Evil
Evil
We can and should certainly ask the question "What is evil"?
The Greek words translated into the English word evil are numerous.
The inspired authors of the sacred text chose specific words to place in the original text to describe what they meant to say, share, and pass down to us.
By looking at these original terms we may get some inspired insight into that ancient mystery of what is good and evil?
Poneros
The one of the more common Greek term translated evil is poneros[1] which appears 76 timed and normally translated evil but is actually defined as "full of labors" or a bad condition. The bondage of Egypt was full of labors and was a bad condition which the people were never to return to again. We see poneros translated grievous in Revelation 16:2 "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous <4190> sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image. The word noisome in this verse is from the Greek term kakos'[2] which is the other Greek word commonly translated evil.
Why are these two words commonly translated evil appearing in this verse together where neither of them is translated evil?
kakos
The Greek term kakos (κακός)[2], as an adjective ’ is translated evil more than 40 times, but the term kakós (κακῶς)[3] is only translated evil twice even though it appears 16 times.
The term kakos (κακός) is not only translated evil but also: wicked, bad, mean, foul, malefic in the sense of "morally corrupt".
While the term kakós (κακῶς) in the sense of quality may be someone or something that is "bad, worthless, useless"; as a condition of circumstance it may be "injurious, wretched, unhappy"; as a measure of character it would be describing a "low, mean, vile, evil" individual. Context will determine these variations.
Compound words
Some of the compound words said to be from the adjective Kakos would include words like kakopoios[4], is translated evildoer 4 times and malefactor once, while the term kakourgos[5] is also translated "malefactor" 3 times and "evil doer" once. The verb kakopoieo[6] is translated "do evil" or "evil doing".
Of course there are the verbs like kakoo[7] to oppress or inflict harm, or kakoucheo[8] to treat ill, oppress, plague.
There still more Greek compound words like kakoetheia[9] bad character, depravity of heart and life, kakologeo[10] speak evil, kakopatheia[11] the suffering of evil, and kakopatheo[12] to suffer (endure) evils.
Aristotle saw that a life that involves the exercise of the highest faculties, fulfilling a person's telos or end was expressed with the word agathos[13] which has been identified with virtue, or the absence of desire, or conformity to duty. So if good is ethics and virtue then evil is their absence.
Resurrection of damnation
In John 5:29 Jesus states clearly that "they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
Jesus also makes it clear that "many" will think they know Jesus but will be sent away because they are workers of iniquity even though they think they are believers and followed of Christ.
The warnings are repeated over and over again that many people may think they know the truth, love God, and even love one another but actually they are so deceived[14] that they believe a lie.[15]
It is important that we know what Jesus means by words like evil and iniquity.7
If you do evil according to John 3:20 you hate the light and are not born again. [16]
The Greek words "pas gar ho phaula[17] prassōn[18]" (πᾶς γὰρ ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων) we see in the translation as "For every one that doeth evil" which is literally "Everyone for evil practicing". This seems to say that you actually do not have to do evil but you just have to be fore the practices that would be considered evil. There are long lists of such practices given to us by Paul and the Apostles as well as the prophets.
The Greek word phaula[17] does mean evil but only appears four times[19] in the Bible.
Coveting is rejecting God
If you are workers of iniquity you are rejected by God no matter what you say you believe. This is because you do not confess him with your works.
This is no different than the context concerning being Born again where they do not love the light.
In both cases, they are under a strong delusion and seeking the way of the world and the wages of unrighteousness, which is the way of error[20] and not The Way of Christ.
If coveting your neighbor's goods through the rulers who exercise authority one over the other of the state is idolatry, then legal charity is evil. Even some one who is just "for evil practicing" of coveting your neighbors goods through the rulers of their state is doing evil. If they do not actively seek the alternative which is the kingdom of God and his righteousness he is working iniquity and certainly rejecting the way and the words of Christ. They are not doers of the word.
- Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil[2] concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."
