willing nor able?


Then why call him god?


~Epicurus

God permitted the entrance of evil so He could come as Jesus Christ, shed His blood, die on the cross for our sins, and so that people will believe in Him and will be saved.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

You don't really believe God didn't see this coming, did you? Genesis 3:15 reveals God anticipated the arrival and coming of evil into the world.