The Nature of Evil

As absolutly sure as we are that God exists, the biblical christian is just as sure that evil also exists.

Now before we can go further we need to make sure we are using the same terms with the same defanitions.

Historically Chjristians have recognised the existance of two “kinds” of evil.

1: Natural Evil

2: Moral Evil.

Given the nature of this discussion we need to clear up these terms.

I for one am not a fan of the phrase “Natural Evil”, as it gives a wrong impression and causes confusion.

“Natural Evil” are events of great tradgy that are not the result of moral decisions.

A great example of this potential confusion is in the well know verse of Isiah 45: Here it is in the KJV:

Isaiah 45:7 AV

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Evil in this case is not moral evil but “Ra” which rather it is best understood as Calamity or Disaster.

As the NASB puts it:

Isaiah 45:7 NASB 2020

7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the Lord who does all these things.

Calamity, though it is terrible and tradgic, is not an act of moral evil.

We could aurgue that as a result of the Fall, creation now experiences such disaster.

Nutural accidents are not evil, nor a moral punishment for evil. As Jesus explained when discussing the tradgic fall of the tower of Siloam:

Luke 13:1–5 NASB 2020

1 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

So for this discussion we will not look at Calamity but rather focus our attention of Moral Evil.

Yes calamity exists, but the bible makes it clear that Moral evil also exists.

Isaiah 5:20 NASB 2020

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Proverbs 8:13 NASB 2020

13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride, arrogance, the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Proverbs 3:7 NASB 2020

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Of course the embodiment of evil is Satan himself.

1 John 3:8 NASB 2020

8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Acts 5:3 NASB 2020

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the proceeds of the land?

John 8:44 NASB 2020

44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 Peter 5:8–9 NASB 2020

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.

Let us take a moment to reflect on the origen of Satan.

Satan was created as a holy angel.

Isaiah 14:12 possibly gives Satan’s pre-fall name as Lucifer.

Isaiah 14:12 NASB 2020

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, You star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who defeated the nations!

Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been created a cherub, apparently the highest created angel.

Ezekiel 28:12–14 NASB 2020

12 “Son of man, take up a song of mourning over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

The Devil is a created spiritual being and was created by God.

And as all things that the Hokly God creates, was created good.

Now that we reach a point in our discussion that look at creation itself let us look closer: