The Love of Money: A Misquoted Truth and Its Real Meaning

Misunderstood and Misquoted: What the Bible Really Says About the Love of Money

One of the most frequently quoted—and just as frequently misunderstood—verses in the Bible is “the love of money is the root of all evil.” You've likely heard it stated as “money is the root of all evil,” but that’s not what Scripture actually says. The full verse, found in 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV), reads:

“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.”

Notice the key phrase: “the love of money.” Not money itself. This distinction is critical—and it changes everything.

Misquoting Leads to Misunderstanding

The misquotation, “money is the root of all evil,” leads to the mistaken belief that Scripture condemns wealth or financial success outright. This has fueled both guilt among Christians who prosper and criticism from non-believers who see biblical teaching as anti-economic progress.

But money is a tool—morally neutral in itself. It can be used to bless others, provide for families, fund ministries, and meet needs. Scripture is filled with examples of faithful believers who were blessed with wealth: Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, and Lydia, to name a few.

The issue is not the possession of money but being possessed by money.

The Heart of the Issue: Love and Idolatry

What Paul warns Timothy about is covetousness—the deep-seated desire for wealth that leads people to compromise their integrity, abandon their faith, or prioritize material things over God. Jesus gave a similar warning in Matthew 6:24:

“You cannot serve God and money.”

This kind of love—greedy, consuming, idolatrous—leads to all sorts of evils: corruption, theft, exploitation, injustice, and spiritual compromise. It blinds people to what truly matters, replacing contentment with constant craving.

In this sense, the love of money becomes a “root” from which many other sins grow. It may not be the origin of every sin in existence, but it certainly feeds much of the brokenness we see in the world today—from corporate fraud to human trafficking to political bribery.

A Personal and Cultural Challenge

This verse also challenges our culture’s obsession with wealth, luxury, and consumerism. In a society where success is often measured in dollar signs, it’s easy to drift into thinking more money equals more worth. Even in the Church, prosperity can become a false gospel.

Paul’s fuller teaching in 1 Timothy 6 includes a call to contentment:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)

Instead of obsessing over wealth, Paul encourages believers to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share (1 Timothy 6:18).

Conclusion: Letting Scripture Speak Clearly

The misquotation of 1 Timothy 6:10 has clouded the powerful truth it contains. Money isn’t evil—but the love of it can lead to great evil. Christians are not called to fear money, but to master it—not as an idol, but as a servant. When our hearts are ruled by contentment in Christ, rather than by craving for cash, we can use money as a tool for eternal purposes instead of being trapped by temporary ones.

Let’s be careful to quote Scripture accurately—and more importantly, to live by what it really teaches.