“He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,”
he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for disputes about words, that produce envy, dissension, strife, and railing — the false teacher embodies tuphōsis (inflation/pride) and lacks gnōsis (true knowledge). His sickness (nosos) consists of logomachias (word-fighting) producing hostile affects (phthonos, diostaseis, aichorrhegia). Vain argumentation breeds vice.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 6:4
A teacher has need not only of authority, but of gentleness, and not only of gentleness, but of authority. And all these the blessed Paul teaches, at one time saying, “These things command and teach” 1 Timothy 4:11; at another, “These things teach and exhort.” For if physicians entreat the sick, not for the benefit of their own health, but that they may relieve their sickness, and restore their prostrate strength, much more ought we to observe this method, of entreating those…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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