May 1, 2013
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What does the Bible say is Evil? (Part 2: The New Testament)
This is not finished — I only need to come back and do the color highlights which I don’t have time to do just now. When I am finished, this first paragraph will be removed, just so you know.
This is part two of a series laying a foundation for another post yet to come. The first post dealt with the Old Testament and can be found here. In the comments someone counseled me to pick up Hebrew in order to better understand that concept and I shot back that my aim was not to understand the nature of evil, but rather what specific actions are labeled as evil in scripture which we tend not to view as such.
That man’s comment has merit though, as there are several words in Hebrew which can be translated as “Evil” and sometimes get translated as “Wicked” instead. The same could likewise be said here in my tackling of the New Testament — there are a few words which could be translated as “evil”, and were my study aimed differently it might do well to pay attention to those words. For now, suffice it to be that I am using the English translation for a purpose and with an aim towards what’s to come.
My simple quest, as already stated, is this: What does the Bible say is Evil? That is to say, what actions, what part of man, what in specific does the Bible label as “Evil?” There’s a reason behind all of this — but the groundwork must be laid first. So here we go into the New Testament to explore every verse that uses the word “Evil” — and how it’s applied.
As stated before, here is the basic structure for my notes:
Verse — Who is in Mind? (Or: Who is speaking) — What is viewed as Evil?
Footnotes and thoughtsKey verses or key thoughts are set out in this color.
NOTE: In reviewing the New Testament one finds that there are many verses which refer simply to “Evil Spirits” or demons. I will deal most of my thoughts in Mark 1:23, 26-27 and simply label the rest as “Evil Spirits” with no footnote, unless something new is to be gained from the text.
I am working from the NIV — my reasoning on this was explained in the previous post. Please refer back if you honestly need to know why.
Matthew 5:11 – (Jesus speaking) – Evil spoken
Jesus pronounces blessing on those for whom people speak evil about.
Matthew 5:37 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil One
Jesus says that when we seek to justify ourselves in the eyes of others, we are speaking the words of the Evil One, Satan.
Matthew 5:39 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil Person
Jesus tells us not to resist the whims of an evil person, giving the examples of violence & theft & torture.
Matthew 5:45 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil Men
Jesus says we are to be like God who sends His rain upon both the evil and that good. We are to show visible, tangible expressions of love to even our enemies, because that’s exactly how God deals with those who are His enemies. (Colossians 1:21; Romans 5:10)
Matthew 6:13 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil One
The “Our Father” Prayer. Jesus says that we ought to pray for deliverance from the Evil One, Satan.
Matthew 7:11 — KEY VERSE!!! (Jesus Speaking) — All Men
Jesus reminds us that we, though we are evil, know how to do good occasionally. God, who is not evil, knows moreso how to bless us with what we need. He is not capricious.
Matthew 7:23 — KEY VERSE!!! (Jesus Speaking) – All Men
Many will come to me in that day and say “Have we not done good deeds in your name?” & Jesus says to them “Away from me, you evildoers.” Men assume that they do good, but God only sees evil, for God looks to the motives and thoughts behind why we acted so.
Matthew 9:4 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil Thoughts
Jesus rebukes the teachers of the law for “Evil thoughts in their hearts.” At the time, Jesus had just forgiven a paralyzed man by saying “Your sins are forgiven” for which they thought He had blasphemed.
Matthew 10:1 – (Jesus Speaking) – Evil Spirits
Jesus gives power & authority to His disciples to drive out Evil Spirits and heal diseases and sicknesses.
Matthew 12:34, 35 – KEY VERSE!!! (Jesus Speaking) – All mankind
This really is a key verse to the understanding of Evil.
(A) Jesus says (to the Pharisees, but likewise to one and all) that men are evil.
(B) Jesus says that evil men produce evil from what is ALREADY inside them. A tree and it’s fruits are in view here. A bad tree produces bad fruit. Evil men produce evil actions, regardless of how “good” they may seem outwardly.A bad fruit cannot be told by it’s skin, it’s appearance or it’s shape. One can only know a bad fruit by it’s taste or flavor.
Men might seem good outwardly — being philanthropically inclined or simply doing “good” deeds — just as did the Pharisees that Jesus addressed.
(C) We store up evil in ourselves. Our very nature is polluted thoroughly & the very means by which our actions are brought about are evil. Our heart, our mind, our will, our emotions — everything.
Matthew 12:43 — (Jesus speaking) — Evil Spirits
Jesus says that (A) Evil spirits exist, (B) they can dwell inside men and (C) they can be expelled.
