What Does Evil Mean:

It seems everyone has their own definition of evil. To some, evil is anything with adverse effects to self. To others, evil is anything with adverse effects to society. Some even deny the existence of evil. However, we all seem to be able to identify evil when it is amplified. We have a gut response when we see evil. A man killing an elderly woman for her purse generates a repelling response. Parents killing their children for insurance money causes us to, perhaps temporarily, acknowledge the existence of evil.

Most people have their own personal definition of evil. However, if you ask them if they are evil, they will likely deny it. One might make the excuse that, while they may do evil things, they are not evil people. This immunity to being evil makes no logical sense. Most would agree Hitler was an evil person. What made Hitler evil, aside from doing evil things?

If a person lies, that person is a liar. If a person has an affair, that person is an adulterer. If the offence grants you a title for these examples, why not evil? The confusion in this matter is result of a their perception of “good.” Most would consider good the antithesis of evil. That which is good cannot be evil. That which is evil cannot be good.

According to the same logic applied to evil: if one does “good” things, then one must be a “good person.” People generally assume they have done “good” things. If good cannot be evil, and vice versa, then people must be either good or evil. If people do “good” and “evil” things they are either walking paradoxes, or we have a mistaken understanding of good and evil.

Biblical Concept of Good and Evil:

The Bible presents a very simple definition of Good and Evil:

Good - God

Evil – Everything else

While this may seem like an oversimplification, compared to the convoluted, paradoxical, self-justifying definitions presented by secular attempts, this simplification of good and evil makes a lot of sense. This definition of evil includes everything that is done apart from the will of God. According to the Bible, people are not walking paradoxes of good and evil. Everyone, because they are not God, is evil:

All of us have become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Isaiah 64:6

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 3:9-20

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:13

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Romans 7:15

It is important to make a distinction between “bad” and “evil.” Evil, Biblically speaking, does not imply the action is harmful to anyone (at least not immediately). Evil does not imply misfortune, greed, selfishness or malice. Evil is only the alternative to good.

A good analogy to better understand the relationship between good and evil would be light and darkness. Light is the product of photons which emit energy in the form of visible light. Darkness is the absence of light. Light exists as a reality. Darkness exists only as the alternative. Biblically, God defines good and good defines God. Good is the product of God. Evil is the absence of good; absence of God. Good exists as God. Evil exists only as the alternative.

Therefore, only that which is done by God or within the will of God is “good.” Everything else, by definition, must be evil.