The nature of God and Jesus in ChristianityEvil and suffering

Evil and suffering present a big problem for those who believe that God is all-loving and all-powerful.

Ancient ideas about the problem of evil

The Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus described God as malevolent, meaning cruel, when explaining the contradictions between the nature of God and the presence of evil and suffering: Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? (Epicurus).

Put more simply:

Christians also believe that God is omniscient, which means that he must know about all the suffering happening in the world.

Christian solutions to the problem of evil

Christians have developed several different solutions to the problem of evil and suffering in the world:

• God gave humans free will. Therefore, although he exists, he cannot interfere in any suffering humans experience as a result of their own choices.
• Suffering is not God’s fault. Sin entered the perfect world God created when the first humans, Adam and Eve, used their free will to turn away from God. The story of their disobedience is told in Genesis 3.
• Experiencing bad things is all part of God’s plan and humans should respond positively.
• According to many Christians, balance is essential – humans need evil to appreciate good.
• God is fair, so good people will be rewarded in Heaven, even if they suffer during their lives on Earth.

The gift of free will comes with guidance from God about how to be good, such as the Ten Commandments or the teachings of Jesus. But ultimately, it is up to individuals to choose whether or not to follow God’s instructions.

The Book of Job (1: 8–12 and 42:1–6)

The Bible tells the story of a man called Job who is described as a good man who loves God. Satan challenges God, saying that Job is only good because he has a happy life. God allows Satan to put Job’s faith to the test by causing him to suffer.

First, Job loses his livestock, his servants and all his children. He is devastated, but he remains faithful and praises God. Then he suffers horrible weeping sores all over his body. Job’s wife tells him to reject God and to accept that he is dying, but Job refuses.

Eventually, God appears to Job. He asks impossible questions that show Job how little he can understand about God’s ultimate plan. Job is humbled by this encounter, and at last appreciates that God’s unlimited power cannot be fully understood by human beings.

Job never learns why he suffered, but God restores his health and gives him twice as much property as before, more children and a very long and prosperous life.