Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Timothy 6:4
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.
4. he is proud, knowing nothing ] ‘ Puffed up,’ R.V. The word occurs only here and 1Ti 3:6; 2Ti 3:4; and goes towards composing the strong vocabulary of the Epistles: ‘filled with a blind “inflated ignorance” ’ (to quote from Dr Farrar’s strong modern vocabulary) may represent the force. The perfect expresses the state in which he is; the particular negative his relative, not absolute, ignorance, according to the tendency of N. T. usage.
doting about questions ] ‘Diseased’ or ‘mad’ on points of subtle disputation. The word in other writers has both meanings, and the opposition to ‘sound’ would hold equally good with both; but the moral responsibility for this state is clearly implied, and points rather to the former: ‘full of a diseased disputatiousness.’ For ‘questionings,’ see note on 1Ti 1:4.
strifes of words ] Our own derived ‘logomachies.’ The corresponding verb occurs 2Ti 2:14, ‘otherwise only in ecclesiastical writers,’ Alford.
railings ] Clearly as in Eph 4:31, ‘anger, and clamour, and railing;’ Judges 9, ‘durst not bring against him a railing judgment,’ not blasphemy against God, but slanderous reviling of one another.
evil surmisings ] Our ‘suspicions;’ this word again is new to N.T. usage. Altogether we have four peculiar words in this verse, puffed up, doting, strifes of words, surmisings, indicating the new region of the Church’s experience and of the Apostle’s feeling.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 1Co 8:2.
But doting – Margin, sick. The Greek word – noseo – 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 1Ti 1:6-7 notes, and Act 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 anothers prosperity, or by his superior knowledge or possessions; see the notes on Rom 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. He is proud] . 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] . 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?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He is proud; tetufwtai, he is swelled or blown up, i.e. with pride swelling in opinion and conceit of himself, he is a fanatic.
Knowing nothing solidly and truly,
but doting about questions and strifes of words; is brain sick about questions of no use, but to make a contention about words.
Whereof cometh envy; when he once comes to perceive that others are wiser than he.
Strife; for an ignorant person, if proud, can never yield that another knows more than he doth.
Railings are commonly the revenges of ignorant sciolists, that would be thought something and are nothing; when they perceive they are outdone by others, then they rail.
Evil surmisings, uponoiai when they can in truth say no evil of others, they will uncharitably surmise and suspect evil of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. He is proudliterally,”wrapt in smoke”; filled with the fumes of self-conceit(1Ti 3:6) while “knowingnothing,” namely, of the doctrine which is according togodliness (1Ti 6:3), thougharrogating pre-eminent knowledge (1Ti1:7).
doting aboutliterally,”sick about”; the opposite of “wholesome“(1Ti 6:3). Truth is notthe center about which his investigations move, but mereword-strifes.
questionsofcontroversy.
strifes of wordsratherthan about realities (2Ti2:14). These stand with them instead of “godliness” and”wholesome words” (1Ti 6:3;1Ti 1:4; Tit 3:9).
evil surmisingsas tothose who are of a different party from themselves.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole 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, 2Ti 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”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He is puffed up (). Perfect passive indicative of , for which see 3:6.
Knowing nothing ( ). Present middle participle of . Ignorance is a frequent companion of conceit.
Doting (). Present active participle of , to be sick, to be morbid over, old word, only here in N.T.
Disputes of words (). Our “logomachy.” From (2Ti 2:14), and that from and , to fight over words, late and rare word, here only in N.T. See Plato (Tim. 1085 F) for “wars in words” ( ).
Whereof ( ). “From which things.”
Surmisings (). Old word from , to surmise, to suspect (Ac 25:18), only here in N.T. All these words are akin (envy, , strife, , railings or slanders, ), all products of an ignorant and conceited mind.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He is proud [] . See on ch. 1ti 3:6.
Knowing nothing [ ] . Although he knows nothing. o P. Very frequent in Acts. Comp. ch. 1ti 1:7.
