Theodicy

Definition and Meaning

Theodicy means "a defense of the righteousness of God." The term refers to theological and philosophical attempts to answer the question of why evil and suffering exist in the world if God is good and omnipotent. This question is commonly called "the problem of evil." The English word combines the Greek theos (God) and dikē (justice), and it became widely known after the German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz used it in the title of a book published in 1710. In Korean, the term is also rendered byeonsinron.

Biblical and Historical Background

The biblical book that addresses this question most profoundly is Job. Job's three friends explained his suffering as the consequence of his sin, but in Job 42:7 God declares that they have not spoken of him the thing that is right. In John 9:1–3, Jesus rejects the interpretation that attributes the blindness of a man born blind to his own sin or that of his parents. The psalms of lament and the book of Habakkuk likewise display a faith that questions God and cries out to him in the midst of suffering.

In church history, Augustine regarded evil not as an independent substance but as "the privation of good." He located the origin of evil in creatures' misuse of free will, that is, in the Fall. A line of thought originating with the second-century church father Irenaeus understood suffering as part of the process by which human beings grow toward maturity, and in the twentieth century the British theologian John Hick developed this view systematically. In the modern era, theologies have also emerged that emphasize a God who suffers with humanity on the cross.

Practice in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, theodicy arises less as an academic discussion than as a practical question of how to interpret suffering, such as illness, accidents, and bereavement, in preaching and pastoral visitation. The emphasis varies according to denominational tradition.

• The Reformed tradition, centered on the Presbyterian churches, emphasizes the sovereignty and providence of God. This tradition tends to explain that even evil falls under God's permission and is ultimately governed within his good purposes, and it frequently cites Romans 8:28.
• The Wesleyan tradition, including the Methodist and Holiness churches, emphasizes both human free will and the goodness of God. It is therefore cautious about explanations that regard evil as directly intended by God. The differences between these two traditions are bound up with the debate over predestination and free will.
• Pentecostal churches, such as the Full Gospel churches, tend to understand illness and suffering in connection with spiritual warfare and to emphasize overcoming suffering through divine healing and prayer.

During major disasters and epidemics, some pastors interpreted suffering as judgment on the sins of particular groups, and such statements drew criticism both inside and outside the church. In response, voices in many denominations argued that, unlike Job's friends, believers must not be quick to pronounce on the causes of another person's suffering. In pastoral ministry, an approach that comforts those who suffer and remains with them, rather than explaining suffering theoretically, is also emphasized.