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| Why the Wicked One is Entrusted with Power.
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Chapter XVI.—Why the Wicked One is Entrusted with
Power.
And Simon said to this: “I have one
thing more to say in regard to the wicked one. Assuredly, since
God made him out of nothing, he is in this respect wicked,1441
| 1441 The
ms. reads: “In this respect he who
made him is wicked, who gave existence to what was
non-existent.” | especially since he was able to make him
good, by giving him at his creation a nature in no way capable of
selecting wickedness.” And Peter said: “The
statement that He created him out of nothing, with a power of choice,
is like the statement we have made above, that, having made such a
constitution as can rejoice in evils, He Himself appears to be the
cause of what took place. But since there is one explanation of
both statements, we shall show afterwards why it was that He made him
rejoice in the destruction of the wicked.” And Simon
said: “If he made the angels also voluntary agents, and the
wicked one departed from a state of righteousness, why has he been
honoured with a post of command? Is it not plain that he who thus
honoured him takes pleasure in the wicked, in that he has thus honoured
him?”1442
| 1442 The Greek is either
ungrammatical or corrupt, but the sense is evident. | And Peter
said: “If God set him by law, when he rebelled, to rule
over those who were like him, ordering him to inflict punishment on
those who sin, He is not unjust. But if it be the case that He
has honoured him even after his revolt, He who honoured him saw
beforehand his usefulness; for the honour is temporary, and it is right
that the wicked should be ruled by the wicked one, and that sinners
should be punished by him.”
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