φιλαργυρία (philarguria)
philarguria
love of money
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun philarguria denotes a deep-seated love of money, often translated as avarice or greed. It appears only once in the New Testament, where Paul lists it among the destructive desires that lead people away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10). The term captures more than a simple preference for wealth; it describes an attitude where financial gain becomes a central driving force.
Etymologically, the word combines philia, meaning love or affection, with argyros, meaning silver or money. This construction highlights that the issue is not merely having money, but loving it. It stands in contrast to pleonexia, which focuses on the desire for more than one has, whereas philarguria emphasizes the emotional attachment to wealth itself.
Paul identifies this love of money as a root of all kinds of evil. He warns that those who pursue it can wander from the true faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows. The term serves as a stark reminder that placing ultimate trust in material possessions leads to spiritual harm rather than security.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word philarguria describes more than a casual interest in wealth; it names a deep affection for money that competes with God for our loyalty. When Paul uses this term in 1 Timothy, he is not condemning the possession of silver or gold, but rather the heart posture that treats financial security as an ultimate good. This distinction matters because it shifts the focus from what we hold to how we love.
Recognizing this tendency allows us to examine our own lives with honesty and grace. We might find that our peace depends too heavily on our bank accounts or that our decisions are driven by a fear of lacking. Acknowledging this struggle is the first step toward freeing our hearts from material anxiety. God invites us to place our trust in His provision rather than in unstable riches.
This passage offers hope because it identifies the problem clearly so we can seek help. It reminds us that true security comes from a relationship with Christ, not from accumulated assets. As we learn to love God more than money, we find a freedom that wealth cannot buy and a peace that remains steady through every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- love of money,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φιλαργυρία,1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
This verse uniquely identifies the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil, showing how this specific attachment can lead believers astray from the faith and cause deep sorrow.