Does the Bible say it?
“Money is the root of all evil”: is that what the Bible says?
This is a misquotation. The Bible does not say money is the root of all evil. It says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). One word changes everything: the danger is not money, but craving it.
What it actually is
This is one of the most common misquotations of Scripture. The verse is 1 Timothy 6:10, and Paul is careful: the root is not money, which Scripture treats as a tool, but the love of money, the craving that pulls people away from faith.
What the Bible actually says
Read whole, the passage warns against greed and calls instead for contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Money can be used generously and well; it is the love of it that corrodes the heart.
A better question than the quote
Behind every “is this in the Bible?” is a gentler one: what does the Bible actually say, and who is the Jesus at the center of it? You do not have to take our word for it, ours least of all. Read his own words and see for yourself. It costs nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.
Meet JesusHis words and actsRead the Gospel of JohnJesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Bible say money is the root of all evil?
- No. The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The verse targets greed, not money itself.
- What does 1 Timothy 6:10 actually mean?
- It warns that craving money leads people away from faith and into many sorrows. The problem is the love of money, not wealth used faithfully and generously.