Chaos
would be the opposite of God, if we take it to represent an eternal
formless void that exists alongside of God. Not in the sense of
animosity, but just as something is the opposite of nothing, fullness is
the opposite of emptiness, intelligence and purpose is the opposite of
non-intelligence and purposelessnes, and greatness is the opposite of
non-greatness. However, if we go by Heidel (Babylonian Genesis, 1942),
and Gordon Wenham (WBC, 1987), Chaos, the stuff of the universe, is in
fact created ex nihilo, by God - then shaped by him into the ordered
universe. I like what Paul Del Signore
says but disagree with him in that regard. As for Satan not being God's
polar opposite, I agree. I have had my own thoughts about our
narrative of Satan, and questioned its validity. As Bill points out ^
Satan appears to be one of God's servants (as a sort of prosecuting
attorney). The coming of Jesus seems to cause his legitimacy to be
revoked. For instance, this passage Luke 10:18 "I saw Satan fall like
lightning" is often projected back to a time before creation, but the
context appears to be in response to the disciples being sent out to
preach the Gospel with power. To me this implies that Satan (The
Accuser) has a legitimate role in the heavenly court until the ministry
of Jesus, when people begin responding to the Gospel. Revelation 12 also
seems to validate this reading in ch 12. It appears that the woman is
Israel (her crown has 12 stars). Her child is the Messiah. The conflict
that ensues in heaven and the fall of these angelic powers, is in
response to the coming and birth of the Messiah - not some prior time
before creation. 12:7-8. It is because of the coming of the messiah that
it says "Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short." Rev 12:12
