New
New
Year 8

The devil as the cause of evil

I can explain Christian beliefs and teachings about the devil as a cause of evil.

New
New
Year 8

The devil as the cause of evil

I can explain Christian beliefs and teachings about the devil as a cause of evil.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The devil is a rebellious being that opposes God.
  2. Christian teaching suggests that the devil is a fallen angel who is a source of wickedness and evil.
  3. Genesis 3 depicts the devil as a cause of evil and suffering through temptation leading to the first sin.
  4. The Gospels state that the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
  5. Many Christians believe that God is still omnipotent and omnibenevolent even though the devil causes evil.

Keywords

  • Evil - the opposite of good and a cause of suffering

  • Temptation - the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise

  • The devil - a rebellious spiritual being who opposes God and seeks to tempt humanity to sin

Common misconception

The devil is as powerful as God.

The devil's power is limited and defeated through Jesus' death and resurrection.


To help you plan your year 8 religious education lesson on: The devil as the cause of evil, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to read the story of the devil tempting Jesus in further detail with students. You can find the story in the Gospel of Matthew 4:1-11 and the Gospel of Luke 4:1-13.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which type of evil is caused by human actions like theft or murder?

natural evil
social evil
intentional evil
Correct answer: moral evil

Q2.
The word means all-loving and infinitely good.

Correct Answer: omnibenevolent, Omnibenevolent

Q3.
Who was the Ancient Greek philosopher who first raised the problem of evil?

Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Correct answer: Epicurus

Q4.
The inconsistent triad suggests that God's omnipotence and may not be compatible with the existence of evil.

Correct Answer: omnibenevolence, Omnibenevolence

Q5.
Which of the following best explains why the triad is considered “inconsistent”?

Correct answer: The three ideas cannot all be true at once.
It lists three equal beliefs about God.
It includes too many characteristics of God.
It ignores the Bible's teachings.

Q6.
The term evil refers to suffering caused by events like earthquakes or tsunamis.

Correct Answer: natural, Natural

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which passage do some Christians interpret as describing the devil being cast out of heaven?

Genesis 3:4–5
Correct answer: Ezekiel 28:12–17
Matthew 5:7
Romans 8:28

Q2.
Some Christians believe the devil appeared as a in the Garden of Eden.

Correct Answer: serpent, Serpent

Q3.
What might a Pentecostal Christian believe about the devil?

The devil is a symbol of injustice.
Correct answer: The devil is a real being who tempts people.
The devil no longer exists today.
The devil is only mentioned in the Old Testament.

Q4.
According to Luke 10:18, Jesus said he saw Satan fall like from heaven.

Correct Answer: lightning, Lightning

Q5.
How many times did the devil tempt Jesus in the wilderness?

once
Correct answer: three times
five times
seven times

Q6.
Christians believe is one way the devil causes evil and suffering.

Correct Answer: temptation, Temptation