1 Timothy 6:9
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Study Note
Study Note
The warning that 'those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction' identifies not wealth itself but the 'desire to be rich' (boulomenoi ploutein) as the danger. The following verse 10 — 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil' — is often misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil,' losing the important qualifications: it is the love, not money itself, and it is a root among possible roots, not the sole root. Jesus's teaching on wealth and anxiety (Matthew 6:19-34) and the rich young ruler narrative provide the dominical precedent for the apostolic warning. The verse belongs to the Pastoral Epistles' extensive treatment of the relationship between godliness and material contentment (6:6-8: 'godliness with contentment is great gain').
Other Translations
But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
and those wishing to be rich, do fall into temptation and a snare, and many desires, foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin and destruction,
But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
Cross References
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He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
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