theodicy
Vindication of the of the goodness and righteousness of God, given the existence of sin and evil in the world; an attempted solution to what is commonly known as “the problem of evil.”
- Habakkuk 1:13 (A short scriptural statement of the problem):
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
the man more righteous than he?
- Ephesians 1:7-14 (A scriptural hint—and maybe more—at a solution to the problem.)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
- From the 1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 6:
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.
- Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, page 436:
The glory of God being the great end of all things, we are not obliged to assume that this is the best possible world for the production of happiness, or even for securing the greatest degree of holiness among rational creatures. It is wisely adapted for the end for which it was designed, namely, the manifestation of the manifold perfections of God.
Learn more
- Trinity Foundation: A Biblical Theodicy
- John A. Battle, Th.D.: How Can God Be Just and Ordain Evil?
- Theopedia: The Problem of Evil
- Steve Hays exposes some of the problems with a “hands-off” theodicy.
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