1 Timothy 6:4
New International Version
they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, 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.

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,

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,

Berean Literal Bible
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but unhealthy about controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions,

King James Bible
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

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 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,

NASB 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,

NASB 1977
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,

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,

Christian Standard Bible
he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions,

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
This one is lifted up as he knows nothing, but he is ineffective in disputes and debates of words, from which come envy, contention and blasphemy, and establishes evil thoughts,

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,

Douay-Rheims Bible
He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions,

English Revised Version
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
is a conceited person. He shows that he doesn't understand anything. Rather, he has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words. This produces jealousy, rivalry, cursing, suspicion,

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,

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,

Literal Standard Version
he is proud, knowing nothing, but unhealthy about questions and word-striving, out of which come envy, strife, slanders, evil-surmisings,

Majority 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,

New American Bible
is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,

NET Bible
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,

New Revised Standard Version
is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,

New Heart English Bible
he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

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,

Weymouth 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,

World English Bible
he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

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,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Reject False Doctrines
3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4he 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, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.…

Cross References
Acts 18:15
But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things."

1 Corinthians 8:2
The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

1 Timothy 1:4
or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God's work, which is by faith.

1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

2 Timothy 2:14
Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.

2 Timothy 2:23
But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.


Treasury of Scripture

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

He.

1 Timothy 1:7
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

1 Timothy 3:6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Proverbs 13:7
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

proud.

1 Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

words.

Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Acts 15:2
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Romans 2:8
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Jump to Previous
Abusive Arguments Arise Battles Conceit Conceited Controversies Controversy Craving Crazy Discussions Disputes Dissension Doting Envy Evil Ill-Natured Interest Language Malicious Opinion Over-High Pride Produce Proud Puffed Quarrelling Quarrels Questions Railings Result Reviling Revilings Rise Slander Strife Strifes Talk True. Understands Whereof Word Words
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Abusive Arguments Arise Battles Conceit Conceited Controversies Controversy Craving Crazy Discussions Disputes Dissension Doting Envy Evil Ill-Natured Interest Language Malicious Opinion Over-High Pride Produce Proud Puffed Quarrelling Quarrels Questions Railings Result Reviling Revilings Rise Slander Strife Strifes Talk True. Understands Whereof Word Words
1 Timothy 6
1. Of the duty of servants.
3. Not to have fellowship with newfangled teachers.
6. Godliness is great gain;
10. and love of money the root of all evil.
11. What Timothy is to flee, and what to follow.
17. and whereof to admonish the rich.
20. To keep the purity of true doctrine, and to avoid godless ideas.














(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; God's purposes respecting those men who know not, have not even heard of the Redeemer; and the like--problems never to be solved by us while on earth--questions, 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 Master's 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.

Verse 4. - Puffed up for proud, A.V.; questionings for questions, A.V.; disputes for strifes, A.V. He is puffed up (τετύφωται); see 1 Timothy 3:6, note. Doting (νοσῶν); here only in the New Testament, but found occasionally in the LXX. Applied in classical Greek to the mind and body, "to be in an unsound state." Here it means "having a morbid love of" or "going mad about." In this morbid love of questionings and disputes of words, they lose sight of all wholesome words and all godly doctrine. Questionings (ζητήσεις); see 1 Timothy 1:6, note. It corresponds nearly to our word "controversies." Disputes of words (λογομαχίας); found only here. The verb λογομαχέω is used in 2 Timothy 2:14. Would that the Church had always remembered St. Paul's pithy condemnation of unfruitful controversies about words! Surmisings (ὑπόνοιαι); only here in the -New Testament. In classical Greek it means "suspicion," or any under-thought. The verb ὑπονοέω occurs three times in the Acts - "to deem, think, or suppose." Here the "surmisings" are those uncharitable insinuations in which angry controversialists indulge towards one another.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
he is conceited
τετύφωται (tetyphōtai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5187: From a derivative of tupho; to envelop with smoke, i.e. to inflate with self-conceit.

[and] understands
ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1987: To know, know of, understand. Apparently a middle voice of ephistemi; to put the mind upon, i.e. Comprehend, or be acquainted with.

nothing.
μηδὲν (mēden)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3367: No one, none, nothing.

Instead,
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

[he has] an unhealthy interest
νοσῶν (nosōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3552: To be diseased, hence of mental or spiritual disease. From nosos; to be sick, i.e. to hanker after.

in
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

controversies
ζητήσεις (zētēseis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2214: A question, debate, controversy; a seeking, search. From zeteo; a searching, i.e. A dispute or its theme.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

semantics,
λογομαχίας (logomachias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3055: Contention about words, an unprofitable controversy. From the same as logomacheo; disputation about trifles.

out of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

which
ὧν (hōn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

come
γίνεται (ginetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

envy,
φθόνος (phthonos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5355: Envy, a grudge, spite. Probably akin to the base of phtheiro; ill-will, i.e. Jealousy.

strife,
ἔρις (eris)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2054: Contention, strife, wrangling. Of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. wrangling.

abusive talk,
βλασφημίαι (blasphēmiai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 988: Abusive or scurrilous language, blasphemy. From blasphemos; vilification.

evil
πονηραί (ponērai)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful.

suspicions,
ὑπόνοιαι (hyponoiai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5283: A supposition, suspicion. From huponoeo; suspicion.


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NT Letters: 1 Timothy 6:4 He is conceited knowing nothing but obsessed (1 Tim. 1Ti iTi 1tim i Tm)
1 Timothy 6:3
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