1 Timothy 6:4 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

1 Timothy 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "proud", "knowing", "nothing", "doting", "questions", "strifes", "words", and "whereof". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "proud" and "knowing", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "If any man teach otherwise and consent..." into verse 5's "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds...", so "proud" and "knowing" belong inside that flow. In 1 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "proud" and "knowing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.