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Introduction: Why the Evil Creator?
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How do we explain the early Christian notion of the evil creator, especially in light of the Platonic requirement that the supreme god, to be god, must be good? The evil creator idea cannot entirely be explained by the political upheaval suffered by the Jews between 66 and 135 CE. Nor was it the aftershock of debates about monotheism, or speculation about a creator angel (who had no reason to become wicked). The best, or at least most testable, explanation is rooted in ancient biblical interpretation—the interpretation of Gentile Christians who had no love or loyalty to the Jewish deity in the first place. This Introduction closes with a discussion of who these early Christians were and how they will be studied (the history of interpretation).
Title: Introduction: Why the Evil Creator?
Description:
How do we explain the early Christian notion of the evil creator, especially in light of the Platonic requirement that the supreme god, to be god, must be good? The evil creator idea cannot entirely be explained by the political upheaval suffered by the Jews between 66 and 135 CE.
Nor was it the aftershock of debates about monotheism, or speculation about a creator angel (who had no reason to become wicked).
The best, or at least most testable, explanation is rooted in ancient biblical interpretation—the interpretation of Gentile Christians who had no love or loyalty to the Jewish deity in the first place.
This Introduction closes with a discussion of who these early Christians were and how they will be studied (the history of interpretation).
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