Two commandments some up the whole of the Law and if we love Christ we will keep his commandments.[21]
Hebrew
07451 ^ער^ ra‘ ReishAyin \@rah\@ or fem. ^הער^ ra‘ah from 07489 the verb 07490 (Aramic)ReishAyinAyin evil (to crush); AV-evil 442, wickedness 59, wicked 25, mischief 21, hurt 20, bad 13, trouble 10, sore 9, affliction 6, ill 5, adversity 4, favoured 3, harm 3, naught 3, noisome 2, grievous 2, sad 2, misc 34; 663
- adj
- 1) bad, evil
- 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
- 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
- 1c) evil, displeasing
- 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)
- 1e) bad (of value)
- 1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
- 1g) sad, unhappy
- 1h) evil (hurtful)
- 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
- 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
- 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
- 1j2) deeds, actions
- n m
- 2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
- 2a) evil, distress, adversity
- 2b) evil, injury, wrong
- 2c) evil (ethical)
- n f
- 3) evil, misery, distress, injury
- 3a) evil, misery, distress
- 3b) evil, injury, wrong
- 3c) evil (ethical)
- ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)
- ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)
07489 עער ra‘a‘ raw-ah’a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 2191} {See TWOT on 2192}AV-evil 20, evildoer 10, hurt 7, wickedly 5, worse 5, afflict 5, wicked 4, break 3, doer 3, ill 3, harm 3, displease 2, misc 13; 83
- 1) to be bad, be evil
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to be displeasing
- 1a2) to be sad
- 1a3) to be injurious, be evil
- 1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically)
- 1b) (Hiphil)
- 1b1) to do an injury or hurt
- 1b2) to do evil or wickedly
- 1b3) mischief (participle)
- 2) to break, shatter
- 2a) (Qal)
- 2a1) to break
- 2a2) broken (participle)
- 2a3) to be broken
- 2b) (Hithpolel) to be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder
Greek
4190 ~πονηρός~ poneros \@pon-ay-ros’\@ from a derivative of 4192; adj AV-evil 51, wicked 10, wicked one 6, evil things 2, misc 7; 76
- 1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships
- 1a) pressed and harassed by labours
- 1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble
- 2) bad, of a bad nature or condition
- 2a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind
- 2b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
- For Synonyms see entry 5908
++++ The word is used in the nominative case in #Mt 6:13. This usually denotes a title in the Greek. Hence Christ is saying, deliver us from "The Evil," and is probably referring to Satan the adversary of The Way of God.
2556 ~κακός~ kakos \@kak-os’\@ apparently a primary word; TDNT-3:469,391; {See TDNT 351} adj AV-evil 40, evil things 3, harm 2, that which is evil + 3458 2, wicked 1, ill 1, bad 1, noisome 1; 51
- 1) of a bad nature
- 1a) not such as it ought to be
- 2) of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting
- 2a) base, wrong, wicked
- 3) troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful
- For Synonyms see entry 5908
2559 κακόω kakoo [kak-o’-o] from 2556; v; TDNT-3:484,391; [{See TDNT 351 }] AV-entreat evil 2, make evil affected 1, vex 1, hurt 1, harm 1; 6
- 1) to oppress, afflict, harm, maltreat
- 2) to embitter, render evil affected
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Footnotes
- ↑ 4190 ~πονηρός~ poneros \@pon-ay-ros’\@ from a derivative of 4192; adj AV-evil 51, wicked 10, wicked one 6, evil things 2, misc 7; 76
- 1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships
- 1a) pressed and harassed by labours
- 1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble
- 2) bad, of a bad nature or condition
- 2a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind
- 2b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
- For Synonyms see entry 5908
