Basic TrainingBible MinistriesGene CunninghamBasic Training Bible Ministries KBKnowledge Base

What is the origin of evil in the world?

Answered by Gene Cunningham, Basic Training Bible Ministries · from The Basics

The origin of evil goes back to a real choice in a real garden. God made everything good and gave man genuine freedom — and freedom is only real if the choice to reject God is also real. Evil entered when man used that freedom to distrust God and go his own way; that is the Fall, and every evil since flows from it. But God was not caught off guard — before there was ever a problem, He already had the solution: a Savior. This choice by Adam resulted in the entire human race being separated from God, plunged into depravity, and set on the path to destruction. Because the children of Adam and Eve were born in the likeness of their parents, all human beings are born spiritually dead and are captives of 'the domain of darkness' (Gen. 2:17; Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:23).

Also asked: What is the source of evil in the world according to the Bible?
Also asked, more loosely
Why do people have the ability to choose between good and evil? · Where did evil come from and how did it start?

Source: The Basics The Basics — Evil (canonical doctrine) · Read this lesson in the book →

What this answer is about

The subjects this answer names in its own words. Where the record names that subject itself, it is shown in bold.

AdamEvilFreedom

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Scripture this answer rests on

Scripture the book prints on the pages this answer was drawn from. The passages printed closest to it are shown, in Bible order.

Genesis 3:12-13What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.6
Luke 21:34What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.121
John 1:9What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.6
1 Corinthians 3:11-15What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 Corinthians 10:14-21What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
Also printed on these pages
2 Corinthians 4:4What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
2 Corinthians 5:9-11What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 Thessalonians 5:15What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 Timothy 3:7What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 Timothy 4:1What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186
1 John 3:12What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.186

Where this is taught in the book

Closest first: the pages where the book treats this subject most directly.

Lesson 1–1: The Problem—Sin

p.8p.7

Lesson 2–2: The Base—The Church

p.75

Lesson 2–3: The Commission—Evangelism

p.84p.87

Lesson 1–2: The Plan—Redemption

p.11

Lesson 3–3: The Promise—Spirituality

p.147

Lesson 4–1: Perspective—Grace

p.182

Lesson 4–2: Perception—Discernment

p.187

Lesson 5–1: The Enemy—Satan

p.229

Lesson 3–5: The Goal—Spiritual Maturity

p.166

Lesson 1–3: The Provision—The Cross

p.30

More pages teach this. The Source line above carries the full citation and opens the book.

Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.