1 Timothy 6:4
What does 1 Timothy 6:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Timothy 6:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Timothy 6:4 means
The false teacher is “puffed up” but empty—ignorant while claiming insight. He is obsessed with debates and hair-splitting over words, which only brew envy, strife, slander, and dark suspicions. Such controversies do not build faith; they feed the flesh. When attention shifts from Christ’s wholesome words to novelty and contention, congregations suffer: relationships fray, tempers rise, and charity fades. Paul unmasks the pathology of error—vain pride clothed as learning, and fruitless disputes masquerading as zeal for truth. A church must resist the bait of needless quarrels and refuse to let word-wrangling replace humble submission to Scripture and the pursuit of peace and purity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
KJV
King James Version · 1611He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He 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,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and disputes of words, out of which arise envy, strife, injurious words, evil suspicions,
Context
Verse 3 set the doctrinal standard; verse 4 now profiles the diseased temperament of those who deviate from it. Their pride and quarrelsome spirit contrast with the quiet godliness Paul seeks. This prepares for verse 5, which exposes their corrupt motives, especially the notion that religion is a money-making scheme. That diagnosis becomes the springboard for the positive corrective in verse 6—contentment with godliness—and for warnings against the ruinous desire to be rich in verses 9–10. The flow moves from the teacher’s character to his influence and then to the church’s safeguard.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
- Galatians 6:3
For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- Colossians 2:18
Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
- Philippians 2:3
doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;
- Romans 2:8
but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
- 1 Peter 2:1
Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
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