1Question_ Evil - Why do bad things happen to good people_ Ralph Gilmore
Teacher
Lesson Summary
Dr. Ralph Gilmore, a Bible professor and philosopher at Freed-Hardeman University, addressed the profound question of why bad things happen to good people during this One Question Live event. He began by acknowledging that this question touches both our intellectual understanding (head) and our emotional experience (heart), and that both dimensions must be addressed. Dr. Gilmore presented the logical problem of evil: if God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and benevolent (all-loving), how can evil exist? He outlined the classical formulation of this problem, noting that God's omnipotence, benevolence, and the existence of evil appear logically incompatible. Drawing from Scripture, particularly 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Dr. Gilmore emphasized that Paul taught our suffering is momentary and that believers must maintain eternal perspective. The class distinguished between the problem of evil (the existence of evil itself) and the problem of suffering (why individuals experience pain and loss). Dr. Gilmore's approach was to "zoom in" and "zoom out"—examining specific instances of suffering while also considering God's broader purposes and eternal nature. Throughout the presentation, he stressed that biblical faith must address both rational objections to God's existence and the deep emotional pain people experience when facing tragedy, loss, or injustice.