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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

1 Timothy 6:4

he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Doctrines;   Envy;   Fellowship;   Minister, Christian;   Pride;   Railing;   Riches;   Strife;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Separation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Charitableness-Uncharitableness;   Foolish Questions;   Humility-Pride;   Proud, the;   Questions;   Strife;   Uncharitableness;   Unity-Strife;   The Topic Concordance - Company;   Knowledge;   Pride/arrogance;   Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Doctrines, False;   Doctrines of the Gospel, the;   Envy;   Pride;   Slander;   Strife;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elder;   Ephesus;   John, gospel of;   Pastor;   Timothy, letters to;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Elder;   Envy;   Godly, Godliness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Apostasy;   Blasphemy;   Church;   Envy;   Pride;   1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Blasphemy;   Envy;   Jangling;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Envy;   Evil-Speaking;   Fool;   Pride;   Strife;   Timothy;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Worldliness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Blasphemy;   Teacher, Teaching;   39 War Fighting;   48 To Know, Perceive, Understand;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Obsolete or obscure words in the english av bible;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Blasphemy;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dote;   Envy;   Evil-Speaking;   Highminded;   Pastoral Epistles, the;   Rail;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 18;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
Legacy Standard Bible
he is conceited, understanding nothing but having a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions,
Simplified Cowboy Version
they are not real cowboys and know nothing. These are wannabe cowboys who are only after looking good and being admired. They'll argue with people and cause all sorts of problems like jealousy, division, and gossip, and everyone will start double-crossing everyone else.
Bible in Basic English
He has an over-high opinion of himself; being without knowledge, having only an unhealthy love of questionings and wars of words, from which come envy, fighting, cruel words, evil thoughts,
Darby Translation
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and disputes of words, out of which arise envy, strife, injurious words, evil suspicions,
World English Bible
he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He is puffed up, knowing nothing, but being sick of questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, contention, evil speakings,
Weymouth's New Testament
he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy, quarrelling, revilings, ill-natured suspicions,
King James Version (1611)
Hee is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strifes of wordes, whereof commeth enuie, strife, railings, euill surmisings,
Literal Translation
he has been puffed up, understanding nothing, but is sick concerning doubts and arguments, out of which comes envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil suspicions,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
he is puft vp, and knoweth nothinge, but waysteth his brayne aboute questions and stryuynges of wordes: wherof sprynge envye, stryfe, raylinges, euell surmysinges,
Mace New Testament (1729)
he is full of pride and ignorance, touch'd with a spirit of chicanery and wrangling, productive of envy, contention, calumny,
THE MESSAGE
Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so—their masters are really their beloved brothers! These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes. Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!
Amplified Bible
he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]. He has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produces envy, quarrels, verbal abuse, evil suspicions,
American Standard Version
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Revised Standard Version
he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
he is pufte vp and knoweth nothynge: but wasteth his braynes aboute questions and stryfe of wordes wherof sprynge envie stryfe raylinges evyll surmysinges
Update Bible Version
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Webster's Bible Translation
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, from which cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Young's Literal Translation
he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings,
New Century Version
This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust,
New English Translation
he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,
Berean Standard Bible
he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
Contemporary English Version
Those people who disagree are proud of themselves, but they don't really know a thing. Their minds are sick, and they like to argue over words. They cause jealousy, disagreements, unkind words, evil suspicions,
Complete Jewish Bible
he is swollen with conceit and understands nothing. Instead, he has a morbid desire for controversies and word-battles, out of which come jealousy, dissension, insults, evil suspicions,
English Standard Version
he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
Geneva Bible (1587)
He is puft vp & knoweth nothing, but doteth about questions & strife of words, whereof commeth enuie, strife, railings, euill surmisings,
George Lamsa Translation
He is proud, knowing nothing, and dotes on an argument and quarrels on the use of a word and this is the cause of envy and controversy and blasphemy and evil premeditation,
Hebrew Names Version
he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
International Standard Version
he is a conceited person and does not understand anything. He has an unhealthy craving for arguments and debates. This produces jealousy, rivalry, slander, evil suspicions,1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Timothy 1:4,7; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
4 this (is one) who extolleth himself while knowing nothing, but is infirm with disputation and questioning of words, from which are envy, and contention, and evil speaking, and supposition in the evil mind, [fn]
Murdock Translation
he is one that exalteth himself, while he knoweth nothing; and he languisheth in the search and inquiry about words, from which come envy, and contention, and railing, and evil surmising,
New King James Version
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
New Living Translation
Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
New Life Bible
Such a person is full of pride and knows nothing. He wastes time on questions and argues about things that are not important. This makes those he teaches jealous and they want to fight. They talk bad and have bad ideas about others.
English Revised Version
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
New Revised Standard
is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He is beclouded, knowing, nothing, rightly, but is diseased about questionings, and word-battles - out of which spring envy, strife, defamations, wicked surmising,
Douay-Rheims Bible
He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions,
King James Version
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Lexham English Bible
he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a morbid interest concerning controversies and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He is puft vp, knowyng nothing, but dotyng about questions and strifes of wordes, wherof commeth enuie, stryfe, raylynges, euyll surmysynges,
Easy-to-Read Version
They are proud of what they know, but they understand nothing. They are sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. And that brings jealousy, quarrels, insults, and evil mistrust.
New American Standard Bible
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
Good News Translation
is swollen with pride and knows nothing. He has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words, and this brings on jealousy, disputes, insults, evil suspicions,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
he is proud, and kan no thing, but langwischith aboute questiouns and stryuyng of wordis, of the whiche ben brouyt forth enuyes, stryues, blasfemyes, yuele suspiciouns, fiytingis of men,

