Greek word · G866

ἀφιλάργυρος

aphilargyros

not greedy

'Not loving silver', i.e. free from greed for money, not grasping, not on the make. Its opposite, φιλάργυρος / φιλαργυρία (money-loving / love of money), was a standard vice. The word describes a trait of character rather than a single act of theft or envy.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀ-φιλ-άργυρος, -ον

without love of money, not avaricious; 1 Timothy 3:3, Hebrews 13:5. (For other instances, see MM, see word)†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 13:5

Range of meaning

'Not loving silver', i.e. free from greed for money, not grasping, not on the make. Its opposite, φιλάργυρος / φιλαργυρία (money-loving / love of money), was a standard vice. The word describes a trait of character rather than a single act of theft or envy.

Against the English

KJV 'without covetousness' is broader. In English, 'covetousness' brings to mind the Tenth Commandment's desire for a neighbour's house, wife or goods. The Greek names one specific attachment: money. Modern versions ('free from the love of money') are closer to it.

How it drifted

English 'covetousness' (from Latin cupiditas, via Old French) became the church's general word for greedy desire. It blurs the narrower focus on silver and money in the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it is required of overseers (1 Tim 3:3). The Pharisees are called φιλάργυροι, money-lovers (Luke 16:14). 'The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil' (1 Tim 6:10). The Didache (15:1) asks that bishops and deacons be ἀφιλαργύρους. Greek moral writers had the same saying: Diogenes the Cynic is reported to have called love of money 'the mother-city of all evils' (Diogenes Laertius 6.50). 4 Maccabees 2:8 also treats money-love as a passion that reason must master.

From the study of 1 Timothy 3:3

Range of meaning

'Not money-loving', from a- ('not') + philos ('loving') + argyros ('silver, money'). It means free from avarice. The word concerns desire and motive, not poverty.

Against the English

BSB 'free of the love of money' and YLT 'not a lover of money' are exact. KJV/WEB 'not covetous' is broader: in modern English 'covetous' means wanting what belongs to others, while the Greek is specifically about loving money.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT it appears only here and in Heb 13:5 ('keep your life free from love of money'). The opposite words are philargyros/philargyria: Luke 16:14 (the Pharisees 'lovers of money'), 2 Tim 3:2, and 1 Tim 6:10 ('the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils'). Outside the Bible, Onasander's first-century handbook on the qualities of a general lists aphilargyros alongside 'self-controlled' and 'sober', which shows it was a standard virtue expected of anyone holding public trust.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 3:3 ἀφιλάργυρον, not loving money,

    not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

    Here: 'Not silver-loving' (a- 'not' + phil- 'loving' + argyros 'silver, money'). It is aimed at the desire, not at owning money: money must not be what drives him. This matters for a man trusted with a community's goods and hospitality.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 13:5 Ἀφιλάργυρος [Let be] without covetousness

    Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

    Here: Built from a- (not), phil- (loving) and argyros (silver, money): 'not fond of silver'. It comes first in the Greek for emphasis, and the verb is left out, so it reads like a motto: 'Free of money-love: that's the way to live.'

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.