LUCRE.The Eng. word lucre is in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] always qualified by the adj. filthy, because the word itself had not then the offensive meaning it has now. Erasmus speaks of God turning mens wickedness into the lucre and encreace of godlynesse. It simply meant gain. Filthy lucre means sordid gain.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
lū?kẽr, lōō?kẽr (בּצע, becā‛; κέρδος, kérdos): Literally, ?gain? (1Sa_8:3; Tit_1:7), hence, in the New Testament always qualified by ?filthy? (1Ti_3:8, ?not greedy of filthy lucre? (αἰσχροκερδής, aischrokerdḗs); so Tit_1:7). The adverb is found in 1Pe_5:2 (see also Tit_1:11). In 1Ti_3:3, the Revised Version (British and American) changes the King James Version to ?no lover of money? (ἀφιλάργυρος, aphilárguros).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.