1 Timothy 6:10

ῥίζα, κ. τ. λ.: The root of all evils. The R.V., a root of all kinds of evil is not satisfactory. The position of ῥίζα in the sentence shows that it is emphatic. Field (in loc.) cites similar examples of the absence of the article collected by Wetstein from Athenæus, vii. p. 280 A (ἀρχὴ καὶ ῥίζα παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ ἡ τῆς γαστρὸς ἡδονή), and Diog. Lært. vi. 50; and adds five others from his own observation. It is, besides, unreasonable in the highest degree to expect that on the ground of his inspiration, St. Paul's ethical statements in a letter should be expressed with the precision of a text book. When one is dealing with a degrading vice of any kind, the interests of virtue are not served by qualified assertions.

φιλαργυρία : avaritia ([299]) rather than cupiditas ([300], [301], Vulg.). The use of this word supports the exposition given above of 1 Timothy 6:9. Love of money, meanness and covert dishonesty where money is concerned, is the basest species of the genus πλεονεξία.

[299] Cod. Frisingensis

[300] The Latin text of Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

[301] Speculum

ἡς : In sense the relative refers to ἀργύριον, understood out of φιλαργυρία, with which it agrees in grammar. The meaning is clear enough; but the expression of it is inaccurate. This occurs when a man's power of grammatical expression cannot keep pace with his thought. Alf. cites as parallels, Romans 8:24, ἐλπὶς βλεπομένη, and Acts 24:15, ἐλπὶδα … ἣν καὶ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι προσδέχονται.

τινες : See note on ch. 1 Timothy 1:3.

ὀρεγόμενοι : reaching after (R.V.) expresses the most defensible aspect of coveting (A.V.).

ἀπεπλανήθησαν : peregrinati sunt ([302]) erraverunt ([303], Vulg.). The faith is a very practical matter. Have been led astray (R.V.) continues the description of the man who allows himself to be the passive subject of temptation. Chrys. illustrates the use of this word here from an absent-minded man's passing his destination without knowing it.

[302] Cod. Frisingensis

[303] The Latin text of Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.

περιέπειραν : inseruerunt se. The force of περί in this compound is intensive, as in περιάπτω, περικαλύπτω, περικρατής, περικρύπτω, περίλυπος.

ὀδύναις πολλαῖς : There is a touch of pity in this clause, so poignantly descriptive of a worldling's disillusionment.