God Never Meant for Us to Die: The Emergence of Evil in the Light of the Genesis Creation Account
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
The most incisive indictment against Christianity resides in the notion of a God who created a world in which there is untold suffering and death. Is this the best God could do? In response, most Christians will mutter something about free will or the necessity of evil to bring about God’s plan for humanity. Theologians often reply by challenging the very legitimacy of the question; God only requires that we persevere. Biblical scholars, who might otherwise be expected to offer a scriptural perspective, nervously denounce any suggestion that the presence of evil may have had something to do with a primordial couple and a fruit tree. Is it any wonder that most people believe that evil must surely be an intractable component of human existence introduced, perhaps, by the very God Jews and Christians worship? This book is a response to the problem of evil that unconditionally affirms the goodness and power of God. Based on a new assessment of the Genesis creation story, one of the greatest texts ever to have emerged in human history, the author contends that God never intended for humanity to experience suffering and death.
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“The provocative title, God Never Meant for Us to Die,
invites readers to a creative and engaging biblical theological
study of theodicy. We should all welcome an investigation into this
subject by an Old Testament scholar. Based upon a close reading of
Gen 1–3 and related texts, Dr. Gilbert offers a solution to the
problem of evil and suffering in the world that is respectful of
the history of interpretation of the subject, but in the end is
rooted in Scripture. With a firm grasp of the secondary literature
as well, and a warm pastoral passion, he addresses the weaknesses
of both Augustinian and process theological answers to the problem
and presents a strong case for something in between. Pierre’s work
contains plenty of grist for discussion. However, readers will be
especially grateful that he has given them a healthy perspective
for dealing with theodical issues in their own lives and hope for
the future, rooted in the incarnation and sacrificial atonement of
Jesus Christ. This is one of the finest works on the subject I have
read.”
—Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old
Testament, Wheaton College
- Title: God Never Meant for Us to Die: The Emergence of Evil in the Light of the Genesis Creation Account
- Author: Pierre Gilbert
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- ISBNs: 9781532699641, 9781532699627, 9781532699634, 1532699646, 153269962X, 1532699638
- Resource ID: LLS:9781532699641
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-10-16T06:18:16Z
Pierre Gilbert is Associate Professor of Bible and theology at
Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg (Canada). He is the
author of Demons, Lies & Shadows (2008).