Every human being has some innate knowledge of good and evil. The full knowledge of good and evil derives from God and is revealed in Scripture. The human desire of Adam and Eve to know good and evil, and thus gain independence from God, brought about the fall.
The human quest for knowledge of good and evil
Genesis 3:22 See also Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:5–6; 2 Samuel 14:17, 2 Samuel 19:35; Ezekiel 28:2–7
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”
The consequences of the attempt to attain this knowledge
Genesis 2:17 See also Genesis 3:7–19; Ezekiel 28:13–19; Romans 1:28–32
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
God as the source of full knowledge of good and evil
Psalm 119:66 See also Job 28:28; Psalm 34:11–14, Psalm 111:10; Romans 7:7
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
The natural knowledge of good and evil
Given in the human conscience
Romans 2:14–15 See also Job 27:6; Ezekiel 36:31; John 3:20; Acts 24:16; Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:18–19; 1 Peter 3:15–16
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
Conscience and moral decisions
1 Samuel 25:30–34; 1 Chronicles 21:6–7; Psalm 37:27; Amos 5:14–15; Ephesians 4:25–32
A natural knowledge of good and evil will not necessarily empower anyone to do good
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.