1 Timothy Chapter 6: Verses 3-4 (NLT)
Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words.
1 Timothy Chapter 6: Verses 9-10 (NLT)
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Verse 9 of this chapter in Paul’s letter to Timothy is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Paul didn’t say,” Money is the root of all evil,” which is what many people will quote if asked. What he said was that it was the love of money, and the relentless pursuit of it, that was the problem. If used correctly and wisely we can use money for good. Sometimes people will misinterpret what we say or do. It may be a genuine misunderstanding, but it may also be deliberate to suit their own ends. This was what Paul was warning Timothy about in verses 3-4. People might sometimes try to twist what we say.
That’s why we need to know our bible and be careful that we use the verses correctly. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells his young protégé to correctly handle the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2: Verse 16) and so too must we, so that we don’t mislead people, but point them to the truth. And we need to also remember that it doesn’t matter how many people misquote this verse about the love of money, that doesn’t make it right. And the same goes for anything that twists the teaching of the bible, no matter how popular it is. We need to be sure as Christians that we stand on the truth of God’s word no matter what other people say.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your word of truth. It’s there for my benefit. Help me to take it in and be able to correctly apply it to my life correctly, and also be able to share the truth of it with others. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.