A Root or The Root?

Many of us are familiar with the KJV rendering of this proverbial statement, “For the love of money is the root of all evil,” (1 Tim. 6:10). However, many modern translations render this as indefinite “a root” (NKJV, ESV, NASB, CSB, NIV, NRSV). They are trying to give the sense that money is not the root of all evil without exception. While loving money plays a significant role in leading people to do evil, it is not the one and only factor. Is the KJV wrong then in rendering “root” as a definite noun “the root”?

Is there something in the original language to indicate whether this should be “a” or “the”? We could get into the weeds of the Greek. We could note how there is no article before the noun translated “root,” but a rule of Greek grammar called “Colwell’s Canon” indicates that because this is a predicate nominative which precedes the copulative verb it does not include the article. But really all this shows is that in cases such as this, context must determine whether this is “a root” or “the root.”

What is the context? False teachers were a problem in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:6, 7). Their warped thinking approached godliness as a means of financial gain (1 Tim. 6:5). Paul, however, maintained that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6) if we will be satisfied with simple food and clothing (1 Tim. 6:8). Desiring to be rich, however, has plunged people into ruin and destruction (1 Tim. 6:9). To establish this point, Paul quotes a proverb, “for the love of money is the root of all evil.” Proverbs are usually set in absolute terms even though there are exceptions. We know this in reading the book of Proverbs. A soft answer turns away wrath, but not always without exception (Prov. 15:1). “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7). However, this was not the case with Jesus. He pleased the Lord (Jn. 8:29), but enemies crucified him (Mk. 15:13). The proverbial explanation in 1 Timothy 6:10 is structured like the words Jesus had for Peter in the garden, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt. 26:52). Again, the proverb, though stated in absolute terms, has exceptions. Some soldiers are decommissioned or retire and die of natural causes. Not all who take the sword die by the sword. However, the statement would not be as powerful if Jesus said, “many who take the sword will perish by the sword.” When we understand 1 Timothy 6:10 is a proverb, it makes sense. The question is more an issue of interpretation than translation.

This proverb Paul quotes should make us mindful of greed. Many evils, such as false teaching, are a result of loving money rather than God. Jesus warned of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:19), so a man may think earthly wealth doesn’t affect him when really it does.  However, we recognize there are other spiritual pitfalls than money including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 Jn. 2:16). Sin is deceitful (Heb. 3:13). We should be on guard against the devil’s schemes (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 2:11). If one lure doesn’t work with us, he will use another. Let us not be blind to our spiritual ruin by boasting of one sort of sin we don’t have trouble with to the neglect of another sin that so easily ensnares us (Heb. 12:1; Gal. 6:1).