Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

THEODICY : M. M. NINAN
Gen 10:21-25 Sons were also born to Shem …… Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of
Eber.The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul,
Gether and Meshech. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was
divided; his brother was named Joktan.
When nations were distributed over the continents God has given the overseeing to his
Angels.
Deu 32:8 When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he
set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. 9 And his
people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of his inheritance.
Septuagint translation (c300 BC) uses "sons of Israel" ( bene Yisrael) instead of "angels of
God." Older manuscripts in Aramaic found among the Dead Sea Scrolls uses "sons of God" (
beney 'elohim)
However the watchers themselves being free beings are liable to fall. As a result many of
these Angels fell in time. These ‘gods’ judged unjustly and God was angry about it and
rebukes them.
Psa 82:1-6 God standeth in the congregation of God; He judgeth among the gods. How
long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah Judge the poor
and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver
them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to
and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, Ye are gods, And all
of you sons of the Most High.
This picture is validated by the visions of Daniel (Dan 10) where a shining one talks about his
fight with the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece. It also names Michael as the Prince
of Israel. These Princes (Angels, gods, sons of the Most High) has the character of the
people over which they have authority. The influence seems to be mutual. It is this idea that
is enunciated in Paul’s warning:
Eph 6:12 For 3754 we 2254 wrestle 2076, 3823 not 3756 against 4314 flesh 4561 and 2532 blood, 129 but 235
against 4314 principalities, 746 against 4314 powers, 1849 against 4314 the 3588 rulers 2888 of the 3588
darkness 4655 of this 5127 world, 165 against 4314 spiritual 4152 wickedness 4189 in 1722 high 2032 places.
746 arche ar-khay' from 756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely)
chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):--beginning, corner, (at the,
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