Historic pastoral reading
Greed can pull people from the faith. Money can be used well; loving it is the danger named here.
1 Timothy 6:9–10
Money is the root of all evil.
The text
WEB
9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
KJV
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
What kind of text
- Letter
- To a church worker
- Warning about greed
Paul is warning Timothy about people who want to get rich, not declaring that coins cause every sin.
How Christians have read this
Common misuse
Used to condemn wealth itself, or business, without the phrase “love of.”
What the next verse does
Verse 11 tells Timothy to flee that and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Older commentary
Matthew Henry
Henry on 1 Timothy 6:10: it is the love of money that is a root of evils.
Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon: gold is not the root; the craving is.