The Origin of Evil: What does the Bible Say?

One of the most common questions many people ask is this: if God is good and created all things good, how did evil come into being? This question leads us into the heart of God’s nature, human freedom, and the mystery of sin. While some aspects remain beyond our full comprehension, Scripture provides us with enough light to understand how evil began, what it is, and how God relates to it.

The Bible affirms clearly that God is holy and without sin. John writes, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Likewise, Moses declared, “His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4). These verses remind us that evil cannot come from God’s essence or character. He is altogether pure, holy, and righteous. Therefore, God is not the creator of evil, nor can evil originate within Him.

Instead, evil entered existence as a corruption of what was originally good. When God created angels and humans, He gave them free will, the ability to obey Him in love or to reject His authority. Evil began when this freedom was misused. The first instance of rebellion occurred in the angelic realm. Scripture portrays Satan as a created being who was once perfect. Ezekiel describes him as “the anointed cherub who covers” who was “blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15). Isaiah adds that Satan’s downfall came from pride, as he said in his heart, “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”” (Isaiah 14:13–14). Thus, evil was born when a created being turned from worshiping God to exalting himself above God.

The same pattern can be seen in humanity’s story. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given a clear command by God, but when tempted by Satan, they chose disobedience. “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.” (Genesis 3:6). With this act, sin entered the human race. Paul later explains in 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.” From that moment forward, humanity has lived under the shadow of sin and death.

Evil, then, is not a substance that God created, but rather a privation or absence of good. Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of obedience to God’s will. When creatures reject God’s holiness, what results is corruption, disorder, and sin. This means that evil is not an independent force but a distortion of God’s original creation, which He made good.

Some may wonder if God has any part in evil since He allows it to exist. Scripture is clear that God never tempts anyone with evil. James reminds us, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13). However, God in His sovereignty permits evil for a time, using even what is meant for harm to fulfill His purposes. He allows evil to demonstrate His justice and holiness when He judges sin (Romans 9:22). He permits it so that His mercy and grace may be revealed through salvation in Christ. “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 5:20–21). He also allows it so that angels and humans have genuine freedom to love Him, for love without choice would not be true love (Deuteronomy 30:19).

The Bible assures us that evil’s reign is temporary. Satan, the one who introduced rebellion, will face final judgment. Revelation 20:10 says, “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.” Likewise, for believers, the end of evil means eternal joy. John writes in Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

To conclude, evil originated not in God but in the free choice of His creatures who turned away from His goodness. It is the corruption of what was once good, a tragic misuse of freedom. Yet God, in His infinite wisdom, allows evil for now to accomplish His purposes of judgment, redemption, and the ultimate revelation of His glory. The good news of Scripture is that evil does not have the final word. Through Jesus Christ, God has already secured victory over sin, death, and Satan. One day, evil will be completely destroyed, and God’s people will dwell with Him forever in perfect righteousness.