A Soteriologically Centered Theodicy

Table Of Contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• INTRODUCTION The Task of Theodicy
• The Purpose of This Book
• What Is a Theodicy?
• Types of Major Christian Monotheistic Theodicies
• The Importance of the Framework—Biblical, Theological, and Logical
• CHAPTER 1 The Creation-Order Theodicy Framework
• An Overview of the Development and Framework of the Creation-Order Theodicy
• Fundamentals of the Creation-Order Theodicy Framework
• Evil
• Creation-Order
• Benevolence of God
• Sovereignty of God
• Libertarian Freedom
• Soteriology
• Middle Knowledge and the Best of All Possible Worlds
• Gratuitous Evil
• Conclusion
• CHAPTER 2 The Need for the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy
• Examining the Fundamentals
• Benevolence of God
• Soteriology
• Best of All Possible Worlds
• Gratuitous Evil
• Conclusion
• CHAPTER 3 Theodical Investigation and Informing Theodicies
• An Examination of Historical Christian, Monotheistic Theodicists
• Irenaeus
• Irenaeus Fundamentals
• Irenaeus Critique
• Augustine
• Augustine Fundamentals
• Augustine Critique
• Aquinas
• Aquinas Fundamentals
• Aquinas Critique
• Molina
• Molina Fundamentals
• Molina Critique
• Leibniz
• Leibniz Fundamentals
• Leibniz Critique
• Summary of the Examined Historical Christian Monotheistic Theodicists
• An Examination of Contemporary Christian, Monotheistic Theodicists
• Geisler, Bocchino, and Corduan
• Geisler, Bocchino, and Corduan Fundamentals
• Geisler, Bocchino, and Corduan Critique
• Craig
• Craig Fundamentals
• Craig Critique
• MacGregor
• MacGregor Fundamentals
• MacGregor Critique
• Summary of the Examined Contemporary Christian Monotheistic Theodicists
• CHAPTER 4 The Construction of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy
• Fundamentals
• Creation-Order
• Benevolence of God and the Nature of Evil
• Soteriology
• Middle Knowledge
• Best Way to the Best Possible World and the Best Possible World
• Dichotomize
• Qualify and Quantify the Best Possible World
• Qualify and Quantify the Best Way to the Best Possible World
• Gratuitous Evil
• Conclusion
• CHAPTER 5 Apologetic Interaction with Informing and Contemporary Theodicies
• Comparison of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy to Informing Theodicies
• Little
• God’s Benevolence
• Which World to Actualize
• Best Possible World and Best Possible Way to the Best Possible World
• Gratuitous Nature of All Evil
• Conclusion Regarding Little
• Geisler, Bocchino, and Corduan
• Rejection of Middle Knowledge
• Appeal to Mystery to Explain Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom
• Lack of Qualification or Quantification for the Best Way to the Best Possible World
• No Provision for the Salvation of All Who Would be Saved
• Embracing a Greater Good Justification for Evil
• Conclusion Regarding Geisler, Bocchino, and Corduan
• Craig
• Craig’s Soteriological Position
• Embraces a Greater Good Justification for Evil
• Conclusion Regarding Craig
• MacGregor
• Soteriological Criteria for Which World God Would Actualize
• Transworld Damnation
• The Disposable Nature of People
• Conclusion Regarding MacGregor
• Comparison of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy to Contemporary Monotheistic Theodicies
• Barth
• Universalism
• Shadow Side “Nothingness” of Evil
• Conclusion Regarding Barth
• Boyd
• Diabolic Influences
• Middle Knowledge in Lieu of Boyd’s Open Theism
• Conclusion Regarding Boyd
• Peterson
• Middle Knowledge in Lieu of Peterson’s Open Theism
• The Best of All Possible Worlds Theory
• Conclusion Regarding Peterson
• Hasker
• Middle Knowledge in Lieu of Hasker’s Open Theism
• Hasker’s Natural Order
• Conclusion Regarding Hasker
• Hick
• Greater Good of Soul-Making as the Justification for Evil as It Pertains to God
• Universal Salvation
• Conclusion Regarding Hick
• Conclusion
• CHAPTER 6 Theological Relevance of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy
• Concomitant Attributes of God
• Omniscience
• Middle Knowledge
• Premise 1
• Premise 2
• Premise 3
• MacGregor’s Conclusion 4
• Natural Knowledge
• God’s Divine Creative Decree
• Free Knowledge
• The Synergism of the Three Types of God’s Knowledge—His Omniscience
• Sovereignty
• Benevolence
• Summary of Concomitant Attributes
• Predestination and Libertarian Freedom
• Gratuitous Evil and the Best Way Possible World
• Natural Evils
• Causation of Natural Evils
• Natural Evils and Creation-Order
• The Cross
• Eternal State of the Saved and Unsaved
• Eternal State of the Saved
• Eternal State of the Unsaved
• Summary of the Eternal State of the Saved and Unsaved
• Prayer and Miracles
• Conclusion of Theological Relevance
• CHAPTER 7 Practical Application in Christian Counseling
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index

Connie Johnson

A Soteriologically Centered Theodicy

A Comprehensive Study of Salvation and
God’s Benevolence in an Evil World

New York · Berlin · Bruxelles · Chennai · Lausanne · Oxford

Bibliographic Information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available online at http://dnb.d-nb.de.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Johnson, Connie, 1963- author http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2025022323

Title: A Soteriologically Centered Theodicy : A Comprehensive Study of Salvation and God’s Benevolence in an Evil World / Connie Johnson.