- 1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2556 ~κακός~ kakos \@kak-os’\@ apparently a primary word; TDNT-3:469,391; {See TDNT 351} adj AV-evil 40, evil things 3, harm 2, that which is evil + 3458 2, wicked 1, ill 1, bad 1, noisome 1; 51
- 1) of a bad nature
- 1a) not such as it ought to be
- 2) of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting
- 2a) base, wrong, wicked
- 3) troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful
- For Synonyms see entry 5908
- 1) of a bad nature
- ↑ 2560 κακῶς kakos [kak-oce’] from 2556; TDNT-4:1091,*; adv; AV-be sick + 2192 7, be diseased + 2192 2, evil 2, grievously 1, sore 1, miserable 1, amiss 1, sick people + 2192 1; 16
- 1) miserable, to be ill
- 2) improperly, wrongly
- 3) to speak ill of, revile, one
- ↑ 2555 κακοποιός kakopoios [kak-op-oy-os’] from 2556 and 4160; adj; TDNT-3:485,391; [{See TDNT 351 }] AV-evildoer 4, malefactor 1; 5
- 1) an evil doer, malefactor
- ↑ 2557 κακοῦργος kakourgos [kak-oor’-gos] from 2556 and the base of 2041; adj; TDNT-3:484,391; [{ See TDNT 351 }] AV-malefactor 3, evil doer 1; 4
- 1) a malefactor
- ↑ 2554 κακοποιέω kakopoieo [kak-op-oy-eh’-o] from 2555 kakopoios meaning "an evil doer, malefactor" from kakos meaning "evil ...destructive"; v; TDNT-3:485,391; [{See TDNT 351 }] AV-do evil 3, evil doing 1; 4
- 1) to do harm
- 2) to do evil, do wrong
- ↑ 2559 κακόω kakoo [kak-o’-o] from 2556; v; TDNT-3:484,391; [{See TDNT 351 }] AV-entreat evil 2, make evil affected 1, vex 1, hurt 1, harm 1; 6
- 1) to oppress, afflict, harm, maltreat
- 2) to embitter, render evil affected
- ↑ 2558 κακουχέω kakoucheo [kak-oo-kheh’-o] from a presumed compound of 2556 and 2192; v; AV-torment 1, suffer adversity 1; 2
- 1) to treat ill, oppress, plague
- ↑ 2550 ~κακοήθεια~ kakoetheia \@kak-o-ay’-thi-ah\@ from a compound of 2556 and 2239; TDNT-3:485,391; {See TDNT 351} n f AV-malignity 1; 1
- 1) bad character, depravity of heart and life
- 2) malignant subtlety, malicious craftiness
- ↑ 2551 κακολογέω kakologeo [kak-ol-og-eh’-o] from a compound of 2556 evil and 3056 words, thing; v; TDNT-3:468,391; [{ See TDNT 350 }] AV-curse 2, speak evil of 2; 4
- 1) to speak evil of, revile, abuse, one
- 2) to curse
- ↑ 2552 κακοπάθεια kakopatheia [kak-op-ath’-i-ah] from a compound of 2556 and 3806; n f; TDNT-5:936,798; [{ See TDNT 606 }] AV-suffering affliction 1; 1
- 1) the suffering of evil, i.e. trouble, distress, afflicted
- ↑ 2553 ~κακοπαθέω~ kakopatheo \@kak-op-ath-eh’-o\@ from the same as 2552; TDNT-5:936,798; {See TDNT 606} v AV-endure hardness 1, suffer trouble 1, endure affliction 1, be afflicted 1; 4
- 1) to suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles)
- 2) to be afflicted
- ↑ 18 ἀγαθός agathos [ag-ath-os’] a primary word; adj; TDNT-1:10,3; [{See TDNT 8 }] AV-good 77, good thing 14, that which is good + 3588 8, the thing which is good + 3588 1, well 1, benefit 1; 102
- 1) of good constitution or nature [{#Lu 8:8,15 Mt 7:18 Jas 3:17 }]
- 2) useful, salutary, a gift which is truly a gift [{#Jas 1:17 Mt 7:11 Ro 7:12,13 Lu 10:42 Php 1:6 Ro 8:28 }]
- 3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy [{#1Pe 3:10,13 Ps 34:13 2Th 2:16 Tit 2:13 }]
- 3a) a good conscience [{#Ac 23:1 1Ti 1:5,19 1Pe 3:16,21 }]
- 4) excellent, distinguished [{#Joh 1:46 }]
- 5) upright, honourable [{#Mt 12:34 19:16 Lu 6:45 Ac 11:24 1Pe 3:11 Mt 5:45 22:10 Lu 23:50 8:15 }]
- 5a) fulfulling the duty or service demanded [{#Mt 25:21,23 }]
- 5b) upright, free from guile, particularily the desire to corrupt the people [{#Joh 7:12 }]
- 5c) pre-eminently of God, as consumately and essentially good [{#Mt 19:17 Mr 10:18 Lu 18:19 }]
- 5d) denotes the soul considered as the repository of pure thoughts which are brought forth in speech [{#Mt 12:35 Lu 6:45 }]
- 5e) the fidelity of servant due to his master [{#Tit 2:10 }]
- 5f) in a narrow sense, benevolent, kind, generous [{#Mt 20:15 1Pe 2:18 1Th 3:6 Ro 5:7 }]
- The neuter used substantively denotes:
- 1) a good thing, convenience, advantage
- 1a) in the plural, external goods, riches [{#Lu 1:53 12:18 16:25 }]
- 1b) the benefits of the Messianic kingdom [{#Ro 10:15 Heb 9:11 10:1 }]
