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St. John of Tobolsk on Why God Permits Evil
22:02
What the video says
The speaker distinguishes between God's permission of evil and human inaction, arguing that confusing them is a grave error. God allows two kinds of evils: general misfortunes like sickness and poverty, which are bitter medicines for spiritual healing, and sin, which is not a reality but a fantasm resulting from rational beings refusing to submit to God.
God wills the first category as punishment or chastisement, but does not desire sin; he merely suffers it. God allows sin to create good from evil, as seen in Joseph, David, Daniel, and Christ's crucifixion, revealing God's wisdom and providence. The saints ascribe all events to God's will, and Augustine says God transforms evil into good rather than preventing it.
When offended, one should turn to the just God who permitted it, not complain against the perpetrator, since the evildoer's intention is toothless without God's permission. The sinner's fault remains undiminished even if God brings greater good from it, as illustrated by the arsonist whose victim receives a better house through another's charity.
Key moments
- Confusing God's permission with human inaction is a grave error; human inaction leads to evils when one could have warned or prevented them.
- Two kinds of evils God allows: general misfortunes (insults, sickness, death) which are bitter medicines for healing, and sin which is the only true evil.
- Sin is not real but a fantasm, anti-reality, nothing; it exists only as the result of created beings refusing to submit to God, occurring against God's will.
- God allows sin to create good from evil, truth from lies, for admonition and correction, letting people see sin's consequences.
- Examples: Joseph's brothers' envy saved Egypt; Saul's persecution benefited David and Israel; Daniel in lions' den led to glory; Christ's crucifixion brought salvation.
- Analogy of ship captain: God's providence directs through stormy seas to best end; evil intentions of unrighteous can turn to their benefit and honor.
- Saints ascribe all events to God's will; Augustine: God transforms evil into good; Theophilus: God intervenes in sins to correct them, making evildoers unconscious instruments.
- Practical counsel: turn to God when offended, submit to his permission; the sinner's fault remains even if God brings good from it (arsonist example).
The speaker presents St. John of Tobolsk's teaching from The Sunflower on the distinction between God's permission of evil and human inaction. Confusing the two is identified as a grave error. God allows two categories of evil: general misfortunes such as sickness, poverty, insults, and death, which function as bitter medicines for spiritual healing; and sin, which is not a reality but a fantasm or anti-reality resulting from rational beings refusing to submit to God.
God wills the first category as punishment or chastisement but does not desire sin; he merely suffers it. God permits sin in order to bring good from evil, as illustrated by Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery, Saul's persecution of David, Daniel in the lions' den, and the crucifixion of Christ. The saints ascribe all events to God's will. Blessed Augustine is cited teaching that God transforms evil into good rather than preventing it, and that the Father gives up the Son while Judas's intention remains sinful.
The speaker uses the analogy of a ship's captain directing a vessel through stormy seas to the best end. Practical counsel is given: when offended, one should turn to the just God who permitted the offense rather than complain against the perpetrator, because the evildoer's intention is toothless without God's permission. The sinner's fault remains undiminished even if God brings greater good from it, illustrated by an arsonist whose victim receives a better house through another's charity.
Main points
- God's permission of evil differs from human inaction; confusing them is a grave error.
- Two kinds of evils: general misfortunes as bitter medicines for healing, and sin as a fantasm or anti-reality.
- God wills misfortunes as chastisement but does not desire sin; he permits sin to bring good from it.
- Examples include Joseph, David, Daniel, and Christ's crucifixion where God brought good from evil intentions.
- When offended, turn to God who permitted it; the sinner's fault remains even if God brings good from it.