1 Timothy 6:10 kjv
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.
1 Timothy 6:10 nkjv
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 niv
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10 esv
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
1 Timothy 6:10 nlt
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. | (Direct Statement) |
| 1 Timothy 6:11 | But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness. | (Call to Action) |
| Matthew 6:24 | No one can serve two masters. | (Parallelism with Money/God) |
| Luke 12:15 | And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness. | (Warning against Greed) |
| Hebrews 13:5 | Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have. | (Similar Teaching) |
| Proverbs 28:20 | He who hastens to be rich will not be innocent. | (Consequences of Greed) |
| Proverbs 11:28 | Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. | (Unreliability of Riches) |
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver. | (Unending Nature of Greed) |
| Jeremiah 17:11 | Like a partridge that gathers young it did not hatch, is the one who gets riches, but not by right. | (Illegitimate Gain) |
| Proverbs 23:4-5 | Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone. | (Transience of Wealth) |
| Joshua 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth. | (Emphasis on God's Word) |
| Psalm 1:1-3 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked. | (Contrast with Wickedness) |
| Matthew 19:23 | Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. | (Difficulty for the Rich) |
| Luke 18:24 | Jesus looking at him said, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! | (Confirmation of Difficulty) |
| Mark 10:23 | Jesus looking around said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! | (Confirmation of Difficulty) |
| 1 John 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. | (Worldly Desires) |
| 2 Timothy 3:2 | For people will be lovers of money, lovers of spending, proud, arrogant, abusive. | (Character of False Teachers) |
| Titus 1:11 | They must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. | (Motives of False Teachers) |
| Acts 5:1-11 | Ananias and Sapphira’s story exemplifies the sin of loving money and lying. | (Judgment for Greed) |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | List of sinful actions including greed. | (Greed as a Sin) |
1 Timothy 6 verses
1 Timothy 6 10 Meaning
The foundational root of all bad things is the desire for money. This desire leads people away from true faith.
1 Timothy 6 10 Context
This verse is found in the concluding chapter of Paul's first letter to Timothy. Paul is instructing Timothy on how to handle challenges within the church, particularly regarding false teachers and the pursuit of wealth. The immediate context (1 Timothy 6:3-10) deals with those who promote "different doctrine" and have minds "corrupted and deprived of the truth," often motivated by greed. This section directly addresses the danger of discontentment and the pervasive negative influence of an excessive desire for riches. It's part of Paul's broader instruction on godliness and the dangers that hinder it.
1 Timothy 6 10 Word Analysis
- For (Gk. gar): Introduces a reason or explanation.
- the love (Gk. philarguria): This is a hapax legomenon (occurs only once in the Bible) specifically meaning "love of money," "avarice," "covetousness." It combines philos (love) and arguros (silver, money). It denotes an excessive and inordinate desire for wealth, a greed that becomes an unhealthy attachment.
- of money (part of philarguria): Explicitly names the object of this destructive love.
- is (Gk. esti): The verb "to be," indicating existence or nature.
- a root (Gk. rhizā): Signifies a base, source, or origin. It implies that this love is the fundamental source from which many evils sprout.
- of all kinds (Gk. panta ta eidē): Encompasses a wide variety, all types or categories. It stresses the broad applicability of this root principle to various forms of evil.
- of evils (Gk. kakōn): Refers to things that are morally bad, wicked, troublesome, or harmful.
1 Timothy 6 10 Bonus Section
The specific Greek word philarguria is significant because it’s a rare and potent term. Unlike other forms of "love" which can be positive, this denotes an obsessive, grasping affection. The concept of a "root" is also powerful, suggesting that while the manifestations of evil can be diverse, the love of money can be the common, underlying cause, similar to how roots sustain a tree that produces various fruits. This contrasts with the positive "root" of Christ or His teachings, which leads to life. This principle has been recognized across cultures and throughout history as a major impediment to righteousness and social justice.
1 Timothy 6 10 Commentary
The pursuit and love of money, not money itself, is the corrosive element. This deep affection for riches acts as the fundamental source from which a multitude of destructive behaviors and attitudes can emerge. It diverts people from their spiritual walk, leading to actions driven by greed rather than godliness. The emphasis is on the internal disposition of the heart towards wealth. This can manifest as covetousness, envy, dishonesty, oppression, neglect of spiritual duties, and even abandonment of faith in the pursuit of financial gain. True contentment, as Paul advocates, is found in godliness with contentment.