- 2) what is upright, honourable, and acceptable to God [{#Ro 12:2 2:10 Eph 4:28 Ro 9:11 2Co 5:10 1Th 5:15 3Jo 11 Ro 12:9 Mt 19:17 }]
- 2a) salutary, suited to the course of human affairs [{#Ro 13:4 }]
- 2a1) in rendering service [{#Ga 6:10 Ro 12:21 }]
- 2a2) the favour you confer [{#Phm 14 }]
- 2a) salutary, suited to the course of human affairs [{#Ro 13:4 }]
- Syn.: καλός 2570, δίκαιος 1342. 2570 properly refers to goodness as manifested in form: 18 to inner excellence. [{Lu 8:15 }] In #Ro 5:7, where it is contrasted with 1342, 18 implies a kindness and attractiveness not necessarily possessed by the δίκαιος, who merely measures up to a high standard of rectitude.
- ↑ Many deceived
- Matthew 24:5 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many... 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
- Mark 13:6 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
- Luke 21:8 "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
- 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
- 2 Peter 2:2 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
- ↑ 2 Thessalonians 2:11 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"
- ↑ John 3:20 "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 5337 φαῦλος phaulos [fow’-los] apparently a primary word; adj; AV-evil 4; 4
- 1) easy, slight, ordinary, mean, worthless, of no account
- 2) ethically, bad, base, wicked
- For Synonyms see entry 5908
- ↑ 4238 πράσσω prasso [pras’-so] a root word; v; TDNT-6:632,927; [{See TDNT 657 }] AV-do 28, commit 5, exact 1, require 1, deed 1, keep 1, use arts 1; 38
- 1) to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on
- 1a) to undertake, to do
- 2) to accomplish, perform
- 2a) to commit, perpetrate
- 3) to manage public affairs, transact public business
- 3a) to exact tribute, revenue, debts
- 4) to act
- For Synonyms see entry 5871 & 5911
- 1) to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on
- ↑ John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil <5337> hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
- John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil <5337>, unto the resurrection of damnation.
- Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil <5337> thing to say of you.
- James 3:16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil <5337> work.
- ↑ The way of error
- 2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
- Jude 1:11 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots(not "unspotted" like Pure Religion) in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
- Revelation 2:14-17 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication ("to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry"). 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]."
- Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
- The way of the world is the way of Cain and His city-state, the Corban of the Pharisees and the cities of blood, Nimrod and the Nicolaitan, Babylon and Balaam, Sumer and Sodom, Pharaoh and the foolishness of Saul, and more recently FDR and LBJ and all the welfare States who use legal charity which is not The Way of Christ, the Kingdom of God nor the righteousness of God.
- ↑ Love God and neighbor
- Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:... 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
- Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
- John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
- John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
- John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."
- Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:...49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
- Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].
- John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
- Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
- James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- James 3:13 Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
- Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.