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| God Not Deserving of Blame in Permitting the Existence of the Devil.
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Chapter
V.—God Not Deserving of Blame in Permitting the Existence of the
Devil.
And Peter said: “It is my opinion
that, even if it be evident that he was made by God, the Creator who
made him should not be blamed; for it might perchance be found that the
service he performs1418
| 1418 Lit., “his
usefulness was most necessary of all.” | was an absolute
necessity. But if, on the other hand, it should be proved that he
was not created, inasmuch as he existed for ever, not even is the
Creator to be blamed in this respect, since He is better than all
others, even if He has not been able to put an end to a being
who had no beginning, because his nature did not admit of it; or if,
being able, He does not make away with him, deeming it unjust to put an
end to that which did not receive a beginning, and pardoning that which
was by nature wicked, because he could not have become anything else,
even if he were to wish to do so.1419
| 1419 This sentence is
obscure in the original. We have, with Wieseler, read ἐπεί, omitting ἀρχῇ. Instead of supplying
μή, we have turned
συγγνῶναι
into the participle. | But
if, wishing to do good, He is not able, even in this case He is good in
that He has the will, though He has not the power; and while He has not
the power, He is yet the most powerful of all, in that the power is not
left to another. But if there is some other that is able, and yet
does not accomplish it, it must be allowed that, in so far as, being
able, he does not accomplish it, he is wicked in not putting an end to
him, as if he took pleasure in the deeds done by him. But if not
even he is able, then he is better who, though unable, is yet not
unwilling to benefit us according to his
ability.”
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