Matthew 13:19 — (Jesus speaking) — Satan (Evil One)
Parable of the soils
The “Evil One” here refers to Satan and in this context he works against the soul of men to obfuscate the gospel from being understood.
Matthew 13:38 — (Jesus speaking) — Satan (Evil One)
Parable of the weeds sown in the field.
Jesus states plainly several facts:
(A) Satan is the enemy. Jesus very words are…. “The enemy who comes along sowing weeds in the field is the devil.”
(B) Satan has “children”. Jesus says the weeds are the “Sons of the Evil one”. This cannot refer to Demons, as Satan did not create demons, only corrupted them by his lies. It must therefore refer to men, and calls seriously to question the common myth that “All men are children of God.”Matthew 13:41 — (Jesus speaking) — Judgment — General Reference
A Judgment passage about the end of our age & all who will be excluded from the Kingdom of God, namely anything that causes sin and all who commit evil deeds. The passage specifically refers to the “Fiery Furnace”
Matthew 15:19 — (Jesus speaking) — Evil Thoughts
One of my favorite passages. Jesus lists out the things in a man’s “heart” that make him unclean before God. From careful reading through this passage we come to understand that “Heart” infers the mind of a man and that Jesus is using it in this sense. No other conclusion can come from “Evil Thoughts” proceeding out from the “heart of a man”…. men do not think with their emotions.
If a man is to be made righteous before God, he needs to entirely change his way of thinking!!!! It is not simply what we do or not do, but the whole manner by which we think that makes us unclean.
Also listed here are murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony & slander. One could question if the preceding “Evil Thoughts” actually infers everything else that follows — so thus we are condemned for EVIL THOUGHT ABOUT…. murder, adultery, etc. This would mean that God doesn’t merely judge us from the basis of our actions, but also for our thinking.
Matthew 22:18 — (Jesus speaking) — Evil intent
Jesus, knowing the Pharisees “Evil intent”…. so their thoughts, actions & even more so their planning or intended course of action — comes down as “Evil” or inclined towards evil.
Mark 1:23,25-26 — A man healed by Jesus of an Evil Spirit
A man possessed by a demon, here called an “Evil Spirit”
Inferred by reading:
(A) Evil spirits can inhabit a man
(B) Evil spirits can speak through a man
(C) Evil spirits knew who Jesus was
1) They knew his Earthly life (Nazareth)
2) They knew his Eternal life (Holy one of God)(D) Evil spirits know that a day of Judgment comes
(E) Evil spirits can sit quietly in church!!! (He sat through Jesus teaching before speaking up!
(F) Jesus has the power to expel evil spirits with merely a command.
(G) While Evil Spirits may resist a man’s authority, they are compelled to obey God. This could infer that Jesus is God, seeing as they had no power to fight against him.Mark 3:4 — (Jesus speaking) — To do evil
Jesus asks which is lawful to do on a Sabbath, evil or good. He then mentions “to kill” as an example.
Mark 3:11 — Evil Spirits
Evil spirits fell down (in worship?!?!?) before Jesus & call Him the Son of God.
Mark 3:30 — The People — General Reference
The people thought that Jesus had an evil spirit.
Mark 5:2,8,13 — Man from Gerasenes (Demon possessed man) — Evil Spirits
General reference to a man with more than one Evil spirit, that had driven him to isolation, madness & anti-social behavior.
We also learn here that Evil spirits can inhabit animals.
But as always, Jesus stands more powerful than any form of evil.
Mark 6:7 — Disciples — Evil Spirits
Jesus gave the disciples power over evil spirits.
Mark 7:20-23 — KEY VERSE!!! (Jesus speaking) — What is Evil?
Here is a key verse. Whereas Matthew 15:19 only mentions “evil thoughts”, here Jesus specifically ends by saying “All these EVILS come from inside….”
So what is Evil?
Evil Thoughts, Greed, Malice, Deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, adultery, murder, theft, sexual immorality & folly.
All these things that men pursue are evil in the sight of God.
While men today might try vainly to excuse themselves for things like arrogance, adultery, greed, deceit or envy — God smashes our self-justifications & clears away our vain attempts to portray ourselves right in choosing sin over Him. Evil is all it is.
Mark 7:25 — General — Evil Spirits
Here, a little girl is possessed by an evil spirit.
Mark 9:25 — General — Evil Spirits
Here another child is possessed by an evil spirit. Here the disciples were unprepared to deal with the power of this one & Jesus was there to show them that any demon is fully subject to God.
