The concept of Evil thing in Christianity
The keyphrase "Evil thing" encompasses various interpretations within Christianity, reflecting hardships, immoral actions, and spiritual corruption. It highlights the sufferings of individuals like Lazarus, contrasts the righteous with unrepentant sinners, and identifies wrongful thoughts that defile a person. Moreover, it outlines actions contrary to God's will, resulting in negative consequences. Evil things are depicted as entities that hinder a person's relationship with God and provoke moral degradation, pointing to the importance of self-denial and righteousness in overcoming these challenges.
Synonyms: Wicked act, Wicked entity, Malignant force, Malevolent being, Immoral action, Wicked being
In Dutch: Kwaad ding; In Finnish: Paha juttu; In Spanish: Cosa malvada; In German: Böse Sache; In Malay: Perkara jahat; In Dutch: Kwaadaardig ding; In Swedish: Ond sak; In French: Chose maléfique; In Finnish: Paha asia
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Christian concept of 'Evil thing'
From: Ante-nicene Fathers
(1) An evil thing is something that those who are carried away by it do not venture to defend as good, and which is often concealed.[1] (2) An action that should be avoided, particularly one that causes distress or grief to another person, implying a moral obligation to refrain from causing harm.[2] (3) Undesirable occurrences, such as fevers, conflagrations, adultery, murders, thefts, and the traits of haughty and stolid men, which are attributed to the influence of evil stars within the astrological framework.[3] (4) This refers to something that is not inherently bad but becomes so when misused, as exemplified by iron's transformation through application to false uses.[4] (5) These are negative outcomes, which originate from an evil source, demonstrating the link between inner character and external results.[5]
From: Gospel of Thomas Commentary
(1) Things that are profoundly immoral, are mentioned as originating from the heart.[6] (2) Negative outcomes or statements produced from a person's corrupted inner self.[7]
From: Expositions of Holy Scripture
(1) These are the things which 'quench the Spirit,' and the text says that the cleansing energy operates on us in proportion as we seek to deny ourselves and put away these.[8] (2) The concept that represents the wrongdoings of individuals, which are associated with negative consequences and the warnings from a divine being.[9] (3) These are the hardships or challenges, and the text implies that Lazarus carried these alone.[10] (4) This represents something bad and undesirable, indicating the presence of wrongdoing and a state of moral corruption that results from abandoning the divine presence.[11] (5) The actions that must be put away to see Christ, as indicated in the text.[12]
From: The Complete Sayings of Jesus
(1) Actions, words, or qualities that are considered negative or harmful, and originate from an evil source.[13] (2) The hardships and sufferings experienced by Lazarus, which were reversed after both he and the rich man died.[14] (3) Refers to a list of immoral actions and thoughts that originate from within a man, which Jesus identified as true sources of defilement.[15]
From: Bible cyclopedia, critical and expository
(1) The sufferings endured by Lazarus during his life, underlining the hardship faced by the righteous in contrast to the unrepentant sinner.[16]
From: Summa Theologica (English translation)
(1) This refers to situations involving harm or injury, and is linked to the virtue of revenge in the context of justice.[17] (2) The wrongful actions taken by individuals which result in punishment during the judgment process.[18] (3) Actions deemed sinful or wrongful, intensified by envy as stated in the moral evaluation of human behavior.[19] (4) Actions or circumstances that are contrary to good and are not willed by God.[20] (5) Negative or harmful elements that are not operable by God but still fall under His practical knowledge due to His allowance or intervention.[21]
From: Works of St. Anselm
(1) Additional sinful actions or negative aspects that can be added to those already identified.[22]
From: The city of God
(1) This describes the state of things that are not naturally and inherently evil, the defection of the will is evil, and is contrary to the order of nature.[23]
From: The Book of the Bee
(1) Job questioned whether he should not receive the evil things of God, having received the good things, demonstrating his faith.[24]
From: The Kebra Nagast
(1) King Solomon did not want the people to think it was this, when he took their sons, according to the provided text.[25]