Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8734 evil » 8735 evil, origins of
Although Scripture does not reveal the ultimate origin of evil, it identifies a number of intermediate sources.
Satan as a source of evil
Genesis 3:1 Identified later (Rev 12:9) with Satan ; Matthew 4:1 pp Mark 1:13 pp Luke 4:2 John 8:44; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 12:9 See also 1 Chronicles 21:1 Satan incites David to take a census of Israel; Job 1:11; Job 2:5; Matthew 5:37; Matthew 6:13; Matthew 13:38-39 the parable of the weeds; Luke 13:16 Satan is responsible for a woman's crippling disease; John 13:2 The devil prompts Judas to betray Jesus Christ; John 17:15; Acts 5:3 Ananias lies to the Holy Spirit at Satan's instigation; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Corinthians 12:7 Paul's thorn in the flesh from Satan; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:12; John 5:19; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 20:2
Other evil powers
Luke 9:39 pp Mark 9:17-18 Ephesians 6:12; 1 Timothy 4:1 See also Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:14; Samuel 18:10-11; Samuel 19:9-10; Matthew 12:45 pp Luke 11:26; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 16:13-14
Fallen human nature as a source of evil
Genesis 6:5; Matthew 15:19 pp Mark 7:21-22 James 1:13-14 See also Genesis 8:21; Proverbs 6:18; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 4:14; Jeremiah 17:9; Jeremiah 18:12
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law:
Matthew 23:25 pp Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27-28 Romans 1:24; Romans 7:14-23; 1 Timothy 6:10 the love of money a root of evil; James 3:6 The tongue is a source of evil; James 4:1
Physical evil is a consequence of moral evil
Genesis 3:17; Romans 5:12 See also Deuteronomy 28:20-24,58-59; Psalm 90:8-9; Proverbs 14:30; Malachi 4:6; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:19-21; Revelation 16:1,5-6
See also
4116 angels opposed to God 4120 Satan 4130 demons 5033 knowledge of good & evil 5560 suffering 6020 sin 6154 fall, the 6166 flesh, sinful nature 6186 evil scheming 6199 imperfection
