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Currently Circulating

Does the Bible say "Money is the root of all evil"?

about 1 min read

MISQUOTED

Widely circulated in shortened form on social media and in pop-cultural references. The actual verse — 1 Timothy 6:10 — says it is the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil. The shortened version flips the meaning by removing 'the love of' and changing 'a root of all kinds' to 'the root of all.'

The circulating quote

“Money is the root of all evil.”

Routinely repeated on social media as a Bible verse; appears in song lyrics, headlines, and casual conversation.

What the text actually says

1 Timothy 6:10 — BSB

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

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.

In context

Three differences between the popular version and the actual text. (1) The verse is about the love of money — philargyria — not money itself. The Greek philos (love of) + argyros (silver) names the disposition, not the object. (2) The verse says money-love is a root of all kinds of evil, not the root of all evil. The Greek riza pantōn tōn kakōn allows both readings; modern critical translations (NIV, NRSV, BSB, ESV) prefer 'a root of all kinds of evil' because that fits Paul's argument and the Greek idiom. (3) The verse is a warning specifically to Timothy in pastoral leadership, embedded in a longer discussion (1 Timothy 6:6-10) about contentment versus the destructive pursuit of wealth.

A note on this entry

This is one of the most-shortened verses in English-language usage. The Bible does not say money is the root of all evil. The Bible says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Three differences.

The shortening is theologically consequential. The verse criticises a particular disposition — philargyria, the love-of-silver — not the medium of exchange itself. Removing “the love of” turns a warning about an inner orientation into a sweeping statement about a tool. Changing “a root of all kinds of” to “the root of all” turns one source of many evils into the single source of all evil.

For the full textual analysis — including the Greek philargyria, the article-and-noun grammar of riza pantōn tōn kakōn, and the surrounding pastoral context in 1 Timothy 6 — see the full entry.

Full textual analysis

For the full textual analysis see: this entry →

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