Luke 3:19 — Herod — Evil acts
John the baptist rebukes King Herod for all his evil deeds —- thus proving that you don’t have to have a personal relationship with someone in order to witness to them!
Luke 4:33 — Evil Spirits
Jesus expels a demon from a man. At the time men marveled that Jesus had authority over demons, the implication is that no one else before Him ever had.
Other questions to ask from this case are: “How did this man, possessed by a demon, wind up in the synagogue in the first place?”, What motivation put him there? did other think of him as “possessed”, or was he normal in his daily routine? Did his life give some evidence of being demon possessed?
Luke 6:9 — (Jesus Speaking) — What is lawful to do?
Jesus asks a simple question, but the choice of words make it seem as though we’ve only two choices for our actions — Do good or do evil.
Luke 6:18 — General — Evil Spirits
Simply stated, those who were bothered by Evil spirits found relief by coming to Jesus.
Luke 6:22 — (Jesus Speaking) — When others reject you as evil
Jesus indicates that a time will come when men will reject us as evil simply because we follow Jesus and preach His message.
Luke 6:45 — (Jesus Speaking) — Evil fruit
Parallel verse to Matthew 7 & 12, but here Jesus defines “bad fruit” as evil.
“An evil man brings out evil things from the evil that is stored in his heart.”
The implication is that evil first exists in the heart of a man & from this corrupted source springs all manner of evil actions, thoughts and deeds. In Matthew 12:37 Jesus concludes that by our very words (springing from a corrupted heart) we will all be condemned.
Luke 7:21 — General — Evil Spirits
Jesus releases men from evil spirits.
Luke 8:2 — General — Evil Spirits
Jesus had healed (past tense) several of the women who supported him of evil spirit possession.
Luke 8:29 — General — Evil Spirits
Jesus heals the man living among the tombs of the evil spirit that had possessed him.
Luke 9:42 — General — Evil Spirits
Jesus rebukes the evil spirit in possession of a young boy.
Luke 11:13 — (Jesus speaking) — All men
Parallel passage to Matthew 7:11. Implication of either verse is that Jesus views all men as “evil”, despite the fact that we know HOW to give good gifts.
Luke 11:24 — (Jesus speaking) — Evil Spirits
Jesus explains the mindset and actions of an evil spirit after leaving a “host”.
Luke 13:27 — (Jesus speaking)
The Narrow Door — Men who thought themselves prepared fro the kingdom will instead be called “Evildoers”. They THOUGHT they were doing good — until the master exposed their motivations.
Luke 18:11 — (Jesus speaking) — Pharisees prayer
The Pharisee in this story saw others as evildoers & not himself.
John 3:19-20 — KEY VERSE!!! (Jesus Speaking) — All men
Jesus pronounces judgment on all men by saying our deeds are evil and we prefer it that way. Because of this (our evil deeds and our preference for them) we will not come to Christ for salvation.
John 5:29 — (Jesus speaking) — All men
A time of judgment comes wherein all men will find themselves raised from the grave to be condemned for all the evil they have done.
John 7:7 — (Jesus speaking) — All men
Jesus tell His brothers that the world hates Him because He tells them (the world) plainly that their deeds are evil.
John 17:15 — (Jesus praying) — Satan, the Evil one
Jesus prays for us that believe in Him, that we might be protected from the evil one.
Acts 5:16 — General — Evil Spirits
Peter healed all who were “tormented by evil spirits.”
Acts 8:7 — General — Evil Spirits
Philip healed those in Samaria who had evil spirits.
Acts 19:12 — General — Evil Spirits
Paul healed men of their evil spirits.
Acts 19:13-16 — Sons of Sceva — Evil Spirits
The sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, could not drive out Evil spirits and paid a dear price for trying. Of interest — the Evil spirits knew of Jesus and Paul — They are aware of what is going on in our world.
Acts 19:18 — Public repentance — Evil deeds confessed and books burned
One of the very few times in Scripture that men openly confessed they’d committed “Evil deeds”.
One thing mentioned here is sorcery, with the men of Ephesus openly renouncing their ties to witchcraft & publicly burning their sorcery scrolls.
Acts 23:5 — (Paul speaking) — speaking evil of our leaders
Paul apologizes for speaking “evil” of Israel’s leader, noting Exodus 22:28 as his text.
Here is a lesson we should learn today.
Romans 1:29-30 — (Paul speaking) All Men — God gives men over to a depraved mind.
Evil is mentioned twice in this passage, once generically and the other time corporately.
