Christian Paradox

[rjh4 is back]

Omnipotent
Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful

Omni-Benevolent
Unlimited or infinite benevolence, All Good, (Devoid of evil, ruin , suffering, pain)

Evil

1 Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune
4. Bad or blameworthy by report
5. Characterized by anger or spite

Agree with Oxford?

I see nothing in your definition of omnibenevolence that requires one who is omnibenevolent to not even allow evil to occur. Do you see yourself as having to stop or alleviate any and all pain, or suffering, or evil you see going on around you for you to be considered benevolent? I doubt it. Given that, it does not appear reasonable to conclude that just because God is omnipotent and, therefore, has the ability to dispense with all evil, that God is somehow less than omnibenevolent because He allows evil. So when you say: "If God is omnipotent then he could easily achieve his goals without evil but chooses not to, meaning he is not omnibenevolent." I say that the conclusion, "meaning he is not omnibenevolent", does not necessarily follow from the premise "If God is omnipotent then he could easily achieve his goals without evil but chooses not to".

Also, I see nothing in your definitions of omnibenevolence and evil that indicates that bringing about consequences to an action is somehow evil or precludes omnibenevolence. The Bible is clear that the reason that the world has suffering and pain and death is a consequence of sin. Evil from a Biblical point of view would be doing anything that is disobedient to God Himself. But I do not think it at all follows from a Biblical point of view that the consequences that we suffer for our disobedience or the disobedience of others is evil or that somehow God is not omnibenevolent because He makes us suffer consequences or because He allows our actions to affect others. So I think you are applying a standard for omnibenevolence that is simply not a Biblical one and does not even agree with the definition you provided.