Why Is There Evil?

Why Is There Evil? is a booklet by Dr. R.C. Sproul that addresses the problem of evil and human suffering, examining how these realities relate to the holiness, sovereignty, and benevolence of God.

Part of the Crucial Questions series, this booklet engages both the philosophical and pastoral dimensions of theodicy. Sproul surveys several historical attempts to justify God in light of evil’s existence—including approaches that deny evil’s reality, that treat evil as a prerequisite for appreciating good, and the influential theodicy of Gottfried Leibniz—while identifying the logical and biblical shortcomings of each. He draws careful distinctions among moral, physical, and metaphysical evil and explores the classical understanding of evil as privation.

Rather than claiming to resolve the problem fully, Sproul urges intellectual honesty, acknowledging the difficulty of the question while directing readers toward confidence in God’s providential governance. Through sustained attention to Scripture—including the book of Job, Habakkuk, and Romans 8:28—he shows how God orders all things, including suffering and evil, toward purposes that are ultimately good for those who love Him. The booklet also addresses the danger of calling evil good, the nature of grace and justice, and the implications of divine providence for daily Christian living.

Key Themes

• The distinction between the philosophical problem of evil and the pastoral problem of suffering
• God’s sovereign providence over all things, including evil and tragedy
• The book of Job as a model for trusting God’s character amid unanswered questions
• The teaching of Romans 8:28 and its implications for believers and unbelievers alike

Featured Quotes

“The presence of evil indirectly points to the reality of the good. It becomes an argument not against God but for the existence of God.”

“The only way God answers Job’s questions is not with an explanation that He has reserved for heaven; He answers it with Himself.”