First time Paul, speaking of men without God, starts his list off this way — They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed & depravity.
It is a generic sweep of categorical headings or base adjectives, for the overall picture of men’s deeds.
Second time is more specific. In the middle of a list of specific things men do as an affront to a Holy God, Paul states “they invent ways of doing evil” as if to imply everything that proceeds and follows is simply mankind being evil.
This would include (from this passage): Envy, gossip, disobedience, murder, slander, hatred of God, strife, deceit, insolence, arrogance, boasting, malice, senselessness, heartlessness, ruthlessness & faithfulness.
This passage goes on to say that even though men know these things deserve punishment, they continue doing these evils and even encourage others to follow.
Romans 2:8-9 — (Judgment) — Anyone who does evil
Those who reject the truth & follow after evil will gain a share in God’s wrath and anger.
Romans 3:8 — Christians — Falsely labeled as “Evil”
People slander Christians by saying we pursue evil that we might have grace.
Romans 6:12 — Sin — Produces evil desires
Key verse to the Christian:
The commandment of Paul is that we no longer allow sin to rule over us by producing in us evil desires for us to follow.
Sin is thus seen as a root & everything that sin produces comes out as evil branches and fruit.
Paul implies as well that as Christians we do have the choice to resist sin & it’s evil desires.
Romans 7:19,21 — KEY VERSE!!! (Paul Speaking generically of the Christian position) — doing evil = sinning
Here is a key verse for the Christian. We now have a fight on our hands. Whereas once we had one nature and succumbed only to sin whenever it produced an evil desire within us, now we have two natures constantly at war within us. This produces strife in our lives as we know what we should do but often find that we do the evil that we don’t wish to do. When I want to do good, Paul says, I find that evil is right there still with me.
Paul’s brilliant conclusion here is this: with my flesh I find that I serve the sinful nature yet still — but in my mind I am a slave to God’s law, seeking to do that which pleases him. (Romans 7:25) It is not the actions or effort that pleases God (For no works of the law makes us good), but the faith that we hold to which allows him to work in and through us during these difficult sin-strife struggles which pleases Him.
Romans 12:9, 17, 21 — KEY VERSE!!! (Instructions for Christians) — Hate what is evil, do not be overcome by it.
There is a strong implication here that if we really “love” in the Godly sense, we will hate evil and cling to what is good. If you consider the context of the chapter — Romans 12:1-2 tell us what worship honestly is and admonishes us not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world but rather to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Paul then expounds upon grace and the gifts God has given us before moving on to make practical application of what our “Spiritual worship” is in our daily living.
Paul uses the word “Evil” here three times in commandment form. (A) hate what is evil. (B) do not repay anyone evil for the evil they do to you. (C) do not be overcome by evil, but rather overcome evil by good.
In the New Testament, Evil is used in the form of a commandment several times. This is the only time which is used in a negative form (hate was is…). The other times are found in Romans 14:16 & 16:19, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 2 Timothy 2:22, .
If God’s eyes are too holy to look upon evil, we as his followers ought to take the same view of it.
Romans 14:16 — General —
An interesting command: Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
Considering the context (those weaker in faith) it would seem that we need to be wary of being so arrogant as to think ourselves teachers to those who lack the faith to indulge in things which really aren’t good or bad in themselves. (IE. Food, holidays, etc.) The Jewish believer who came out from under the Jewish law would view the eating of meats offered up to idols as a form of idolatry by association — and would shun them — whereby a gentile believer (or a more experienced believer) would see them for what they really were. An idol is nothing and meat is meat. Offering meat to a dead idol is meaningless and does not affect the meat in any way.
But if my eating meat causes a weaker brother to stumble — then my “good” becomes evil in that I have done so.
Romans 16:19 — General — Being innocent on evil things
Final commandment regarding evil. Here we are told to be innocent of evil and wise in good.
1 Corinthians 10:6 — General — desiring evil things
The Old Testament was written so as to encourage us not to set our heart on evil things as the Israelites of old had.
Specifically mentioned here is idolatry, sexual immorality, drunkeness, pagan partying & grumbling or complaining. The warning comes with the command to pay attention to ourselves so that we might not become as they were.
1 Corinthians 13:6 — General — Love does not rejoice in evil
it is interesting to note that the most famous passage of the New Testament: Love is patient, love is kind…. actually states up front that Love does not rejoice in evil but rather rejoices in Truth.
