The Evil Inclination

[Pavel Mosko]

Over two years ago, I posted a thread on this topic at Mi Yodeya / The Jewish Stack exchange, and said the following


"I'm a Christian who wants to know more about history of the Jewish concept of "The Evil Inclination". (I find myself often arguing against saint Augustine's Original Sin theology and the more early sources the better).

1) Anyway I'm interested in the Theological Development of that idea. What are the earliest direct references as far as Books of the Bible, Lexicon terms, midrash, quotes from sages and so on.

2) Concerning the use of this term by contemporary rabbi's as a kind of allegorical interpretation of the Serpent in the Garden of Genesis, are there likewise early sources for that? (This interpretation appears to me as something that came with later Judaism, like a medieval sage etc.)

Anyway, I look forward to hearing your responses!"


"Evil Inclination" History


I got some good stuff their from early Genesis, and a Talmud reference, and a Rashi reference. Check out the link there if your interested.


So I decided to post here too, to maybe learn something new etc. since the issue ends up being so big in Christianity. I did a key word search and saw this term come up something like 5-6 times at least.

Thanks!

 

[chunkofcoal]

Over two years ago, I posted a thread on this topic at Mi Yodeya / The Jewish Stack exchange, and said the following


"I'm a Christian who wants to know more about history of the Jewish concept of "The Evil Inclination". (I find myself often arguing against saint Augustine's Original Sin theology and the more early sources the better).

1) Anyway I'm interested in the Theological Development of that idea. What are the earliest direct references as far as Books of the Bible, Lexicon terms, midrash, quotes from sages and so on.

2) Concerning the use of this term by contemporary rabbi's as a kind of allegorical interpretation of the Serpent in the Garden of Genesis, are there likewise early sources for that? (This interpretation appears to me as something that came with later Judaism, like a medieval sage etc.)

Anyway, I look forward to hearing your responses!"


"Evil Inclination" History


I got some good stuff their from early Genesis, and a Talmud reference, and a Rashi reference. Check out the link there if your interested.


So I decided to post here too, to maybe learn something new etc. since the issue ends up being so big in Christianity. I did a key word search and saw this term come up something like 5-6 times at least.

Thanks!

He calls it "sin", but I think Paul is talking about the struggle with the yetzer hara in this passage:

Rom 7:7-25 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (12) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

If I recall my studies correctly, Messiah will destroy the yetzer hara. So I guess the question for us Christians/Messianics would be when? Does the process of the destruction of the yetzer hara begin when we come to Yeshua, or is it something that will happen in the future?

 

[Andrewn]

If I recall my studies correctly, Messiah will destroy the yetzer hara. So I guess the question for us Christians/Messianics would be when? Does the process of the destruction of the yetzer hara begin when we come to Yeshua, or is it something that will happen in the future?

My understanding of yetzer ha ra is that it's not evil or sin but is necessary for self-preservation beginning in infancy. It is akin of freud's "id" who himself was a Jew. Yetzer ha tov develops later, under influence of parents and society, and is similar to the concept of "superego." Freud's main contribution is adding the concept of "ego" to balance and regulate the effects of selfish id and superego. We submit the ego to God the Holy Spirit but do not abolish the ego as Buddhists claim we should do.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

My understanding of yetzer ha ra is that it's not evil or sin but is necessary for self-preservation beginning in infancy. It is akin of freud's "id" who himself was a Jew. Yetzer ha tov develops later, under influence of parents and society, and is similar to the concept of "superego." Freud's main contribution is adding the concept of "ego" to balance and regulate the effects of selfish id and superego. We submit the ego to God the Holy Spirit but do not abolish the ego as Buddhists claim we should do.

I've heard that too from modern rabbis Mannis Friedman actually, but the traditional explanation from the Bible to me sounds a bit like "iniquity", or the predilection of people to sin. I guess in some ways they are similar or complimentary, but the other one seems a bit like pop psychology etc.

 

[chunkofcoal]

My understanding of yetzer ha ra is that it's not evil or sin but is necessary for self-preservation beginning in infancy. It is akin of freud's "id" who himself was a Jew. Yetzer ha tov develops later, under influence of parents and society, and is similar to the concept of "superego." Freud's main contribution is adding the concept of "ego" to balance and regulate the effects of selfish id and superego. We submit the ego to God the Holy Spirit but do not abolish the ego as Buddhists claim we should do.

They do say: "If not for the evil impulse, no one would build a house, marry, have children, nor engage in trade."
This is an interesting article: Self-Seduction

 

[Andrewn]

I've heard that too from modern rabbis Mannis Friedman actually, but the traditional explanation from the Bible to me sounds a bit like "iniquity", or the predilection of people to sin. I guess in some ways they are similar or complimentary,

They do say: "If not for the evil impulse, no one would build a house, marry, have children, nor engage in trade."
This is an interesting article: Self-Seduction

If one does not take charge of their selfish yetzer hara / id it will lead them to sin and even destruction.