Did God Create Evil? A Biblical Perspective on a Tough Question

Evil is a concept that stirs deep emotions and endless debate. What is it, and why does it exist in a world created by a loving God? For many, these questions touch on the very core of human experience, challenging our understanding of morality, suffering, and free will. 

Rather than being a separate force, evil is often described as a distortion of good, something that exists in contrast to God’s perfect design. In this article, we’ll explore the origins of evil, its relationship to free will, and how Christian theology seeks to make sense of its presence in our lives.

What is Evil?

Before seeking to understand who created evil, we should have a good idea of what evil truly is. Calvin Smith gave a good explanation in an article featured on Answers in Genesis that we believe captures the essence of the word.

He argues that instances of power abuse, humiliation, and denigration committed by individuals in positions of authority are clearly evil ones.

With respect to an absolute standard of good that can only originate from God, evil can be described as a trifecta of bad intentions, namely, a lack of goodwill and a desire for another living being to experience "less good" than oneself.

God is the giver of life and the source of our solace; he endowed humans with the capacity to procreate, granted us liberty, and endowed us with a dignity that is beyond that of most creatures.

On the other hand, murder is defined as the intentional and unjustified killing of another human being. A state of complete discomfort is known as torture. Abuse of the reproductive process that does not involve love and mutual permission is known as rape; the unwilling servitude of man by the denial of freedom is known as slavery; and the desecration and abuse of human dignity are known as humiliation and abuse.

Hence, evil is not an independent thing but rather a concept that is subtractive, leech-like, and parasitic.

Who Created Evil?

Calvin Smith goes on to say in his article that God did not create evil, but rather human beings that are capable of evil things. He describes evil as the opposite of love, and something that we as rational human beings choose. 

There is one passage in Scripture that seems to contradict this, namely Isaiah 45:7 – “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” 

But that's not how it reads in the Hebrew text. The term ra means "evil" in the original Hebrew. It denotes misfortune, catastrophe, suffering, and difficulty as well. Newer versions of the text have used alternative English words, such the ones listed above, to accurately translate the paragraph.

By creating humans in His image, God gave them free will over whether or not to follow His commands.

Human free will is responsible for a great deal of the universe's evil. Someone cannot hold God responsible for crimes like murder, theft, and deceit. The responsibility for these actions must be placed on the individuals who choose to undertake them.

Concerning natural disasters, catastrophes like earthquakes and famines aren't directly caused by people, but we do contribute to their frequency and severity in negative ways. They manifest because we sinned. Anything and everything was impacted when sin entered the universe. Now that sin has entered the world, the divinely ordered system is corrupt. What the Bible teaches is that all of creation is now in pain.

Why Did God Create Evil?

Or, to pose the question correctly – why did God allow human beings to choose evil? How was Evil created? God is not responsible for the existence of evil as He did not cause it to exist. God could have designed humans to be mindless automatons who would only respond in response to his commands. 

However, that would deprive mankind of all meaning. To give humans free will, God created them with the ability to obey or disobey.

Did God Create Sin?

Source: Photo by Andy Bodemer on Unsplash

Rather than being created by God, sin entered the universe as a result of human disobedience. The Bible says that "sin is lawlessness" in 1 John 3:4. Sin is defined as disobedience to God's rules and regulations. We find lists of sins in Galatians 5:19–21 and Romans 1:28–32. Having said that, those are by no means exhaustive.

Unexplained evil, rather than the genesis of sin or evil, is the first event mentioned in the Bible. At creation, Adam is innocent, and Satan appears to him as a serpent. Man is already hated by the snake, and he plans to bring him down with him since he rebels against the Creator God. The Bible starts there.

In Ezekiel, we find the first sin that ever happened. Lucifer's account can be found here. He was an angel of perfection, wisdom, and beauty. "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:15). However, he rebelled.

He aspired to surpass God. According to Ezekiel 28:17 and 1 Timothy 3:6, Satan's pride in his appearance and corruption of his wisdom were the reasons he chose to sin. Sometime prior to his transformation into a serpent in Genesis 3's Garden of Eden, Satan fell.

Even after he was cast to the ground, Satan persisted in tempting Adam and Eve to disobey the command given to Adam in Genesis 2:16–17 (Matthew 4:1-11).

Put simply, Satan was originally born with noble intentions, but he lost himself. Thus, Satan was formed by God together with all other things. Since He made everything, it follows that He must have also made evil. But God is definitely not the author, even though evil and sin do exist.

The first sin against God's will occurred when Adam disobeyed him and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned,” reads Romans 5:12.