Contextual Overview

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God's name and His teaching will not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

He: 1 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 3:6, Proverbs 13:7, Proverbs 25:14, Proverbs 26:12, Acts 8:9, Acts 8:21-23, Romans 12:16, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:2, Galatians 6:3, Colossians 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:4, 2 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:10, Jude 1:16, Revelation 3:17

proud: or, a fool

doting: or, sick

about: 1 Timothy 1:4, 2 Timothy 2:23

words: Isaiah 58:4, Acts 15:2, Romans 2:8, Romans 13:13, Romans 14:1, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 11:16, 1 Corinthians 11:18, 2 Corinthians 11:20, Galatians 5:15, Galatians 5:20, Galatians 5:21, Galatians 5:26, Philippians 1:15, Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:14, Titus 3:9, James 1:19, James 2:14-18, James 4:1, James 4:2, James 4:5, James 4:6, 1 Peter 2:1, 1 Peter 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:1 - glory Job 15:3 - he reason Psalms 31:20 - the strife Proverbs 9:13 - General Proverbs 13:10 - Only Jeremiah 50:36 - dote Ezekiel 13:3 - foolish Matthew 5:19 - shall teach Matthew 12:44 - he findeth Acts 18:15 - a question 1 Corinthians 1:11 - that there 1 Corinthians 13:4 - envieth Galatians 3:1 - Foolish Ephesians 4:31 - clamour 1 Timothy 1:6 - turned 1 Timothy 6:20 - avoiding 2 Timothy 2:14 - that 2 Timothy 3:2 - proud James 3:14 - if

Cross-References

Genesis 6:15
This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
Genesis 6:20
Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive.
Genesis 6:21
Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them."
Genesis 6:22
And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
Numbers 13:33
We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them."
Numbers 16:2
250 prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses.
Deuteronomy 3:11
(Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed was made of iron. Isn't it in Rabbah of the Ammonites? It is 13 feet six inches long and six feet wide by a standard measure.)
1 Samuel 17:4
Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He is proud,.... Or swelled and puffed up with a vain conceit of himself and his own notions, and treats with an haughty air the faithful ministers of the word. The doctrines of grace are of an humbling nature, especially when they are spiritually and experimentally understood and received; but notional knowledge, knowledge of natural things, and the doctrines of men, such as are of their own invention, fill the mind with pride and vanity:

knowing nothing; as he ought to know; not anything that is solid and substantial; nothing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: he may have knowledge of natural and civil things, but not of spiritual ones; he may have collected a medley of knowledge together, but what will be of no real use either to himself or others:

but doting about questions and strifes of words: or he is "sick or diseased"; his mind is distempered; he is like one in a fever, that is delirious; his head is light and wild; his fancy is roving, and he talks of things he knows not what; his head runs upon "questions"; foolish and unlearned ones, about the law and works, and the necessity of them to justification and salvation; concerning genealogies, and other fruitless and unprofitable subjects:

and strifes of words; mere logomachies; contending and quarrelling more about words than things, which tend to no profit, but to the subverting and confounding of hearers. The ill effects of which are as follow:

whereof cometh envy: at the superior gifts and talents of others; at their success, and any little degree of honour and respect they have from others; which shows that such men, in whom this vice is a governing one, are carnal men, for this is a work of the flesh; and that they are destitute of charity, or the grace of love, which envieth not: also from hence comes

