Money

Dr. Couch, how should 1 Timothy 6:10 read? Some translations say "Money is the root of all sorts of evil," and some say "Money is the root of evil." The Greek text reads: "For (the) root of all the evils is the affection (love) for money (avarice)." The word "love" is philos (affection, to like) and not agape. "Affection for money" is actually one entire word: "philarguros." The reason some translations used "of all sorts" is because "evils" is in the plural. Often it is translated "Of all the evil things."    Notice what Paul writes in verses 9 and 11. "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation," and, "Flee from these things, you man of God." From the other verses that follow it seems that Paul is directly addressing Timothy. Being a younger minister of the gospel, Timothy may have been open to certain temptations that Paul knew about. We often think that NT personalities walked on water, but that is not true. They faced the same temptations that we face. There is more than one reference where Paul seems to be concerned for Timothy's conduct. In one place he told him to "Flee youthful lusts" (2 Tim. 2:22).    What the apostle is saying in 1 Timothy 6:10 is sobering. The desire for money is the starting point for all kinds of evils! This does not mean that money is bad! And it does not mean that one can not be wealthy. But those who have been so blessed must be aware of what money can do. There are many in the Gospels and in the epistles who appear to have been wealthy. They were not chided for their wealth.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch