I pose this question to those who believe that the King James Version of the Bible is inerrant: Is the love of money the root of all evil?
I of course refer to 1 Timothy 6:10, which in the KJV reads, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
If the KJV is a perfect translation, re-inspired, “advanced revelation,” or even more authoritative than the Greek & Hebrew manuscripts, then how does one square 1 Timothy 6:10 with the simple fact that the love of money is not the root of all evil?
Money was unheard of in the garden, when man first sinned.
Money is never mentioned in regards to Satan’s fall.
Money was not used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.
Money wasn’t involved in the events leading up to the Flood.
Money wasn’t involved in the events leading to the destruction of Sodom.
So why does the KJV emphatically state that the “love of money is the root of all evil”?
A literal translation would state, “root of all the evils,” or as the NASB has it, “root of all sorts of evil.” The entire phrase in this version states, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil.”
The word “root” in the Greek does not have a definite article to go with it, making the “the” of the King James Version an added word, despite the fact it is not italicized. The indefinite article “a” is a more appropriate translation, as the New American Standard Bible renders the phrase.
And so we can see that the love of money is a root (or cause) of all sorts/types/varieties of evil. And this is a much truer statement. The love of money could lead to just about any kind of sin. However, the love of money is not the source of all evil, as the King James translators chose to render the verse.
Does this make the King James Version a bad or untrustworthy version? Of course not; it is one of the best, to be sure. However, we must recognize that it is the work of men, who are prone to error. God has preserved His word for us, as the overwhelming number of ancient manuscripts still present today attests to. And we must always allow the original languages to speak louder than a translation, if there is a difference.