strife; contention, quarrelling; the peace and comfort of particular persons, and even of whole communities, are broken and destroyed hereby; for foolish and unlearned questions gender strifes, 2 Timothy 2:24 which are very unbecoming the servants of the Lord, and very uncomfortable to the churches of Christ: yea, these also produce

railings; at one another, and especially at the faithful ministers of the Gospel; for when the false teachers cannot overcome them by Scripture and argument, they fall to railing and reviling of them: or entertain

evil surmises; groundless suspicions: or from hence follow, as the words may be rendered, "wicked opinions": concerning the being, perfections, purposes, and providence of God; concerning the person and offices of Christ; concerning the law and Gospel, grace and good works; and so the Syriac version renders it, "an evil opinion of the mind".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He is proud - That is, he is lifted up with his fancied superior acquaintance with the nature of religion. The Greek verb means, properly, “to smoke, to fume;” and then to be inflated, to “be conceited, etc.” The idea is, that he has no proper knowledge of the nature of the gospel, and yet he values himself on a fancied superior acquaintance with its principles.

Knowing nothing - Margin, “a fool.” That is, that he does not understand the nature of religion as he supposes he does. His views in regard to the relation of masters and servants, and to the bearing of religion on that relation, show that he does not understand the genius of Christianity. The apostle expresses this in strong language; by saying that he knows nothing; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 8:2.

But doting - Margin, “sick.” The Greek word - νοσέω noseō - means properly to be sick; then to languish, to pine after. The meaning here is, that such persons had a sickly or morbid desire for debates of this kind. They had not a sound and healthy state of mind on the subject of religion. They were like a sickly man, who has no desire for solid and healthful food, but for that which will gratify a diseased appetite. They desired not sound doctrine, but controversies about unimportant and unsubstantial matters - things that bore the same relation to important doctrines which the things that a sick man pines after do to substantial food.

Questions and strifes of words - The Jews abounded much in disputes of this sort, and it would seem probable that the persons here referred to were Jewish teachers; compare 1 Timothy 1:6-7 notes, and Acts 18:15 note.

Whereof cometh envy - The only fruit of which is to produce envy. That is, the appearance of superior knowledge; the boast of being profoundly acquainted with religion, and the show of an ability for subtle argumentation, would produce in a certain class envy. Envy is uneasiness, pain, mortification, or discontent, excited by another’s prosperity, or by his superior knowledge or possessions; see the notes on Romans 1:29.

Strife - Or contentions with those who will not readily yield to their opinions.

Railings - Harsh and abusive language toward those who will not concede a point - a common effect of disputes, and more commonly of disputes about small and unimportant matters, than of these which are of magnitude. Such railings often attend disputes that arise out of nice and subtle distinctions.

Evil surmisings - Suspicions that they are led to hold their views, not by the love of the truth, but from sordid or worldly motives. Such suspicions are very apt to attend an angry debate of any kind. It might be expected especially to exist on such a question as the apostle refers to here - the relation of a master and a slave. It is always very hard to do justice to the motives of one who seems to us to be living in sin, or to believe it to be possible that he acts from right motives.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 6:4. He is proud — τετυφωται. He is blown up, or inflated with a vain opinion of his own knowledge; whereas his knowledge is foolishness, for he knows nothing.

Doting about questions — He is sick, distempered, about these questions relative to the Mosaic law and the traditions of the elders; for it is most evident that the apostle has the Judaizing teachers in view, who were ever, in questions of theology, straining out a gnat, and swallowing a camel.

Strifes of words — λογομαχιας. Logomachies; verbal contentions; splitting hairs; producing Hillel against Shammai, and Shammai against Hillel, relative to the particular mode in which the punctilios of some rites should be performed. In this sort of sublime nonsense the works of the Jewish rabbins abound.

Whereof cometh envy, strife, c. — How little good have religious disputes ever done to mankind, or to the cause of truth! Most controversialists have succeeded in getting their own tempers soured, and in irritating their opponents. Indeed, truth seems rarely to be the object of their pursuit they labour to accredit their own party by abusing and defaming others; from generals they often descend to particulars; and then personal abuse is the order of the day. Is it not strange that Christians either cannot or will not see this? Cannot any man support his own opinions, and give his own views of the religion of Christ, without abusing and calumniating his neighbour? I know not whether such controversialists should not be deemed disturbers of the public peace, and come under the notice of the civil magistrate. Should not all Christians know that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of the Lord?


 
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