“Theodicy of Love” is one of the clearest explanations of theodicy from a biblical perspective.
In Theodicy of Love[1], John C. Peckham, a professor of theology and Christian philosophy at Andrews University in the USA, continues his exploration of the implications of the concept of divine love according to the biblical worldview. This is a continuation of the work he began in The Love of God (2015), following the methodology presented in Canonical Theology (2016).
In Theodicy of Love, Peckham confronts divine love with the philosophical problem of evil. Building on Alvin Plantinga’s solution to the logical problem of evil—if God is good and omnipotent, why does evil exist?—which incorporates the free will of the creatures in question, Peckham affirms both divine omnipotence and goodness.
Expanding on the concept of free will as depicted in the biblical canon, Peckham analyses various biblical passages that illustrate divine self-limitation. God does not always get what He wants. God determines certain things through His actions, but not the mental activities, desires, or will of beings. Understanding this indeterministic model of providence requires an awareness of the cosmic conflict between good and evil.
The cosmic conflict between good and evil suggests the presence of an adversary who challenges God by making accusations about the divine character and, by extension, divine governance. The Bible identifies this adversary as Satan, presenting Satan as having real power and jurisdiction which lead directly or indirectly to the manifestation of evil.
However, as Peckham elaborates, there are certain rules of engagement in this conflict which indicate a process of judgement taking place before a heavenly council to resolve the problem of evil. When God does not intervene to put an end to evil, it is either because God is taking the rules of engagement into account, or because intervention would limit free will and affect the divine-human relationship of love, or because intervention would result in greater evil or limitation of the manifestation of love. Often, prayer offered in faith grants God the authority to exercise power.
In the final section of the book, the author highlights the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the ultimate demonstration of divine love. This reinforces trust in divine goodness, despite the remaining unanswered questions.
Overall, Theodicy of Love is one of the clearest explanations of theodicy from a biblical perspective. John Peckham has succeeded in capturing the essential elements of contemporary discussions regarding the problem of evil, offering a solution that takes into account the worldview presented by Scripture.