1 Timothy 6:4

“He is proud, etc.] 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,…”

“He is proud--literally, "wrapt in smoke"; filled with the fumes of self-conceit (Ti1 3:6) while "knowing nothing," namely, of the doctrine which is according to godliness (Ti1 6:3), though arrogating pre-eminent knowledge (Ti1 1:7). doting about--literally, "sick about"; the opposite of "wholesome" (Ti1 6:3). Truth is not the center about which his investigations move, but mere word-strifes. questions--of controversy. strifes of words--rather than about realities (Ti2 2:14). These stand with them instead of "godliness" and "wholesome words" (Ti1 6:3; Ti1 1:4; Tit 3:9). evil surmisings--as to those who are of a different party from themselves.”

“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…”

“He is puffed up - Which is the cause of his not consenting to the doctrine which is after inward, practical religion. By this mark we may know them. Knowing nothing - As he ought to know. Sick of questions - Doatinglyy fond of dispute; an evil, but common, disease; especially where practice is forgotten. Such, indeed, contend earnestly for singular phrases, and favourite points of their own. Everything else, however, like the preaching of Christ and his apostles, is all "law," and "bondage," and "carnal reasoning." Strifes of words - Merely verbal controversies. Whereof cometh envy - Of the gifts and success of others. Contention - For the pre - eminence. Such disputants seldom like the…”

“6:4 This stirs up arguments: This is the same problem as in 1:4 (see also 2 Tim 2:23-24; Titus 3:9).”

“He: Ti1 1:7, Ti1 3:6; Pro 13:7, Pro 25:14, Pro 26:12; Act 8:9, Act 8:21-23; Rom 12:16; Co1 3:18; Co1 8:1, Co1 8:2; Gal 6:3; Col 2:18; Th2 2:4; Ti2 3:4; Pe2 2:12, Pe2 2:18; Jde 1:10, Jde 1:16; Rev 3:17 proud: or, a fool doting: or, sick about: Ti1 1:4; Ti2 2:23 words: Isa 58:4; Act 15:2; Rom 2:8, Rom 13:13, Rom 14:1; Co1 3:3, Co1 11:16, Co1 11:18; Co2 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; Pe1 2:1, Pe1 2:2 1 Timothy 6:5”