Faith and Knowledge

The Problem of Evil


Theologian: Augustine of Hippo, Philosopher: Plotinus


1. Background

-Augustine failed to have the answer of the origin of evil from Cicero, Manichaeism.

-He tried to use the Neo-Platonic doctrine to explain the problem of evil.


2. Augustine’s explanation of the problem of Evil

a. The nature of evil; The evil is a privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.

b. The origin of evil: Augustine pointed that the free choice of the will is the reason of human being’s committing sin and suffering


3. The Premises to get to the solution

-‘God is all-good and all-powerful.

-The whole creation is good; “God created good creatures.” (Conf. 7, 5, 7)


4. Influence of Neo-Platonism on Augustine’s Theodicy

a. Understanding of God and evil in Neo-Platonism

-The Supreme Being, the ultimate One, is in one of its aspects the God; and evil has no place or part in it.àAugustine: The nature of evil; the evil is privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.

b. Hierarchical system of Plotinus and Augustine’s adoption:-Plotinus system begins with the One, the supreme transcendent principle, which is immaterial and impersonal. The One is the ground of all being and source of all values. à there proceeded by emanation Mind (nous)àthe next is the World Soul(psyche)àthe lowest level; Nature (Evangelical dictionary of theology, p. 821)

-Augustine: “all natures, then, inasmuch as they are, and have therefore a rank and species of their own, and a kind of internal harmony, are certainly good” (City of God)



5. Evaluation

- The “privation” theory is not satisfactory. If God created all and governs all things, the privations as well as the actualities are within his plan.

-Augustine rejects the ancient Platonic, neo-Platonic, Gnostic and Manichaean prejudice against matter and lays the foundation for Christian naturalism that rejoices in this world which God created in His bountiful goodness.



Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that had made, and it was very good” 

“But you had not yet ‘lightened my darkness’ (Psalms 17:29)”-Confession, 7. 1.2.