The problem of Evil

“Theodicy” is the branch of philosophical theology that seeks to resolve how a good God and an evil world can coexist.

Evil has 3 sources, being the heart of mankind, the potential destructiveness of nature (in all its forms, e.g., viruses, wild animals, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.) and fallen angels (called “demons” and “Satan”).

The Bible also has God saying that he creates evil, however, it should be understood that that evil is more in reference to judgment that he may choose to bring upon an individual or society because of the degree of evil they have reached; therefore, that “evil” that he creates is more of a calamity as a result of a degree of evil.

KJV Isaiah 45: 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

NKJ Isaiah 45: 7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these [things].'

Though Satan and the rest of the fallen angels are responsible for their condition and actions, the rest of creation, the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that are in them, have been affected by the sin of Adam and Eve.

This may seem like an extreme and unfair outcome, but according to the Bible, it is the world that exists and will continue, as the Bible foretells, until God will create a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells:

2 Peter 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner [of] [persons] ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we , according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

If the first couple, Adam and Eve, would not have sinned, surely, Satan and his angels would not have had any authority over the world or the hearts of mankind. And it is correct to understand that the world suffered because of Adam’s sin, not Satan and his angels. But as to why Satan had the freedom to tempt Eve to sin may have some explanation in the fact that it was the best world option that allowed mankind a certain degree of freewill (freewill that gave mankind the capacity to disobey God, and yet still be in a state of innocence until such disobedience was committed—and once it was committed, sin became an inherent inclination, propensity that was passed down to each and every human being). Satan also was allowed to try and tempt Christ to sin. Eve failed and Adam followed suit, but Christ didn’t.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Death as an alienation from God happened immediately to Adam and Eve. Death as a physical thing was the curse that God put on them, that they might not live forever in their present spiritual state. The “all sinned” probably means that all sinned because of the sinful disposition inherited from Adam. Obviously, the spiritual death that came to Adam passed to all people. Though some would say all sinned in Adam, when he sinned, maybe similar to the book of Hebrews claim that Levi paid tithes through Abraham.

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly , but because of Him who subjected [it] in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Creation was subjected by God to futility because of human sin. It is the world that came to be, not according to the original design. Man was given dominion over the earth; it was designed for him. Due to sin, that dominion has been hindered. The earth is not as friendly as it was originally intended. The damage of sin has constant reminder in the terribleness that nature can produce. Sin and its effects are to bring us to God and His way of salvation.