1 Corinthians 14:20 — General —
Paul admonishes the Corinthians to be as infants regarding thinking about evil. That is to say that we should not ponder it too deeply or profoundly, but rather to be free from it. A child doesn’t question when a parent says something is bad (at least a small child doesn’t) but rather accepts it as a matter of trust. We should be the same way in our regard of evil. God has said… and we should say “yes, Lord.” in return, just as children would.
Galatians 1:4 — General — Evil age
Jesus dies to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the Will of God, our Father.
Ephesians 5:16 — General — Evil days
As Christians we are to make the most of our time because the days we live in are evil. Examples of how to do so, as found in the context, would include not getting drunk, not being foolish, understanding the Lord’s will, being careful on how we should live, exposing the fruitless deeds of those in darkness, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns & spiritual songs, and always giving thanks to God the Father for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:12 — General — Spiritual forces of Evil
In the heart of the passage on the armor of the Christian warfare is three mentions of Evil, all in connection to the aim of our fight. In verse 12 we are reminded that we struggle not against men, but rather against the spiritual forces of Evil found in the Heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:13 — General — Evil Day
Our armor is to help us stand against the evil that comes daily upon us.
Ephesians 6:16 — General — Evil One (Satan)
The final mention of Evil in respect to the armor of the Christian is regarding our chief adversary, Satan, the Evil one. We are reminded that our Faith helps us to overcome all that he throws upon us.
Philippians 3:2 — General — Those who do evil
The passage is in regards to those who seek to supplant our Christian faith with works of the law. In this respect Paul labels them “Dogs, mutilators of the flesh, men who do evil….” and reminds us that our confidence is not in how we keep the law, but rather in our Faith in Christ.
Colossians 1:21 — KEY VERSE!!! —
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
I am not sure it could ever be stated more plainly. Paul sums up the entire human condition in one sentence. We are not God’s “Children”, we are his enemies. Why? Because of our evil behavior. We’re not talking Adolf Hitler here, we’re not talking John Wayne Gacy, we’re talking you and me. All of us. We are all of us evil in respect to our behavior…. because we do not desire to obey God.
Colossians 3:5 — General — Evil desires
The next command in the New Testament regarding evil. Paul tells us to put to death all those things that belong to our Earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires & greed which is labeled idolatry. The very next verse lets us know that because of these things the wrath of God is coming.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 — General — Avoid Evil
A simple straightforward command: Avoid every kind of evil.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 — General — General Reference
This is an interesting passage that refers to the coming of the Anti-Christ. What makes this interesting is this: Satan will come performing counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders — and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
Evil deceives us. The very next part of that verse says this: They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. Men refuse to believe that God’s way is the right way — they despise the truth that they are evil — and thus they are deceived by their very nature itself.
2 Thessalonians 3:2,3 — General — Evil men / Evil one
An interesting prayer request. Paul asks to be delievered from evil men (specifically stating “not everyone has faith” as a frame of reference), but then reminds one and all that God is faithful and will protect us one and all from THE Evil one. (Satan)
1 Timothy 6:4,10 — General — Evil Suspicions & all kinds of evil
Backing up a verse to give a good understanding of this reference —
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, EVIL suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
There you have it — the passage famous for those who feel godliness is a means of financial gain …. says they work by evil suspicions, malicious talk & constant friction.
It goes onward to say that they run by the love of money, and that this precipitates all manner of other evil.
2 Timothy 2:22 — General — General Reference
The next command regarding evil in the New Testament: Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:6, 13 — Last days — Evil desires
Talking about the state of things in the last days, Paul talks about men who have a form of godliness but deny it’s power. We’re then warned to stay away from such people. Thereafter these men worm their ways into women’s homes — women who are swayed by evil desires.
Still continuing the theme of life in the last days, Paul tells us in verse 13 that evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.
2 Timothy 4:18 — (Paul speaking) — General Reference
Paul, looking forward to the end of his life, says that he is confident that the Lord will rescue him from every evil attack and will deliver him safely in heaven.
Titus 1:12 — General — General Reference
A humorous reference to evil. Paul notes that Cretans own poetry states upfront that “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes & lazy gluttons.” Not sure that we can glean much from this reference.
Hebrews 5:14 — General — discerning Evil
Maturity in Christ is portrayed as being able to properly discern good from evil. It is likewise implied that this only comes with constant use of our knowledge and with much training.
James 1:13 — About God — Cannot be tempted by evil
Pretty straightforward: let no man say that God is tempting them for God cannot be tempted by evil.
James 1:14 — KEY VERSE!!! — General Reference
Each man is led into temptation by their own evil desires.
