φιλαργυρία

love of money, avarice

Definition

φιλαργυρία specifically denotes an excessive or inordinate love of money, a greedy desire for wealth that becomes a controlling passion. In the New Testament, it is presented not merely as a vice but as a root cause of spiritual ruin, leading people away from faith. The term encompasses avarice, covetousness, and the idolatrous prioritization of material gain over God. Its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Timothy 6:10 powerfully illustrates this destructive potential, warning that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 6:10. It appears in a pastoral context where Paul is instructing Timothy on the dangers of false teaching and the corrupting influence of wealth. The usage is explicitly negative and cautionary, directly linking the love of money to apostasy and moral failure. The pattern is one of stark warning against allowing material desire to displace godly contentment.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of two Greek roots: φίλος (philos), meaning 'loving' or 'fond of,' and ἄργυρος (argyros), meaning 'silver' or 'money.' It is a compound noun literally meaning 'love of silver.' This etymology directly and vividly points to the core meaning of an affectionate, greedy attachment to wealth as a substance.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it identifies a specific form of idolatry where wealth replaces God as the object of trust and devotion. It relates directly to the doctrines of sin, discipleship, and contentment. Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by highlighting that the biblical warning is not against money itself, but against the inner, disordered affection for it that can strangle spiritual life and lead to apostasy, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:10.

In the Greco-Roman world, the pursuit of wealth and social status was a common cultural driver. The New Testament's condemnation of φιλαργυρία presented a counter-cultural value system that prioritized heavenly treasure and godly contentment over material accumulation. This challenged the common societal view that equated wealth with blessing or virtue, reframing excessive love for it as a spiritual danger and a form of slavery.

πλεονεξία (pleonexia, G4124) — broader greed or covetousness for more, not limited to money. ἀπληστία (aplēstia) — insatiability, often for wealth. αἰσχροκερδής (aischrokerdēs, G146) — greedy for base gain, often in a shameful context.

Word Details

Scripture References