How does 1 Timothy 6:10 define the root of all kinds of evil? Text of 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” Immediate Context (1 Timothy 6:3-11) Paul contrasts godliness with contentment against the corrupt motives of false teachers who “suppose that godliness is a means of gain” (v. 5). Verses 6-9 warn that desiring to be rich “plunges people into ruin and destruction.” Verse 10, therefore, is not an isolated proverb but the climax of a discussion on misplaced affections that derail faith. Not Money Itself, but Its Inordinate Love Scripture never condemns wealth per se (Genesis 13:2; Luke 8:3; 1 Timothy 6:17), yet consistently condemns covetous craving (Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 15:27; Hebrews 13:5). By personifying money as a rival master (Matthew 6:24), Jesus aligns with Paul: idolatrous attachment to wealth commandeers the heart, leading to sin. Old Testament Illustrations • Achan coveted gold and silver, causing defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). • Balaam loved “the wages of wickedness” (Numbers 22; 2 Peter 2:15). • Gehazi pursued Naaman’s silver, contracting leprosy (2 Kings 5). Each narrative depicts greed as the subterranean root sprouting theft, deceit, betrayal, and judgment. New Testament Illustrations • Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). • Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about their gift (Acts 5:1-11). • Simon Magus tried to purchase apostolic power (Acts 8:18-23). Each episode demonstrates paul’s thesis: craving money warps allegiance, corrupts integrity, and produces manifold evils. Theological Placement: Covetousness as Idolatry Colossians 3:5 equates greed with idolatry. Augustine observed that the human heart is “restless until it rests in You”; when that rest is transferred to wealth, the center of worship shifts. Love of money becomes a counterfeit deity, transgressing the first commandment and breeding further lawlessness. Misquotation Addressed Popular culture truncates the verse to “Money is the root of all evil,” implying material wealth itself is inherently sinful. The biblical text specifies the affection, not the object, as culpable, and limits the scope to “all kinds,” not an exhaustive, mathematical “all.” The difference preserves coherence with passages that commend diligent labor and prudent stewardship (Proverbs 6:6-11; Ephesians 4:28). Practical Antidote: Contentment and Generosity Paul’s remedy follows in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: • Hope in God, not riches. • Be rich in good works. • Be generous and willing to share. These practices uproot greed and reorient affections toward eternal rewards. Eschatological Perspective Because “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7), love of money is irrationally short-sighted. The believer’s ultimate treasure is the imperishable inheritance “kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4), secured by the risen Christ. Resurrection hope relativizes earthly wealth and neutralizes its seductive pull. Summary Definition 1 Timothy 6:10 defines the love of money as a deep-seated, idolatrous craving that serves as the generative root from which multiple categories of evil sprout—temptation, deception, apostasy, and self-destructive sorrow. The verse calls for vigilant contentment in God, generous stewardship, and eternal perspective to sever that root and cultivate godliness. |
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