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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

1 Timothy 3:6

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bishop;   Church;   Commandments;   Minister, Christian;   Pride;   Satan;   Thompson Chain Reference - Condemnation;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Religious;   Salvation-Condemnation;   The Topic Concordance - Bishop;   Drunkenness;   Sobriety;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Condemnation;   Devil, the;   Pride;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Novice;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elder;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Church, the;   Elder;   Ministry, Minister;   Overseer;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Deacon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bishop;   Devil;   Satan;   Synagogue;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bishop;   Church;   Devil;   Elder;   Novice;   Offices in the New Testament;   Pride;   Titus, Epistle to;   1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Church Government;   Deacon;   Devil;   Minister;   Temperance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels;   Bishop, Elder, Presbyter;   Clement of Rome, Epistle of;   Condemnation;   Devil ;   Novice;   Ordination;   Pride;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bishop;   Novice;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Condemn;   Highminded;   Novice;   Spiritual Gifts;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 1;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.
King James Version (1611)
Not a nouice, lest being lifted vp with pride, hee fall into the condemnation of the deuill.
King James Version
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
English Standard Version
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
New American Standard Bible
and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil.
New Century Version
But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
Legacy Standard Bible
and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Contemporary English Version
They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil.
Complete Jewish Bible
He must not be a new believer, because he might become puffed up with pride and thus fall under the same judgment as did the Adversary.
Darby Translation
not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into [the] fault of the devil.
Easy-to-Read Version
An elder must not be a new believer. It might make him too proud of himself. Then he would be condemned for his pride the same as the devil was.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.
George Lamsa Translation
He should not be a recent convert, lest he become proud and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Good News Translation
He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.
Lexham English Bible
not newly converted, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Literal Translation
He should not be a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the devil's judgment.
Amplified Bible
and He must not be a new convert, so that he will not [behave stupidly and] become conceited [by appointment to this high office] and fall into the [same] condemnation incurred by the devil [for his arrogance and pride].
American Standard Version
not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Bible in Basic English
Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One.
Hebrew Names Version
not a novice, to avoid being puffed up and falling into the condemnation of the devil.
International Standard Version
He must not be a recent convert, or he might become arrogant and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Isaiah 14:12;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Neither shall his discipleship be recent, lest he be lifted up, and fall into the judgment of Satana.
Murdock Translation
Neither let him be of recent discipleship; lest he be uplifted, and fall into the condemnation of Satan.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not a young scoler, lest he, beyng puffed vp, fall into the condempnation of the deuyll.
English Revised Version
not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
World English Bible
not a novice, to avoid being puffed up and falling into the condemnation of the devil.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not a new convert, left being puffed up, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Weymouth's New Testament
He ought not to be a new convert, for fear he should be blinded with pride and come under the same condemnation as the Devil.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
lest he be borun vp in to pride, and falle in to doom of the deuel.
Update Bible Version
not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Webster's Bible Translation
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
New English Translation
He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.
New King James Version
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
New Living Translation
A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
New Life Bible
A church leader must not be a new Christian. A new Christian might become proud and fall into sin which is brought on by the devil.
New Revised Standard
He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not a new convert, lest, being beclouded, into the sentence of the adversary, he fall;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.
Revised Standard Version
He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He maye not be a yonge skoler lest he swell and faule into the iudgement of the evyll
Young's Literal Translation
not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He maye not be a yoge scolar, lest he be puft vp, and fall in to the iudgment of ye euell speaker.
Mace New Testament (1729)
nor must he be a new convert; for fear he should be elated with pride, and so involve himself in the same ruin as the devil.
Simplified Cowboy Version
He doesn't need to be a greenhorn, or the authority will go to his head. This leads to conceit and he will fall under the same wrath the devil will get.

Contextual Overview

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. 4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

novice: or, one newly come to the faith, 1 Corinthians 3:1, Hebrews 5:12, Hebrews 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2

lest: Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 17:20, 2 Kings 14:10, 2 Chronicles 26:16, 2 Chronicles 32:25, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 16:19, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 29:23, Isaiah 2:12, 1 Corinthians 4:6-8, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 5:5

the condemnation: Isaiah 14:12-14, Luke 10:18, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:3 - thirty years Numbers 4:35 - General Ezekiel 28:2 - Because Daniel 5:23 - lifted Daniel 11:12 - his heart Matthew 4:9 - if Matthew 13:52 - scribe 1 Corinthians 4:1 - the ministers Ephesians 4:14 - tossed 1 Timothy 3:10 - let these 1 Timothy 5:22 - suddenly 1 Timothy 6:4 - He Revelation 12:9 - the Devil

