Refutation of the Sects

...to the others, cannot come from a single matter, nor can a single matter come from four antagonistic natures 32....................................................................... 20 24

Section Nature of evils 33-56...................................................................... 20 24 original: "$\S'$" refers to the specific section marker used in the manuscript.

I. Evils, which are the result of human actions, are not persons, but the works of persons 34-41
1. Impossibility of a "whole" formed by these evils along with other evils originating from "matter" 34...................................................... 20 24
2. Evils are the work of the will that commits them 35-41........................................................................................................ 21 25
A. God, who is good, punishes those who commit murder and adultery: therefore, it is not His will that performs these acts, but the will of those who commit them 36....................................................................... 21 25
B. The formality of the act constitutes its malice 37-41 In this context, "formality" refers to the moral and legal definition of an action. A physical act—like taking an object—only becomes "evil" based on its specific circumstances and the intent behind it.
a) The formality of the sexual act differs in marriage, adultery, and fornication 37......................................................... 21 25
b) The formality of murder differs according to the motive for the killing 38................................................................................... 21 26
c) The formality of "taking" differs depending on whether there is a "gift" or a "theft" 39.................................................................... 22 26
d) The formality of worship differs depending on whether the worship is directed to the true God or to false gods 40........................................................................................... 22 26
e) The formality of the making of any object differs according to the good or bad use made of these objects 41......................................................................... 22 26

II. Evils come from man alone and from no other, neither God nor the devil 42-45
1. Question from the adversaries 42..................................................................... 22 27
2. Response 43-45
A. Man possesses free will 43-44
a) Man alone, in this visible world, possesses free will 43.................................................................................. 22 27
b) By which is justified the gift God gives to man of eternal incorruptibility as a reward for the good use he makes of his freedom 44........................................................................................... 23 27
B. Evil is neither uncreated, nor personal, nor caused by the Creator, but it stems from the disobedience of man, provoked by the jealousy of the devil 45................................................................................................ 24 28