James 1:21 — General — General Reference
The next command in the New Testament — James tells us to get rid of all moral filth and the evil which is so prevalent around us. The admonishment is that we ought to humbly accept God’s Word as a means to do so.
James 2:4 — General — General Reference
By showing preferential treatment to the rich we show ourselves to have become judges over the poor with evil thoughts.
James 3:6 — The tongue of man — General Reference
The tongue is listed here as a world of evil among the parts of the body which can set the whole of a mans life on fire and is fueled by hell itself.
James 3:8 — The tongue of man — General Reference
The tongue again is listed as restless evil full of deadly poison.
James 3:16 — General — Evil practices
For where you have envy & selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Evil flows out of evil. Where men carry these sins within them, they always find their way out.
James 4:16 — General — Boasting
Simple enough — all boasting and bragging is evil.
1 Peter 1:14 — General — Evil desires
I love the consistency of Scripture. We’re called here to not conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance of God. James said pretty much the same thing, and so has Paul in Romans 6:12. It is our evil desires that lead us astray into sin. We do so because we are powerless against the sin which leads us along — until we surrender to Christ and receive from him the power to do so. This would be the new nature Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
1 Peter 2:16 — General — General Reference
Another command — Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a coverup to do evil.
1 Peter 3:9-12 — General — General Reference
In all of scripture, this one passage mentions evil the most. 5 times in 4 verses. Here’s what we can learn from it.
Do not repay evil for evil. Where someone spites you, do not return the spite. Where someone hates you, love them in return.
After this, Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 —- Whoever wants to see good days must keep his tongue from evil. He must turn from evil and do good. All of this ends with the fact that God does not hear the prayers of those who pursue evil.
While evil is not defined, we do learn that God will not attend to even the prayers of those who pursue evil.
1 Peter 3:17 — General — General Reference
Just a reminder that it is better for us to suffer for having done good rather than evil, so long as it is within God’s will.
1 Peter 4:2 — General — Evil desires
A reminder that those who have suffered in the body just as Christ had suffered in his body, do away with sin. Thus we do not live for evil desires, but rather for God.
2 Peter 1:4 — General — Evil desires
God has given us great and precious promises, so that we might participate in God’s own nature and escape the corruption in the world that is caused by evil desires.
Turn it around. Our evil desires keep us in the world and prevent us from partaking in God’s own nature which would take us all into heaven. It is only by faith that we are able to take a hold of these precious promises that God will indeed save us.
2 Peter 3:3 — Last Days — Evil desires
Men of the last days will scoff and follow their evil desires with abandon. They will all scoff at Christ’s promise to return and claim that the world has always been and will always be as it is. This — intriguingly — shows up lately in evolutionary thinking. These folks forget, as Peter reminds us, that God has already destroyed the Earth once before, and shown Judgment likewise elsewhere. Evil does not abide in the presence of God.
1 John 2:13,14 — (John speaking) — Evil one
John wonderfully reminds us that through Christ we have overcome the Evil One, Satan. Verse 14 will add to this that we do so by having the Word of God (Scripture) abide in us.
1 John 3:12 — Cain — Evil One / Evil Actions
An admonishment that we should not be like Cain who’s actions were evil because he belonged to the Evil One. Cain’s hatred of Abel is seen as a despising of Abel’s righteousness.
1 John 5:18-19 — General — Evil One
One of the more beautiful promises of Scripture. Those of the world who are born into God’s family through faith are kept safe from the Evil One. I specifically add here that this is only to those who are born into God’s family through faith because of verse 19 which says that the whole world lies under the control of the Evil One.
3 John 11 — General — General Reference
The last command of the New Testament regarding evil. In this John reminds us at the last not to imitate evil, but rather what is good, for anyone who pursues what is good is of God.
Revelation 16:13 — General — Evil Spirits
Referring to the Anti-Christ / Beast, John mentions seeing 3 evil spirits looking like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Beast. These demons perform counterfeit miracles and deceive the nations of the world in order to fight against God.
Revelation 18:2 — General — Evil Spirits
The fall of Babylon the great, which is labeled as the haunt of many evil spirits and demons.
So primarily we see the same conclusions on what “IS” evil, but what we find here are two things not in the Old Testament —(A) An overwhelming presence of Evil spirits / demons inhabiting men, women & children and having and influence on the world. The only time we see “Evil Spirits” in the Old Testament was the one that troubled King Saul in 1 Samuel 18 and following.
(B) commands concerning evil by which we are to live.