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat of any tree in the garden?'"
Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:12
And the man answered, "The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
Genesis 3:14
So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Genesis 3:17
And to Adam He said: "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground-because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
Genesis 6:2
the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
Genesis 39:7
and after some time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Sleep with me."
Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not a novice,.... Or one newly planted, the Arabic version adds, "in the faith"; meaning not a young man, for so was Timothy himself; but a young professor and church member; one that is lately come to the knowledge of the truth, and has just embraced and professed it, and become a member of a church, a new plant there: so the Hebrew word נטע, "a plant", is by the Septuagint in Job 14:9 rendered by this very word. The reason why such a person should not be a bishop, elder, or pastor of a church, is,

lest being lifted up with pride; through the dignity of the office he is advanced to, and the high opinion of men he stands in, and the great gifts qualifying him for such a place, he is supposed to have: for pride on account of these is apt to creep in, and swell and elate the minds of young professors especially; so that there is danger

that he fall into the condemnation of the devil; or "of the slanderer", as the word is rendered in 1 Timothy 3:11 and the sense then is, lest he should be censured and condemned by such who are given to calumny and detraction, and are glad of any opportunity to reproach and vilify the ministers of the word: but it is better to understand it of Satan; and then the meaning is, either lest such an one fall under the censure and condemnation of the accuser of the brethren; or rather lest he fall into the same condemnation and punishment the devil is fallen into, their crimes being alike. For it seems from hence, that pride was the first sin of the devil, and the cause of his apostasy from God; being elated with his own knowledge, strength, and dignity; and not being able to bear it, that the human nature should be advanced above that of angels.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Not a novice - Margin, “one newly come to the faith.” The Greek word, which occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, means, properly, that which is “newly planted.” Thus it would mean a plant that was not strong, or not fitted to bear the severity of storms; that had not as yet struck its roots deep, and could not resist the fierceness of a cold blast. Then the word comes to mean a new convert; one who has had little opportunity to test his own faith, or to give evidence to others that he would be faithful to the trust committed to him. The word does not refer so much to one who is young “in years,” as one who is young “in faith.” Still, all the reasons which apply against introducing a very recent convert into the ministry, will apply commonly with equal force against introducing one young in years.

Lest being lifted up with pride - We are not to suppose that this is the only reason against introducing a recent convert into the ministry, but it is a sufficient reason. He would be likely to be elated by being entrusted at once with the highest office in the church, and by the commendations and flattery which he might receive. No condition is wholly proof against this; but he is much less likely to be injured who has had much experience of the depravity of his own heart, and whose mind has been deeply imbued with the spirit of the gospel.

He fall into the condemnation of the devil - That is, the same kind of condemnation which the devil fell into; to wit, condemnation on account of pride. It is here intimated that the cause of the apostasy of Satan was pride - a cause which is as likely to have been the true one as any other. Who can tell but it may have been produced by some new honor which was conferred on him in heaven, and that his virtue was not found sufficient for the untried circumstances in which he was placed? Much of the apostasy from eminent virtue in this world, arises from this cause; and possibly the case of Satan may have been the most signal instance of this kind which has occurred in the universe. The idea of Paul is, that a young convert should not suddenly be raised to an exalted station in the church. Who can doubt the wisdom of this direction? The word rendered “lifted up” (τυφωθὲις tuphōtheis), is from a verb which means to smoke, to fume, to surround with smoke; then to “inflate” - as a bladder is with air; and then to be conceited or proud; that is, to be “like” a bladder filled, not with a solid substance, but with air.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 3:6. Fifteenth. - It is required that he be not a novice — νεοφυτον. Not a young plant, not recently ingrafted, that is, one not newly converted to the faith; (old MS. Bible;) one who has been of considerable standing in the Christian Church, if he have the preceding qualifications, may be safely trusted with the government of that Church. It is impossible that one who is not long and deeply experienced in the ways of God can guide others in the way of life. Hence presbyters or elders were generally appointed to have the oversight of the rest, and hence presbyter and bishop seem to have been two names for the same office; yet all presbyters or elders certainly were not bishops, because all presbyters had not the qualifications marked above. But the apostle gives another reason: Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. It is natural for man to think himself of more importance than his fellows when they are intrusted to his government. The apostle's term τυφωθεις, puffed up, inflated, is a metaphor taken from a bladder when filled with air or wind. It is a substance, has a certain size, is light, can be the sport of the wind, but has nothing in it but air. Such is the classical coxcomb; a mere puffball, a disgrace to his function, and despised by every intelligent man. Should we not say to those whom it may concern,

"From such apostles, O ye mitred heads,

Preserve the Church; and lay not careless hands

On skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn."


From these words of the apostle we are led to infer that pride or self-conceit was the cause of the devil's downfall. In Ecclus. x. there are some excellent sayings concerning pride: "Pride is hurtful before God and man." "Why is earth and ashes proud?" "The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God." "For pride is the beginning of sin; and he that hath it shall pour out abomination." "PRIDE was not made for MEN." See verses 1 Timothy 3:7, 1 Timothy 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:12, 1 Timothy 3:13, and 18, of the above chapter.


 
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