High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Irenaean theodicy is a theodicy designed to respond to the problem of evil. The purpose of the theodicy is to justify the existence of an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God in the face of evil and suffering in the world. Twentieth century philosopher and theologian John Hick developed the theodicy, which was named after the second century Bishop Saint Irenaeus and inspired by his ideas and writings.