Doting [] . N. T. o. Lit. sick. Comp. uJgiainousi healthful, ver. 3. Questions [] . o P. o LXX Quite often in Class. Lit. processes of inquiry; hence, debates. Comp. ch. 1ti 1:4.
Strifes of words [] . N. T. o. o LXX, o Class. One of the unique compounds peculiar to these Epistles. The verb logomacein 2Ti 2:14.
Surmisings [] . N. T. o. See Sir. 3 24. Upo under and nouv mind, thought. A hidden thought. The verb uJponoein to suppose, only in Acts. See 1Ti 13:25; 1Ti 25:18; 1Ti 27:27.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “He is proud, knowing nothing” (tetuphotai meden hepistamenos) “He has been puffed up, understanding not one thing,” (intelligently). These sickly questionings of false teachers and skeptics dodged and doted from one question of doubt to another, unstable and unsure.
2) “But doting about questions and strifes of words” (alla noson peri zeteseis kai logomachias) “But he is in a diseased state or condition of mentality about questionings and battles of words.” Like morons, mentally deranged, without spiritual comprehension, these anachrists against God become a god to themselves, 2Ti 3:7; 2Pe 2:12; Jud 1:10.
3) “Whereof cometh” (heks on ginetai) “out of which (attitude) comes,” or presumptuous obstinacy against the teachings of Christ come the following: (as aptly described in ; Jud 1:8; Jud 1:16.
a) “Envy” (phthonos) A selfish, covetous sin in conflict with Christian ethics, (malice or spite), Pro 14:30; Rom 1:29.
b) “Strife” (eris) A fruit of the flesh, Pro 22:10; Pro 26:17; Pro 26:20-21; Php_2:3.
c) “Railings” (blasphemiai) “Cantankerous, blame-placing against another, deriding, scoffing, speaking against, 1Pe 3:9; Jud 1:9.
d) “Evil surmisings” (huponoiai ponerai) “Wicked suspicions” or imaginations of evil, malicious suspicions regarding honesty of those who differ with them, Gen 6:5; Jud 1:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
4 He is puffed up, knowing nothing Such persons Paul first charges with pride, foolish and empty pride. Next, because no punishment can be imagined that is better adapted to chastise ambitious persons than to declare that all that they delight in proves their ignorance, Paul pronounces that they know nothing, though they are swelled with many subtleties; for they have nothing that is solid, but mere wind. At the same time, he instructs all believers not to be carried away by that windy ostentation, but to remain steadfast in the simplicity of the gospel.
But languishing after questions and debates of words There is an indirect contrast between “the soundness of the doctrine of Christ,” and that “languishing;” for, when they have wearied themselves much and long with ingenious questions, what advantage do they reap from their labor, but that the disease continually grows? Thus not only do they consume their strength to no purpose, but their foolish curiosity begets this languishing; and hence it follows, that they are very far from profiting aright, as the disciples of Christ ought to do.
Not without reason does the Apostle connect “questions and disputes of words;” for by the former term he does not mean every kind of questions, which either arise from a sober and moderate desire to learn, or contribute to clear explanation of useful things, but to such questions as are agitated, in the present day, in the schools of the Sorbonne, for displaying acuteness of intellect. There one question gives rise to another; for there is no limit to them, when every person, desiring to know more than is proper, indulges his vanity; and hence, there afterwards arise innumerable quarrels. As the thick clouds, during hot weather, are not dispelled without thunder, so those thorny questions must burst into disputes.
He gives the name λογομαχίας ( logomachies, or disputes about words) to contentious disputes about words rather than things, or, as it is commonly expressed, without substance or foundation; for if any person carefully inquire what sort of contentions are burning among the sophists, he will perceive that they do not arise from realities, but are framed out of nothing. In a word, Paul intended to condemn all questions which sharpen us for disputes that are of no value.
