alexanderjames
Puritan Board Sophomore
This is not something new.
It’s the charge that John Calvin taught that God commands or controls evil in Satan, demons and the wicked, and therefore blasphemously calls God as the author of evil.
I was in debate with someone regarding the interpretation of Calvin on this matter, namely in his “Institutes”.
I quote the other person “Calvin says God commands, forces, and impels the evil deeds of Satan, evil men and demons.”
To give some additional context, the following quotes were references to support this charge. In defence, I had essentially said (among other things) that God in wisdom actively directs and uses the evil designs of Satan for His purposes in glory, but that God is not the author of such evil nor can any evil be ascribed to Him. I believe God says in effect to Satan “thus far you shall go, and no further”, citing Job 1 as support.
The quotations from Calvin’s Institutes:
Book 1 Chapter 14 Section 17-18:
"With regard to the strife and war which Satan is said to wage with God, it must be understood with this qualification, that Satan cannot possibly do anything against the will and consent of God."
Section 18:
"God thus turning the unclean spirits hither and thither at his pleasure..."
Book 1 Chapter 17 Section 5-11
"I concede more -that thieves and murderers, and other evil-doers, are instruments of divine providence, being employed by the Lord himself to execute judgments which he has resolved to inflict."
Section 11:
But when they call to mind that the devil, and his whole train of the ungodly, are, in all directions, held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so that they can neither conceive any mischief, nor plan what they have conceived, nor how much soever they may have planned, move a single finger to penetrate, unless insofar as he permits, no, unless he commands; that they are not only bound by his fetters, but are even forced to do him service..."
Book 1 Chapter 18 Section 2-3:
"I admit, indeed, that God often acts in the reprobate by interposing the agency of Satan; but in such a manner, that Satan himself performs his part, just as he is impelled, and succeeds only insofar as he is permitted."
Section 3:
"I have already shown that God is the
author of all those things which, according to these objectors, happen only by his inactive permission. He testifies that he creates light and darkness, forms good and evil; that no evil happens which he has not done."
It’s the charge that John Calvin taught that God commands or controls evil in Satan, demons and the wicked, and therefore blasphemously calls God as the author of evil.
I was in debate with someone regarding the interpretation of Calvin on this matter, namely in his “Institutes”.
I quote the other person “Calvin says God commands, forces, and impels the evil deeds of Satan, evil men and demons.”
To give some additional context, the following quotes were references to support this charge. In defence, I had essentially said (among other things) that God in wisdom actively directs and uses the evil designs of Satan for His purposes in glory, but that God is not the author of such evil nor can any evil be ascribed to Him. I believe God says in effect to Satan “thus far you shall go, and no further”, citing Job 1 as support.
The quotations from Calvin’s Institutes:
Book 1 Chapter 14 Section 17-18:
"With regard to the strife and war which Satan is said to wage with God, it must be understood with this qualification, that Satan cannot possibly do anything against the will and consent of God."
Section 18:
"God thus turning the unclean spirits hither and thither at his pleasure..."
Book 1 Chapter 17 Section 5-11
"I concede more -that thieves and murderers, and other evil-doers, are instruments of divine providence, being employed by the Lord himself to execute judgments which he has resolved to inflict."
Section 11:
But when they call to mind that the devil, and his whole train of the ungodly, are, in all directions, held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so that they can neither conceive any mischief, nor plan what they have conceived, nor how much soever they may have planned, move a single finger to penetrate, unless insofar as he permits, no, unless he commands; that they are not only bound by his fetters, but are even forced to do him service..."
Book 1 Chapter 18 Section 2-3:
"I admit, indeed, that God often acts in the reprobate by interposing the agency of Satan; but in such a manner, that Satan himself performs his part, just as he is impelled, and succeeds only insofar as he is permitted."
Section 3:
"I have already shown that God is the
author of all those things which, according to these objectors, happen only by his inactive permission. He testifies that he creates light and darkness, forms good and evil; that no evil happens which he has not done."
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