Description: United States of America : Peter Lang, [2025] | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2025015827 (print) | LCCN 2025015828 (ebook) | ISBN 9783034358835 hardcover | ISBN 9783034358842 ebook | ISBN 9783034358859 epub

Subjects: LCSH: Theodicy http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85134644 | Good and evil--Religious aspects--Christianity http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2009125990 | Salvation--Christianity http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2002004790

Classification: LCC BT160 .J64 2025 (print) | LCC BT160 (ebook)

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025015827

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025015828

Cover image: ©iStock

Cover credit: ChrisHepburn, 2024

ISBN 978-3-0343-5883-5 (Print)

ISBN 978-3-0343-5884-2 (E-PDF)

ISBN 978-3-0343-5885-9 (E-PUB)

DOI 10.3726/b22944

© 2025 Peter Lang Group AG, Lausanne (Switzerland)

Published by Peter Lang Inc., New York (USA)

info@peterlang.com

All rights reserved.

All parts of this publication are protected by copyright.

Any utilization outside the strict limits of the copyright law, without the permission of the publisher, is forbidden and liable to prosecution.

This applies in particular to reproductions, translations, microfilming, and storage and processing in electronic retrieval systems.

This publication has been peer reviewed.

www.peterlang.com

To my husband David, daughter Brittany, and son-in-law Daniel.

To my grandsons, Easton and Brooks—I pray that I will be a part of instilling in you a love for the Word of God. May you be contenders for the faith!

[…] it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

—SIR ISSAC NEWTON

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction The Task of Theodicy

Chapter 1 The Creation-Order Theodicy Framework

Chapter 2 The Need for the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy

Chapter 3 Theodical Investigation and Informing Theodicies

Chapter 4 The Construction of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy

Chapter 5 Apologetic Interaction with Informing and Contemporary Theodicies

Chapter 6 Theological Relevance of the Soteriologically Centered Theodicy

Chapter 7 Practical Application in Christian Counseling

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Preface

In my encounters with so many people, Christian and non-Christian, the questions and allegations come up about God and evil. Christians often have a hard time reconciling things that happen to them with the loving God that the Bible speaks of. Non-Christians have used the existence of evil to explain to me why they do not serve the God of the Bible. Atheists have told me that they do not believe in God because of the evil that is in the world, and if there was a God, he was a real mean God. All-in-all, there are a lot of people out there who are mad at God because of what has transpired in their life or the life of a loved one.

The purpose of this book is to offer a comprehensive vindication for the goodness and justice of the God of the Bible in a world that is full of evil. There is evil, but God is not the author of evil. In fact, the salvation offered by God is the only hope we have in a world full of evil.

The Soteriologically Centered theodicy is built around the overarching theme of the Bible, God’s plan and offer of salvation for anyone who will accept it. More important than our creature comforts are our eternal dispositions. With that focus in mind, the construction of the Soteriologically Centered theodicy considered and gleaned from the scholarship and arguments about the coexistence of God and evil that have been made over the centuries.

The Soteriologically Centered theodicy is from a doctoral thesis submitted to the South African Theological Seminary (SATS).

Acknowledgments

I have been blessed by Robert Averill, MME, and his interest in my work and the topic of theodicy. His interest has manifested as encouragement for me, and a keen eye for picking through the weeds of my drafts and final manuscript. Robert, (Bob), I cannot say enough about your kindness, expertise, and the sacrifice of your time. Thank you.

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Godfrey Harold and Dr. Robert Falconer. Both gentlemen have been instrumental in my theological education. One of the most powerful thoughts that Dr. Harold shared with me was that my study was worship to God. Those words helped to inspire me when the evenings were long, and all the words looked like Greek and ran together. I was able to pause and remember the “why” of what I was doing.

Although I have never met him in person, I cannot begin to give Dr. Bruce Little the proper honor that he deserves. His work and presentation on theodicy captured my mind and were a direct cause of my path of study. Further, it is because of his work that I was able to construct the theodicy found in this book. One day I will meet him, but for now, thank you Dr. Little.

INTRODUCTION The Task of Theodicy

The Purpose of This Book

The overarching theme of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is salvation, the redemption of humanity. Beginning in Genesis Chapter 3, after sin first came into the world, God promised a means of salvation from the eternal consequence of sin. This theme is consistent throughout the entirety of the Bible. Among the multitude of references the message of salvation is found in Psalm 3:8 and 62:7, Isaiah 12:2, John 3:16, Romans 10:9–10, and Revelation 22:17.¹ Given the focus on soteriology in the Bible, it is only fitting that a theodicy be likewise oriented on soteriology. Soteriology is not a minor aspect of theodicy; it should be a central focus when considering why God would allow the very evils from which humanity must be saved.

The purpose of this book is to present the Soteriologically Centered theodicy (SC theodicy). The SC theodicy is based on the framework of the Creation-Order theodicy (C-O theodicy). The SC theodicy will be differentiated from the C-O theodicy in that the SC theodicy will: (1) provide a soteriological understanding of God’s benevolence, (2) contend for the actualization of the world in which all who would be saved are saved, (3) stipulate a dichotomization between the best way to the best possible world from the best possible world, with qualifying and quantifying criteria for each, and (4) reclassify the nature of evil as it pertains to God; eliminating God’s dependence on evil, or removing him as the author or causation of any evil. The SC theodicy aims to provide a biblically, theologically, and logically sound explanation for why God actualized this particular world in light of the amount of evil that exists.

The theological significance of the SC theodicy is that it provides for a biblically coherent soteriology as part of a theodical framework. The contention presented is that the benevolence of God is most manifested in his provision for the salvation of humanity. The salvation of humanity was provided for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God would logically and benevolently want as many people to be saved as would choose to accept his offer of salvation. The theodicy provides a clear understanding of how God would actualize the world in which all who would be saved are saved. The maximization of the quantity of people saved reflects the price paid for the salvation of humanity and God’s desire to be in a volitionally loving relationship with people.