The New Testament’s First Letter to Timothy says that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
The wording appears in 1 Timothy 6:10. In the surrounding passage, the writer warns that people who desire wealth can fall into temptation and harmful desires. The text connects contentment with basic necessities to a warning against treating religious devotion as a way to gain financial advantage.
The verse is often shortened in popular quotation to “money is the root of all evil.” That version changes the meaning: the New Testament passage criticizes the love or desire for money, not money itself. English translations vary slightly, with some saying “a root of all kinds of evil” and others using related wording.
First Timothy is addressed to Timothy, a coworker and associate of Paul. Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Paul, although many modern scholars debate whether Paul personally wrote the Pastoral Epistles. The letter also includes instructions about church leadership, widows, teaching, and conduct.