The question of whether God created evil is a deeply theological issue that requires understanding the Bible’s teachings about God’s character, human free will, and the nature of evil. The Bible makes it clear that God is holy, good, and righteous and that He does not do evil. However, He allows the existence of evil as part of His sovereign plan for a greater purpose.
1. God’s Character Is Holy and Good
The Bible teaches that God is completely holy, righteous, and incapable of wrongdoing. He cannot be the source of moral evil.
- 1 John 1:5 (NIV):
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” - Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV):
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” - James 1:13 (NIV):
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
2. God Created a World with Free Will
God created humanity with the capacity to make choices. Evil entered the world through the misuse of free will by moral beings, starting with Satan’s rebellion and humanity’s sin.
- Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV):
“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” - Genesis 3:6 (NIV):
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
Through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin and evil entered the human experience, corrupting God’s good creation.
- Romans 5:12 (NIV):
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
3. God Allows Evil but Uses It for Good
While God does not cause evil, He allows it to exist as part of His sovereign plan. He can use evil for His purposes, ultimately bringing about good.
- Isaiah 45:7 (KJV):
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”- In this context, “evil” refers to calamity or disaster, not moral evil. God allows calamity as a form of judgment or discipline.
- Genesis 50:20 (NIV):
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”- Joseph’s story demonstrates that God can use human evil (his brothers selling him into slavery) for a greater good.
- Romans 8:28 (NIV):
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
4. Evil as the Absence of Good
Evil is not a created entity but rather the absence or corruption of good. This understanding aligns with the Bible’s depiction of God’s creation as initially perfect.
- Genesis 1:31 (NIV):
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
Evil arises when created beings choose to act against God’s good will, departing from the perfection of His design.
5. God’s Sovereignty Over Evil
Although God does not directly create moral evil, He is sovereign and can allow it to fulfill His purposes. This includes using evil actions to bring about judgment or redemption.
- Job 2:10 (NIV):
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”- Job acknowledges that God allows both blessings and hardships but remains sovereign over both.
- Amos 3:6 (NIV):
“When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?”- Here, “disaster” (or calamity) is allowed by God as a form of judgment, not moral wrongdoing.
6. God’s Ultimate Victory Over Evil
The Bible teaches that God will ultimately defeat evil and restore creation to its intended state of perfection.
- Revelation 21:4 (NIV):
“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 20:10 (NIV):
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Conclusion
The Bible teaches that God did not create moral evil but created a world where free will exists, allowing the possibility of evil. Evil entered the world through rebellion against God’s good and perfect will, beginning with Satan and humanity’s fall. While God permits evil for a time, He remains sovereign over it and uses it to accomplish His purposes. Ultimately, God will eliminate all evil, demonstrating His justice, love, and power.
- Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV):
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” - Isaiah 46:10 (NIV):
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”