In Romans 5:12, the Greek word used to mean "came" is eiserchomi. "Go into" or "to come into" is the literal meaning of the phrase, emphasizing the first step. It was when Adam disobeyed that sin first appeared in the universe. The world was devoid of it until he defied God.

Are All Sins Equal?

We know that God did not directly create evil and sins and that they are the results of humanity’s free will. However, does God view all sins as equally damning?

The question of whether all sins are equal is complex, and opinions differ based on theological interpretations. At its core, sin is any thought or action that misses God’s perfect standard. 

The Bible likens sin to “missing the mark,” as in archery, where the target is God’s will. From a Christian perspective, sin is the intentional disobedience of God’s rules (1 John 3:4). However, this doesn’t necessarily mean all sins carry the same weight or consequences.

How Sins Are Equal

In a spiritual sense, all sins are equal because they separate us from God. As James 2:10 states, breaking one part of God’s law is equivalent to breaking all of it, emphasizing that no sin is insignificant in disrupting our relationship with God. Jesus reinforced this principle by equating hatred with murder and lust with adultery (Matthew 5:21-28). These comparisons highlight how sin originates in the heart and affects our spiritual condition.

How Sins Are Different

While all sin separates us from God, some sins have greater earthly consequences and spiritual implications. The Old Testament distinguishes between unintentional sins and deliberate defiance, assigning harsher punishments to the latter (Numbers 15:27-31). Similarly, the ripple effects of sin vary: murder causes far greater harm than hatred, and adultery disrupts families more than fleeting lust.

Jesus also taught that responsibility increases with knowledge. Those who understand God’s will are held to a higher standard (Luke 12:47-48). For example, teachers and leaders are judged more strictly because their actions influence others (James 3:1).

The Cross as the Equalizer

Ultimately, all sin carries the same spiritual consequence: it necessitates forgiveness. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers find redemption regardless of the severity of the sin. While sins differ in impact, God’s grace is sufficient for all.

Why Did God Create Suffering?

Suffering is a complex reality that challenges many believers. From a Christian perspective, it is essential to understand that suffering was not part of God’s original creation but entered the world through sin. In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduced sin, leading to pain, death, and brokenness in creation. 

This reality is echoed in Romans 8:20-22, where all of creation is described as groaning under the weight of sin. While God is not the author of suffering, He allows it within His sovereign plan for purposes that ultimately point to His goodness and glory.

One reason for suffering is its role in spiritual refinement. Scripture often compares suffering to a refining fire that burns away impurities, as seen in Isaiah 48:10. Trials challenge pride, selfishness, and sin, drawing believers closer to God and shaping them into Christ’s likeness. 

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, suffering allows the life of Jesus to be revealed in our lives. It is through these hardships that faith is tested and strengthened, as noted in James 1:2-4, which calls believers to consider trials as a path to maturity.

Moreover, suffering can serve as a platform for God’s glory. When believers endure suffering with faith, they demonstrate God’s strength and grace. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul recounts how God’s power is made perfect in weakness, offering hope to those who witness faithful perseverance. 

Beyond personal growth, suffering also deepens our connection with Christ. Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as a “man of sorrows” who understands suffering intimately. His death on the cross is the ultimate act of love and a reminder that God is present in our pain.

While suffering is a reality of life, it is not the final word. Romans 8:28 assures believers that God works all things together for good for those who love Him. The promise of redemption is vividly portrayed in Revelation 21:3-4, where God promises to wipe away every tear, ending pain and death forever. 

Suffering, though difficult, becomes a means through which God draws us closer, strengthens our faith, and prepares us for eternal hope. In Christ, suffering is transformed into a path toward glory and a deeper understanding of God’s love.

How Do Christians View the Creation of Evil?

Here are some answers given on r/AskAChristian to the question “did god create evil?”:

“Evil is not a "thing," it's a description of someone's actions. God created individuals who commit evil, yes.” – Unworthy_Saint

“No, God allowed us to have freewill. With freewill comes the option to commit evil actions.” – homeSICKsinner

“That's adjacent to asking "did God create the void between objects in creation." If something can be called "good," the existence of evil is implied. If there is up, there must be down. This is why the whole problem began with the knowledge of good and evil. Without recognizing either, the other cannot exist.” – bluemayskye

Final Thoughts

The origin of evil is a question that many Christians face eventually. If God created all things good, why create evil? It is important to understand that it is human disobedience that allowed for the appearance of evil and sin, rather than a direct act of creation from God.

Evil can take many forms and bring about a lot of destruction and suffering. However, there would also be no love or morality without it. One can not exist without the other - where there is good, there is also evil.  As long as believers seek redemption, evil will never be victorious in their lives. Above everything, evil should be a call for hope, faith, and trust in God's plan for good.