But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
which drown men in destruction and perdition: The end can be only ruin and utter loss. Destruction (olethros) means ruin (see 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). The word "perdition" means ruin, loss, or destruction. The word (or forms of it) is rendered "destruction" in Matthew 7:13, "waste" in Matthew 26:8, "die" in Acts 25:16, "damnable and damnation" in 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:3. Such a picture of the end result of one with an inordinate resolve for wealth could only be drawn by divine insight, for no human could ever see such evil and grief in the desire for wealth.