From which arises envy He demonstrates from the effects how much an ambitious desire of knowledge ought to be avoided; for ambition is the mother of envy. Where envy reigns, there also rage brawlings, contentions, and other evils, which are here enumerated by Paul.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) He is proud.St. Paul, with righteous anger, flames out against these perverse men, who, using the name of Christ, substitute their short-sighted views of life for His, throw doubt and discredit upon the teaching of His chosen Apostles and servants, stir up discord, excite party spirit, barring, often hopelessly, the onward march of Christianity. The true Christian teaching is healthy, practical, capable of being carried out by all orders in the state, by every age or sex, by bond and free. The spurious Christian maxims of these men deal with subtle, useless, unpractical questions, which have no influence on ordinary life, and only tend to stir up strife and useless inquiry, and to make men discontented and rebellious. These unhappy men he first characterises as proud: literally, blinded with pride.
Knowing nothing.Better rendered, yet without knowing anything; having no real conception of the office and work of Christ in the world.
But doting about questions.While so ignorant of the higher and more practical points of Christian theology, the false teacher is mad upon curious and debatable questions, such as the nature of the ever blessed Trinity; Gods purposes respecting those men who know not, have not even heard of the Redeemer; and the likeproblems never to be solved by us while on earthquestions, the profitless debating of which has rent asunder whole churches, and individually has broken up old friendships, and sown the seeds of bitter irreconcilable hatred.
And strifes of words.Verbal disputes, barren and idle controversies about words rather than things; such wild war as also has raged, not only in the days of Timothy and of St. Paul, but all through the Christian ages, on such words as Predestination, Election, Faith, Inspiration, Person, Regeneration, &c.
St. Paul was writing, then, in the spirit of the living God, and was warning no solitary pastor and friend at Ephesus of the weeds then springing up in that fair, newly-planted vineyard of his, but was addressing the Masters servants in many vineyards and of many ages; was telling them what would meet them, what would mar and spoil their work, and in not a few cases would break their hearts with sorrow.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Proud The Gnostics, or knowing ones, (see note, Act 11:19,) claimed to be the aristocracy of knowledge.
Knowing nothing Although claiming, as Gnostics, to know every thing.
Questions Note 1Ti 1:4.
Strifes of words Literally, logomachies; either where the words had no meaning, or the whole dispute was about a word. The evil tempers by this aroused, are next traced.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘He is puffed up, knowing nothing, but having a sick craving about questionings and disputes of words, of which comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.’
Having described the wayward teaching of the false teachers in 1Ti 6:3, Paul now brings out:
1) Their attitude and approach (1Ti 6:4 a).
2) The fruits of their ministry (1Ti 6:4 b-5 a).
3) What it is that motivates them (1Ti 6:5 b).
1). Criticism of their attitude and approach. Those who claim to be Christians but who teach other than the Apostles’ teaching are living in the clouds, they are puffed up and full of hot air, they know nothing. Rather they have a sick interest in questionings, and disputation about words, giving the words an exotic meaning other than their real sense, and in opening men’s minds to extravagant ‘new thought’, always seeking ‘some new thing’ (Act 17:21). But their thoughts were all on airy-fairy ideas (and thus not really heavenly) rather than being firmly grounded in true moral behaviour and response in this life. They do not think in terms of ‘doing the will of My Father in Heaven’ (Mat 7:21), but in terms of exotic experiences. They are a parody of true heavenly-mindedness. But there is one way in which their teaching is earthly minded, and that is in their building up riches for themselves. They suppose that ‘godliness’ is a way of gain, not of holy living, and they act accordingly.
2). The fruits of their teaching. Their teaching results in envy, in strife (a word only used by Paul) and disputing, in railing (or ‘slander’) against others, especially true Christians, in evil surmising and wranglings which skirt round the truth, and all that is because their minds are corrupted, and they themselves are bereft of the truth. Such envy, strife, railing against others, and wranglings were actually well known in those days among professional philosophers who were often at each other’s throats, and it also involved their adherents.
