Definition and Overview:
Dualism, in a theological context, refers to the belief in two fundamental, often opposing, principles or forces. In Christian theology, dualism is often discussed in relation to the nature of God and the existence of evil. It posits a distinction between the spiritual and the material, or between good and evil, suggesting that these forces are in constant opposition.

Biblical Context:
The Bible does not explicitly teach dualism as a formal doctrine, but certain passages can be interpreted to reflect dualistic themes. The struggle between good and evil is a recurring motif throughout Scripture. For instance, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks of the conflict between the flesh and the spirit: "For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want" (Galatians 5:17).

Creation and the Nature of God:
The Bible begins with the affirmation of monotheism, the belief in one God who is the creator of all things. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" . This foundational verse establishes God's sovereignty over all creation, countering any notion of dualism that would suggest an equal and opposing force to God.

The Problem of Evil:
The presence of evil in the world is often cited in discussions of dualism. The Bible acknowledges the reality of evil but attributes it to the rebellion of created beings rather than an inherent dualistic principle. Satan, originally a created angel, is depicted as the adversary of God and humanity. In the Book of Job, Satan challenges God by testing Job's righteousness, illustrating the conflict between good and evil (Job 1:6-12).

The Role of Jesus Christ:
The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate victor over the forces of evil. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeats sin and death, affirming the supremacy of God over any opposing forces. Colossians 2:15 states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" .

Eschatological Perspective:
The Bible concludes with the promise of a new creation where dualistic struggles will cease. Revelation 21:1-4 describes a new heaven and a new earth where God dwells with His people, and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away" . This eschatological vision underscores the ultimate resolution of the conflict between good and evil.

Conclusion:
While dualistic themes can be identified in the Bible, the overarching narrative affirms the sovereignty of one God who is ultimately victorious over evil. The Christian worldview, as presented in Scripture, emphasizes the unity and supremacy of God, the reality of spiritual conflict, and the hope of redemption through Jesus Christ.1. (n.) State of being dual or twofold; a twofold division; any system which is founded on a double principle, or a twofold distinction

2. (n.) A view of man as constituted of two original and independent elements, as matter and spirit.

3. (n.) A system which accepts two gods, or two original principles, one good and the other evil.

4. (n.) The doctrine that all mankind are divided by the arbitrary decree of God, and in his eternal foreknowledge, into two classes, the elect and the reprobate.

5. (n.) The theory that each cerebral hemisphere acts independently of the other.

DUALISM

du'-al-iz'-m. See PHILOSOPHY.

Refutation of Dualism from Reason. Impossibility of Two Gods. The ...
... Against the Heathen. Section 7. Refutation of dualism from reason.
Impossibility of two Gods. The truth as to evil is that which ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 7 refutation of dualism.htm

Marcion; his Dualism; Derives his System from Empedocles; Sketch ...
... Book VII. Chapter XVII."Marcion; His Dualism; Derives His System from
Empedocles; Sketch of the Doctrine of Empedocles. But Marcion ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xvii marcion his dualism derives.htm

Relation of Manich??ism to Zoroastrianism.
... In fact Manich??ism has frequently been represented as Zoroastrian dualism, slightly
modified by contact with Christianity and other systems. ...
/.../chapter iv name of manichaeism.htm

Philosophical Basis, and Antecedents of Manich??ism.
... present in nature side by side with good, plagues with favorable influences, death
with life, destruction with fruitfulness; an idea of dualism as decided as ...
/.../chapter ii name basis and.htm

Elucidations.
... As to the Dualism which, through Marcion, thus threatened the first article of the
Creed, consult the valuable remarks of the Encyc. Britannica, ("Mithras"). ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/elucidations 2.htm

The Problem of Evil
... his day. Hence the occasional indiscretion of the zeal with which he seeks
to block every loop-hole looking towards dualism. The ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/iv the problem of evil.htm

Select Works and Letters or Athanasius
... Their refutation. (b) Heretical teachers: (Dualism). Refutation from
Scripture. Section 7. Refutation of dualism from reason. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/

He Also Ingeniously Shows from the Passage of the Gospel which ...
... from the passage of the Gospel which speaks of "Good Master," from the parable of
the Vineyard, from Isaiah and from Paul, that there is not a dualism in the ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 2 he also ingeniously.htm

The Perversive Heresy of the Manicheans which Began at this Time.
... The fundamental principle of the system is a radical dualism between good
and evil, light and darkness. This dualism runs through ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxxi the perversive heresy of.htm

When Archelaus had Finished this Speech, the Crowds of People ...
... This Scythianus, then, was the person who introduced this self-contradictory dualism;
and for that, too, he was himself indebted to Pythagoras, as also all the ...
/.../51 when archelaus had finished.htm

Dualism
... 5. (n.) The theory that each cerebral hemisphere acts independently of the other.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DUALISM. du'-al-iz'-m. See PHILOSOPHY. ...
/d/dualism.htm - 7k

Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... Compare Job passim; Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 49:14 Ezekiel 8:12; Ezekiel 9:9. 2. Evil
Agents: Yet there are traces of a dualism which assigns a certain vague limit ...
/a/affliction.htm - 53k

Philosophy (1 Occurrence)
... former have some affinity with the accounts of creation and the flood in Genesis;
and the influence of the latter may be traced in the dualism and angelology ...
/p/philosophy.htm - 27k

Gnosticism
... From the Dualism of the Per religion it derived its speculations regarding the
origin of evil, and much of what it taught about emanations. ...
/g/gnosticism.htm - 38k

Principality (3 Occurrences)
... Paul was keenly sensible of the dualism of mind and body and of the law in his members
warring against the law of his mind (Romans 7:23), and of the temporary ...
/p/principality.htm - 12k

Judaeus
... The old association of man with Nature gave way to a dualism or opposition between
the world-order and another existence lying behind it as its originator or ...
/j/judaeus.htm - 29k

Philo
... The old association of man with Nature gave way to a dualism or opposition between
the world-order and another existence lying behind it as its originator or ...
/p/philo.htm - 29k

Zoroastrianism
... On the other hand, the dualism that Ahriman was to explain produced no effect on
Israel, and God remained the Creator of all things, even of Satan. ...
/z/zoroastrianism.htm - 17k

Drying (11 Occurrences)

/d/drying.htm - 10k

Destroyer (23 Occurrences)
... The change was largely due to the influence of Persian dualism, which made good
and evil to be independent powers. D. Miall Edwards. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/d/destroyer.htm - 16k

What is dualism? | GotQuestions.org

What is ditheism? What is bitheism? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about good versus evil? | GotQuestions.org

Dualism: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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