Biblical explanation
God's original creation was “very good” (). Evil was not presented as part of God's original design. The Bible identifies Satan as a rebel against God. describes a conflict in heaven and identifies the devil and Satan as the deceiver of the whole world. and contain passages describing pride, rebellion, and the downfall of a heavenly being, although their immediate historical contexts also concern earthly kings. Human rebellion followed. records the entrance of sin into human experience. Why did God not immediately destroy the rebels? Scripture indicates that God's government is based upon truth, love, and justice. The story of Job shows Satan making accusations concerning God's motives and the loyalty of His servants (). The larger biblical narrative therefore involves not merely God's power to destroy evil, but the revelation of His character and the truth about sin. At the cross, God's character and the destructive nature of sin are dramatically revealed. presents God's justice and mercy together. God will eventually end evil completely. says that affliction will not rise up a second time, and describes the final destruction of Satan, sin, death, and those who persist in rebellion. Scripture reveals the origin, nature, and ultimate destiny of evil, but it does not answer every philosophical question about why God permits every particular event.
In brief
God's original creation was “very good” ().
Bible references
Go deeper into this topic Where Did Evil Come From? Start the studyThis answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.