Scripture does not provide an exhaustive answer to why God allows evil, but it shows several things: evil entered the world through human sin and disobedience; God is not the source of temptation to evil; He is patient, delaying judgment; evil will be judged and removed. Scripture also conveys the questions of people who do not receive an immediate answer.
What the Bible Says About This
- Sin and disobedience entered the world through humanity, and the consequences affected people and creation (Gen 3:1–7, 14–19; Rom 5:12).
- God tempts no one to do evil; a person is enticed by their own desires (Jas 1:13–15).
- The prophet Habakkuk asks God why He looks upon wrongdoing and remains silent (Hab 1:2–4, 13); Scripture does not conceal such questions.
- The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, but is patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Pet 3:9).
- Joseph tells his brothers that they intended evil, but God turned it to good (Gen 50:19–20).
- God promises a new world—with no tears, pain, or death (Rev 21:3–4; Rom 8:20–23).
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
10 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
Genesis 3:1–7
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but concerning the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable for gaining knowledge, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and through sin—death, so death spread to all people, because all sinned in him.
James 1:13–15
13 Let no one say when tempted, “God is tempting me”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own desire; 15 then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Habakkuk 1:2–4
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, and You do not listen? I cry out to You about violence, but You do not save. 3 Why do You make me see iniquity and look upon trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife arises, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never prevails: for the wicked prevail over the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate oppression; why then do You look upon the treacherous and remain silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves,
Genesis 3:14–19
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 And to Adam He said, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; through sorrow you will eat from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and weeds for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground from which you were taken, for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some understand slowness; rather, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Genesis 50:19–20
19 And Joseph said: Do not be afraid, for I fear God; 20 you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done: the saving of many lives;
Romans 8:20–23
20 because creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope, 21 that creation itself will also be set free from its bondage to decay into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning and suffering the pains of childbirth together until now; 23 and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we await [our adoption,] the redemption of our bodies.
Revelation 21:3–4
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: Behold, the dwelling place of God is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them [and be their God]. 4 And [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain will exist anymore, because the former things have passed away.
