Tag: evil

Posted on

1 Timothy 6:10a – The Root of Evil

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Summary: Money is often misunderstood, and even more often misused.

This is, perhaps, one of the most misremembered lines in all of history. Most people, if they use this phrase, end up saying, “Money is the root of all evil.” 

That is not quite the same thing. 

Money is not evil. It is not even a “root.” It is, rather, something poorly understood, because it is not even really a “thing.” 

The dictionary definition of money is usually something like “a medium of exchange.” The problem with that definition is what they don’t tell you about money. It is true that money is a medium of exchange, but the value of money is not in the money itself. The value is what we personally attach to the money. 

For example, let’s imagine that we each want to go to the store and buy new shoes. We go to the shoe store and look around. Each pair of shoes has a price tag on it that tells us how much money the store will accept in exchange for the shoes. 

If you are like me, you check the price before trying on the shoes. (No point in wasting time if I don’t have enough money to buy them.) But what if I like an expensive pair of shoes that I can’t afford. What if I really like them a LOT. What if I feel like I can’t live without them? 

Do you see where this is going? 

Wanting something that doesn’t belong to me is called coveting. The Bible has a lot to say about coveting but it all boils down to one word: Don’t! (Exodus 20:17)

Don’t take what is not yours. Don’t even look at it. 

If “good” is doing God’s will, then “evil” must be doing the opposite, and that is why Paul says it is the love of money that is evil. When people equate money with possessions, our “coveting” is transferred from one thing, like the shoes we wanted, to the money itself. If we allow ourselves to “love” money, the love of money becomes concentrated coveting. 

It’s a bit like breaking the Tenth Commandment with a sledgehammer. 

Application: Use money, don’t love it.  

Food for Thought: How do we avoid the trap of loving money?

Please click ‘’Continue Reading” for comments.

Continue reading “1 Timothy 6:10a – The Root of Evil”
Posted on

1 Timothy 6:4f – Evil Suspicions

Prescription bottle labeled "TRUTH." (Grok)

They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in … evil suspicions…

Summary: It turns out that we have to be careful to avoid evil suspicions about what Paul’s phrase means.   

Okay, I have to admit that when I first read this verse, the phrase “evil suspicions” caught my attention. I immediately wondered what an “evil suspicion” could be, and then my imagination fired up, and all sorts of “evil” thoughts came to mind. 

As we often do in these meditations, after my first flurry of guesses at what “evil suspicion” might mean, I turned to the original Greek to see what Paul had actually said. 

As it turns out, the meaning is a bit more nuanced than I had anticipated. 

The first word, “evil,” is a translation of the Greek “poneros,” which means a ‘hurtful effect’ (Strong’s G4190). The word “evil” in English generally conveys a sense that something is immoral as well as harmful. 

I mention this because it seems like “evil” is often associated with the word “bad,” but in fact it is a little more specific — it is “bad,” but in a way that is immoral, harmful, and involves causing pain. 

The second word, “suspicion,” is also interesting when we look at the Greek. 

Once again, the English word “suspicion” carries with it the connotation that something nefarious is afoot. The Greek version, not so much. 

In Greek, the word “hyponoia” is defined as both suspicion and surmising. To surmise is to jump to a conclusion and assume your conclusion is true. 

So let’s put the two words together again and see what we get. It sounds like “evil suspicions” are assumptions about others that cause pain and harm. 

Now, the next question is, “How?” How do evil suspicions cause pain and harm? 

The answer to that is subtle. We live in a world where things that can be measured objectively are considered “real,” and everything that can’t be measured is discounted as “in your mind.” 

But things that are “in your mind” are real — to you. 

This, I believe, is one of Satan’s principal tricks; he tries to subtly convince us that what he whispers in our ear isn’t “real.” But think of the damage he can do in our minds if we let him. 

One “evil suspicion” can ruin a friendship forever. An “evil suspicion” can become gossip, and gossip can ruin a reputation. If evil suspicions can destroy friendships and reputations, they can destroy a church. 

Do you see why Paul is insisting on strict adherence to his teachings? 

Application: When evil suspicions hide in the mind, truth is the antidote.  

Food for Thought: What is the difference between an ‘evil suspicion’ and a regular suspicion?

Please click ‘’Continue Reading” for comments.

Continue reading “1 Timothy 6:4f – Evil Suspicions”
Posted on

1 Timothy 2:3a – Taste and See

This is good …

Summary: The concept of “good and evil” or “good and bad” is central to what the Bible is all about.   

Reading Paul’s letter to Timothy is not really like reading someone else’s mail. Paul’s words to Timothy are also intended for us. We are the real audience he was writing for. In the same way, it is not really Paul who wrote the letter —  God is the real author (2 Timothy 3:16). This is important because if it is God’s Word we are reading, then the phrase “This is good…” takes on special meaning. 

Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:3a – Taste and See”
Posted on

1 Timothy 1:7 – Part II: What is Evil? 

Picture of a hand holding a baby snake (Pixabay)

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Summary: Deciding what is “evil” seems easy to most of us. “Evil” is anything we don’t like or don’t approve of. But what about God’s definition of “evil?”   

If the law is a signpost that warns us against evil, what is evil? This is the next BIG question. Did the serpent lie about that, too? 

Continue reading “1 Timothy 1:7 – Part II: What is Evil? “
Posted on

1 Timothy 1:7 – Part I: What is the Law?

Picture is of a woodland trail with a sign beside it saying "Stay Out! Evil Ahead!" (Grok)

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Summary: The topic of the law opens the door to many related questions. The first one we will deal with has to do with the nature of the law itself.   

In our last meditation, we discussed the meaning of the verb “judge.” The Bible instructs us to make good judgments about the things we say and do, but warns us against making moral judgments about other people. 

Continue reading “1 Timothy 1:7 – Part I: What is the Law?”
Posted on

Colossians 3:8d – The Opposite of Good

Picture of a man with a devil on his shoulder whispering in his ear.

[… rid yourselves of] … malice …

Summary: Words have meanings, and meanings are important. “Malice” may not be a word we use very often anymore, but it is a good word that describes a very common condition. 

One of the things Paul encourages us to get rid of is “malice.” Malice is a great word, but one we don’t often use. The simplest definition I found for it is “the intention or desire to do evil.”* More explicitly, it is a desire to do harm or cause suffering. 

Okay … “evil” is a small word, but it carries a big stick. What does “evil” mean? 

Continue reading “Colossians 3:8d – The Opposite of Good”
Posted on

Colossians 3:5e – Our Personal Tutor

Picture of a fly swatter in a glass cabinet marked "IN CASE OF EVIL BREAK GLASS"

[Put to death] … evil desires …

Summary: Paul’s instruction to put evil desires to death forces us to confront ourselves in the mirror of God’s truth. 

When Paul talks about putting “evil desires” to death, he opens the door to an important and fascinating conversation. 

Who decides what “evil” is? 

That sounds like a simple question. Evil is “evil,” right? After all, everybody knows what “evil” is, don’t they?

Continue reading “Colossians 3:5e – Our Personal Tutor”
Proudly powered by WordPress