Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines the origins of the evil creator idea chiefly in light of early Christian biblical interpretations. It is divided into two parts. In Part I, the focus is on the interpretations of Exodus and John. Firstly, ancient Egyptian assimilation of the Jewish god to the evil deity Seth-Typhon is studied to understand its reapplication by Phibionite and Sethian Christians to the Judeo-catholic creator. Secondly, the Christian reception of John 8:44 (understood to refer to the devil''s father) is shown to implicate the Judeo-catholic creator in murdering Christ. Part II focuses on Marcionite Christian biblical interpretations. It begins with Marcionite interpretations of the creator''s character in the Christian Old Testament, analyzes 2 Corinthians 4:4 (in which the god of this world blinds people from Christ''s glory), examines Christ''s so-called destruction of the Law (Eph 2:15) and the Lawgiver, and shows how Christ finally succumbs to the curse of the Law inflicted by the c
Trade ReviewNevertheless, the book offers an extremely helpful and compelling exploration of the various voices in the early Christian centuries who held this view, making clear that it was sufficiently widespread that it cannot be explained as a late anomaly. * James F. McGrath, Butler University, The Society of Biblical Literature *
It is a highly recomendable book which will introduce its readers in a world of practice and reflection on how people developed novel Jewish forms of life in the aftermath of the crisis of the first and second major Jewish revolts against the Romans, and the re-writings of these debates in later times. * Markus Vinzent, San Miguel de Abona *
The Evil Creator is a thoughtful and historically-responsible reading of the Bible. Examining the Creator Deity of the Bible through the lens of various early Christian interpreters who themselves long ago identified many of the same concerns that modern interpreters struggle with today makes this book not only a valuable contribution to the field of Biblical Studies but also important for modern readers who ponder the God of the Bible. * Kevin Sullivan, Illinois Wesleyan University *
David Litwa is to be congratulated for this book, which is both well-researched and thought-provoking. He compellingly delineates here how the idea of an inferior creator-God arose directly from what was said in some of the earliest and, for many, sacred Christian texts, including Paul's letters and the Gospel of John. * Ismo Dunderberg, author of Beyond Gnosticism: Myth, Lifestyle, and Society in the School of Valentinus *
Readers interested in why so many ancient Christians concluded that the creator was evil have here in one book an extremely well-researched assemblage and exposition of evidence suggesting answers. Litwa reviews the role of indigenous Egyptian myth, Graeco-Roman philosophical argument, and above all, interpretations of Jewish and Christian scripture. His sobering concluding chapter reviews how ancient evil-creator doctrines live on today. An important contribution on a perennial theological challenge. * Michael A. Williams, University of Washington, Seattle *
This book should be taken in the context of early theological divisions between ancient Jewish and early Christian sects and used to deepen our understanding of the extreme changes theological positions can take over time. * Rob Perry, Religious Studies Review *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why the Evil Creator? Part I: Egyptian and Johannine Approaches 1. Chapter 1: The Donkey Deity 2. Chapter 2: The Father of the Devil Part II: Marcionite Approaches 3. Chapter 3: Creator of Evils 4. Chapter 4: The God of this World 5. Chapter 5: Destroyer of the Law I 6. Chapter 6: Destroyer of the Law II Notes Index