3). What motivates their teaching. It is evidenced by their love of money, which, of course, is for ‘the cause’ but ends up in their own pockets. Their forte is goldliness, not godliness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Ti 6:4. But doting about questions But raving on questions. The original word seems to express the effect of a disease upon the mind. Dr. Heylin reads it, Knows nothing, but has the disease of disputation, and controversy about words.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Ver. 4. He is proud ] Gr. , he is blown up, big swollen. Swelling is a dangerous symptom in the body; but much more in the soul. Pride and self-conceit is a bastard (saith one) begotten between a learned head and an unsanctified heart; which being once conceived in the soul, causeth it to swell till it burst asunder with unthankfnlness to God for the bestowing, with envy, scorn, and disdain of men in the imparting of such gifts as may be to them beneficial. Some think that the apostle alludeth here to the wind Typhon, which the ancients held hurtful to men’s wits and senses; so that those that were blasted with it ran mad.
Knowing nothing ] sc. Aright, and as they ought to know, 1Co 8:2 . See Trapp on “ 1Co 8:2 “ The Gnostics boasted that they knew all things knowable. Irenaeus saith, that they were so besotted with an opinion of themselves, that they accounted their own writings to be gospel. Such self-admirers also were the Illuminates (as they called themselves), the Manichees, the Novatians. And such are now the Jesuits, the sectarians, &c.; and other male feriati fanatici, who lest they should not be reputed to know something unknown to others, profess skill beyond the circumference of possible knowledge.
Doting about questions ] Gr. Question sick. As the schoolmen, and our new questionists. But God loveth curristas non quaeristas, saith Luther.
And strifes of words ] , frivolous questions and quarrels. The wit of heretics and schismatics will better serve them to devise a thousand shifts to elude the truth than their pride will suffer them once to yield and acknowledge it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ti 6:4 . : inflatus est ( [290] , [291] 50 , [292] ); superbus est (Vulg.). See on 1Ti 3:6 .
[290] The Latin text of Codex Claromontanus (sc. vi.), a Grco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.
[291] Speculum
[292]
: morbidly busy (Liddon), languens (Vulg.), aegrotans ( [293] 50 ). His disease is intellectual curiosity about trifles. Both doting and mad after (Alf.) as translations of , err by excess of vigour. The idea is a simple one of sickness as opposed to health. See on 1Ti 1:10 .
[293] Speculum
: For this use of see on 1Ti 1:19 .
: See on 1Ti 1:4 .
: It is not clear whether what is meant are wordy quarrels or quarrels about words . The latter seems the more likely. There is here the usual antithesis of words to deeds. The heretic spoken of is a theorist merely; he wastes time in academic disputes; he does not take account of things as they actually are. On the other hand, it is interesting and suggestive that to the heathen, the controversy between Christianity and Judaism seemed to be of this futile nature (see Act 18:15 ; Act 23:29 ; Act 25:19 ).
, are similarly juxtaposed Rom 1:29 , Gal 5:20-21 , Phi 1:15 .
The plural is a well-supported variant in Rom 13:13 , Gal 5:20 . In Tit 3:9 it is the true reading; but in other lists of vices ( 1Co 3:3 , 2Co 12:20 , Phi 1:15 ) the singular is found.
also occurs in a list of sins, Eph 4:31 , Col 3:8 .
: (only here in N.T., but in Act 13:25 ; Act 25:18 ; Act 27:27 , all in neutral sense, to suppose ) has sometimes the sense of suspicion . See examples given by Ell. The phrase here does not mean wicked or unworthy thoughts of God the class of mind here spoken of does not usually think about God directly, though an unworthy opinion about Him underlies their life but malicious suspicions as to the honesty of those who differ from them.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
proud = puffed up. See 1Ti 3:6.
knowing. App-132.
nothing. Greek. medeis.
doting = sick, or diseased. Greek. noseo. Only here. Compare Mat 4:24.
about. App-104.
questions. See 1Ti 1:4.
