Proud, Knowing Nothing (1 Timothy 6:4)

May 22, 2022

You might think that the above statement contradicts itself, but consider again and

you will agree with scripture that knowing nothing and pride in fact twines together.

Recently as I was reading, it surprised me to discover one author’s analysis of

others: “When man finds a [difficulty] it never seems to dawn on him that the

difficulty is in his own head! He always thinks there is something corrupt in the

text, or wrong with the translation; but he never seems to suspect that what is wrong

is, in all probability, in himself.” E. W. Bullinger is author of this statement, page

94 of his book, Word Studies on the Holy Spirit. I want to express a hearty amen

especially as it relates to his book, my book, or yours. We need to reread first

Timothy six verse four and get a grip upon what is really important. Hear it again:

He is proud (puffed up), knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of

words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, and evil surmisings, perverse

disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is

godliness: from such withdraw thyself”. Paul warns Timothy by inspiration not to

be entangled in word studies but to study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15), and so we

also are warned. The Holy Spirit provided us with the word of God as a gift so that

we might give praise to the Giver, even God. God gave us his Son, his Son gave us

the Holy Spirit as our comforter, and the Holy Spirit gave us the word (Ephesians

6). It seems that without God we would not have Christ and without Christ we

would not have the Holy Spirit and without the Holy Spirit we would not have the

word. Without the giver we would not have the gift, so it might be rational to think

that the gift and the giver are inseparably connected. We cannot have one without

the other, and so he who has the gifts of the Spirit has the Holy Spirit and he who

has the Holy Spirit has the gifts. It is therefore presumptuous for us, and

unprofitable for the fellowship, to strive about words. It may be and likely is evil

according to the scripture. Tragically we press one another to agree upon

everything, but what is truth - the Giver that gives to all men liberally.

P.S. Does Christ live in us, does the Holy Spirit, or are we the tabernacle of God?

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison