1 Timothy 6:3-5

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

if (v.3) = “if, as the case is” — a fulfilled condition — the “otherwise” teaching was occurring

teaches otherwise (v.3) — other than the teaching mentioned in v.2 — see 1 Timothy 1:3

consent (v.3) = to come to, draw near, give one’s assent to

wholesome (v.3) = from which we get “hygiene,” “healthy” — free from error

the words of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.3) — as given to Paul

godliness (v.3) = lit. “well-devoutness” — well-pleasing piety — the doctrine that concerns the proper attitude toward God

proud (v.4) = lit. “wrapped in smoke” — blinded — the same word as “puffed up” in 1 Timothy 3:6 — Tense indicates an action completed in the past having finished results in the present — pride has finished its work

knowing (v.4) = understanding — devoid of facts and unable to do reflective thinking

nothing (v.4) = lit. “not even one thing”

obsessed (v.4) = sick, diseased, unsound, morbidly occupied with something — as opposed to “wholesome”

disputes (v.4) = laborious inquiry, quarrels about words — as in 1 Timothy 1:4

envy (v.4) = discontent with another’s superiority or advantage — seeking to deprive another of what he has

strife (v.4) = the expression of enmity

reviling (v.4) = blasphemy, but also, as here, scornful and insulting speech

evil suspicions (v.4) = lit. “underthinking”

useless (v.5) = rubbing against, friction

useless wranglings (v.5) = mutual irritations, constant strife

men of corrupt minds (v.5) = lit. “men corrupted in mind”

destitute (v.5) = bereft, defrauded, despoiled — the sense being that these men once had the truth but have defected from it

godliness is a means of gain (v.5) — that godliness is the way to or source of gain — This false teaching may have been particularly attractive to the slaves in vs. 1-2.

from such withdraw yourself (v.5) — not in the best manuscripts

Wuest’s translation — If, as is the case, anyone is teaching things of a different nature and opposed to the things just mentioned, and does not give his assent to wholesome words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching which is according to a godly piety, he is in a beclouded and stupid state of mind, which condition is caused by pride, not doing any concentrated or reflective thinking in even one instance, but exercising a morbid curiosity about inquiries and quarrels about words, from which come envy, strife, speech injurious to another’s good name, malicious suspicions, protracted and wearing discussions of men corrupted in mind, who have disinherited themselves of the truth, thinking that godly piety is a way of gain. — Wuest, page 93.