strifes, &c. Greek. logonaaettia. Only here. The verb in 2Ti 2:14.
whereof = out of (App-104.) which.
surmisings, Greek. huponaia. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ti 6:4. , ) Harpocration: , , , … for , I am gone out of my senses. Compare Raphelius ad Polyb.- , knowing nothing) although he claims knowledge to himself: comp. ch. 1Ti 1:7.- , sick [doting], or morbid, about) The antithesis is wholesome, 1Ti 6:3. Plut.: , , to be sick for glory, for expensive seals (signets).-, strifes of words) 2Ti 2:14, note.[47]- , from which cometh) Ib. 2Ti 2:23.-, contention) Tit 3:9.- , evil surmisings) by which those who do not at once agree to all things, are regarded as enemies (objects of odium).
[47] Not as Engl. Vers. of 2Ti 2:14, Strifes about words, but strifes in (i.e. by means of) words about most momentous subjects.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Ti 6:4
he is puffed up, knowing nothing,-He is self-conceited, thinks his reasons above the teachings of the Lord and the apostles. All such really know nothing as they should know. They do not know that God in his workings does not suddenly break these relations, but he lays down principles that work out results gradually and gently through changing the heart and molding and directing the feelings and purposes. God, in other words, works results through the heart, changes the outward acts and relations first by changing the heart and feelings. Hence he breaks and changes no relation by sudden and violent means.
but doting about questionings and disputes of words,-They had such a morbid fondness for questionings and disputings over untaught questions and words that it amounted to a disease. These men deal with subtle, useless, and unpractical questions, which have no practical bearing on ordinary life, and only tend to stir up strife and useless discussion, and to make men discontented and rebellious.
whereof cometh envy,-Envy is uneasiness, pain, mortification, or discontent, excited by anothers prosperity, or by his superior knowledge, or possessions.
strife,-Angry contention, hostile struggling, fighting, the disposition to be quarrelsome and contentious, the feeling which seeks to irritate. It is not strife for truth and right, but simply for its own sake.
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 those which are of magnitude.
evil surmisings,-Evil surmisings are the imaginings of evils or wrongs of others without clear testimony. This seems to grow out of the depravity of the flesh and shows itself in the disposition to attribute evil motives to the acts of others. This disposition is very prevalent among men, even among Christians. This habit is here placed in bad association, and is a warning to all who would please God that it should be sedulously avoided. The habit arises from a bitter, jealous spirit toward others; it is really the reflection of the evil heart of him who cultivates the spirit, and usually indicates that he is actuated by evil motives in what he does, and that he judges others by his own spirit.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
He: 1Ti 1:7, 1Ti 3:6, Pro 13:7, Pro 25:14, Pro 26:12, Act 8:9, Act 8:21-23, Rom 12:16, 1Co 3:18, 1Co 8:1, 1Co 8:2, Gal 6:3, Col 2:18, 2Th 2:4, 2Ti 3:4, 2Pe 2:12, 2Pe 2:18, Jud 1:10, Jud 1:16, Rev 3:17
proud: or, a fool
doting: or, sick
about: 1Ti 1:4, 2Ti 2:23
words: Isa 58:4, Act 15:2, Rom 2:8, Rom 13:13, Rom 14:1, 1Co 3:3, 1Co 11:16, 1Co 11:18, 2Co 11:20, Gal 5:15, Gal 5:20, Gal 5:21, Gal 5:26, Phi 1:15, Phi 2:3, Phi 2:14, Tit 3:9, Jam 1:19, Jam 2:14-18, Jam 4:1, Jam 4:2, Jam 4:5, Jam 4:6, 1Pe 2:1, 1Pe 2:2
Reciprocal: Gen 31:1 – glory Job 15:3 – he reason Psa 31:20 – the strife Pro 9:13 – General Pro 13:10 – Only Jer 50:36 – dote Eze 13:3 – foolish Mat 5:19 – shall teach Mat 12:44 – he findeth Act 18:15 – a question 1Co 1:11 – that there 1Co 13:4 – envieth Gal 3:1 – Foolish Eph 4:31 – clamour 1Ti 1:6 – turned 1Ti 6:20 – avoiding 2Ti 2:14 – that 2Ti 3:2 – proud Jam 3:14 – if
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ti 6:4. He is proud means he is conceited and puffed up over his pretended learning, when in truth he knows nothing of any account. Doting is from NOSEO and defined by Thayer, “to be sick”; it is similar to the English word “nausea.” The word is used in a figurative sense, and means about the same as when we speak of some person acting like a man in his dotage-. The object of this man’s dotage is his extreme love of strife over unimportant words. Not only is such a contention fruitless of any good, but it produces a number of harmful results which the apostle names. Envy is the spirit that begrudges another his prosperity or other success. Strife is a contention for the sake of being different from another. Railings consist of severe and unjust expressions against others, and such expressions as would not be justified even against a person in wrong. (See Jud 1:9.) Evil surmisings means evil suspicions about the character of another, without any evidence to support them. A self-conceited person might be expected to be guilty of such thoughts against those whose sound teaching he did not like.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Ti 6:4. He is proud. The same Greek word as in 1Ti 3:6, He has been and is under the stupefying influence of a fever. The word is thus brought into the sharpest possible contrast with the healthy words of the previous verse.
Doting. Here again the term is strictly medical: raving mad after, morbidly dwelling on.
Strifes of words. The Greek word () is not classical, and was probably one of those coined by St. Paul. The precise nature of the logomachies in question must remain in doubt, but the context would lead us to think of debates in which high-sounding words, knowledge, freedom, power, right, were used, such as were in use at Corinth, and have been always the watchwords of revolutionary leaders in ecclesiastical or social life.
Railings. The Greek word is blasphemies, but the English Version is right in confining it to words of reviling from man to man. So, in like manner, the evil surmisings are mens suspicions of each other.
1Ti 6:5. Perverse disputings. There are two different readings of the Greek words, each giving a distinct meaning(1) , continued quarrels; (2) (as in the English Version), perverse disputings. Of these the first is best supported.
Man of corrupt mind. Literally corrupted as to their mind, the word used being that which implies, in St. Pauls psychology, the higher intellect or spiritual part of man, including will and conscience.
Destitute of the truth. The English destitute, which has come to have a simply negative meaning, is hardly adequate for the Greek, men who have lost the truth, bereaved of it, as of a treasure.
Thinking that gain is godliness. The English Version exactly inverts the right order of the words, thinking that godliness (better perhaps religion or piety) is a means of mining money. The words carry us back to the disturbing anti-social teaching against which the apostle had protested in 1Ti 6:1-2. To such men the new religion seemed, as it were, a new business, an investment, a means of getting on in life, and so they made themselves and others discontented with their station and their work.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Pride in that he knows better how to deal with masters/employers than God.
Knowing nothing seems to be rather self-explanatory. Reject truth and you know nothing – wow that has application in our society today! Those that would make us think they know truth in fact know nothing.
Doting is listed as “to be taken with such an interest in a thing as amounts to a disease, to have a morbid fondness for” by Thayer. Actually the Greek term used here is the predecessor of our term nausea. The New International Version translates it this way – “has an unhealthy interest in.” You may have heard the term in-nausium. That fits well.
This passage sums up the result of many of the Bible related boards on the internet. The result of those that reject truth cause all these things – indeed the result is often very distasteful.
The sad part is that they have rejected the truth, and continue to do so when someone presents it further. There have been times when I have asked a number of questions that show up their falsehood and no answer is forthcoming – only strife and railings. If you can’t beat them – call them names seems to be their watch-word.
Robertson ties all these terms together and mentions they are “all products of an ignorant and conceited mind.” I think that about sums it all up.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and {b} strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
(b) Strivings about words, and not about matter: and by words he means all those things which do not have substance in them, and by which we can reap no profit.