1 Timothy 3:7

International Standard Version

He must be well thought of by outsiders, lest he fall into disgrace and the trap set for him bythe trap of">[fn] the devil.Acts 22:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26;">[xr]

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
An elder must also have the respect of people who are not part of the church. Then he will not be criticized by others and be caught in the devil's trap.

Revised Standard Version
moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
speaker. He must also be well reported of amonge them which are with out forth lest he fall into rebuke and snare of the evyll speaker.

Hebrew Names Version
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

New American Standard Bible
And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

New Century Version
An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil's trap.

Update Bible Version
Moreover he must have good testimony from those that are outside; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover, he must have a good report of them who are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

English Standard Version
Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

World English Bible
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He ought also to have a good report from them that are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Weymouth's New Testament
It is needful also that he bear a good character with people outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach or a snare of the Devil.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For it bihoueth hym to haue also good witnessing of hem that ben with outforth, that he falle not in to repreef, and in to the snare of the deuel.

English Revised Version
Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Berean Standard Bible
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Contemporary English Version
Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.

Amplified Bible
And he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside the church, so that he will not be discredited and fall into the devil's trap.

American Standard Version
Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Bible in Basic English
And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One.

Complete Jewish Bible
Furthermore, he must be well regarded by outsiders, so that he won't fall into disgrace and into the Adversary's trap.

Darby Translation
But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and [the] snare of the devil.

Etheridge Translation
But it is needful that he have also a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the net of Satana.

Murdock Translation
And there ought to be good testimony of him from those without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of Satan.

King James Version (1611)
Moreouer, hee must haue a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproch, and the snare of the deuill.

New Living Translation
Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil's trap.

New Life Bible
A church leader must be respected by people who are not Christians so nothing can be said against him. In that way, he will not be trapped by the devil.

New Revised Standard
Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

Geneva Bible (1587)
He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.

George Lamsa Translation
Moreover, he must have a good report from outsiders; lest he fall into reproach and the snares of the devil.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It is needful, moreover, to have, an honourable testimony also, from them who are without, lest, into reproach, he fall, and the snare of the adversary.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He must also haue a good report of the which are without, lest he fall into the rebuke and snare of the deuyll.

Good News Translation
He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.

Christian Standard Bible®
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

King James Version
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Lexham English Bible
But he must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

Literal Translation
But he must also have a good witness from those outside, that he not fall into reproach and into a snare of the devil.

Young's Literal Translation
and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He must also haue a good reporte of them which are without, lest he fall in to the rebuke and snare of the euell speaker.

Mace New Testament (1729)
besides, he ought to stand fair in the opinion of unbelievers, lest he fall into disgrace, and the ambushes of the accuser.

New English Translation
And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap.

New King James Version
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Everyone should think highly of him, not just church cowboys. Go ask about him at the sale barn and see what others have to say. Don't just talk to his friend. Find out more. Don't put him into a position to fail and fall into the devil's noose.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Contextual Overview

¹ This saying is trustworthy:[fn]Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:15;">[xr] The one who would an elder be, A noble task desires he. ² Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife,devoted to his wife; lit. a man of one woman">[fn] stable, sensible, respectable, a lover of strangers, and teachable.able to teach">[fn]1 Timothy 5:9; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:6;">[xr] ³ He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or a lover of money.1 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2;">[xr] ⁴ He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way.Titus 1:6;">[xr] ⁵ For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he might become arrogant and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Isaiah 14:12;">[xr] ⁷ He must be well thought of by outsiders, lest he fall into disgrace and the trap set for him bythe trap of">[fn] the devil.Acts 22:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26;">[xr]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a good: 1 Timothy 5:24, 1 Timothy 5:25, 1 Samuel 2:24, Acts 6:3, Acts 10:22, Acts 22:12, 3 John 1:12

them: 1 Corinthians 5:12, Colossians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:12

lest: 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 2 Corinthians 6:3, 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Titus 2:5, Titus 2:8, 1 Peter 4:14-16

the snare: 1 Timothy 6:9, 2 Timothy 2:26

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:18 - a blind man Job 18:8 - he is cast Psalms 119:39 - Turn Mark 4:11 - them Acts 16:2 - was 2 Corinthians 6:8 - evil Philippians 4:8 - are of 1 Timothy 5:10 - reported Revelation 12:9 - the Devil

Cross-References

Luke 16:23
In Hades,[fn] where he was in constant torture, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, c,] That is, "without the church", as the Arabic version reads for wicked men, though they dislike the principles and profession of godly ministers, and despise their office, yet cannot but speak well of their becoming life and conversation. And this part of their character is necessary to invite persons to hear them, and to recommend their ministry to them, as well as for the reasons that follow:

lest he fall into reproach; into the reproach of men; not only of the world, but of professors of religion; who may be apt to upbraid him with his past sins; especially such that may fall under his censures, admonitions, and reproofs, which hereby will become in a great measure useless and ineffectual:

and the snare of the devil; lest Satan should take encouragement from hence to tempt him to other and greater sins; or lest finding himself slighted and despised by the people of God, because of his former sins, he should break out into anger and revenge against them; or into despondency and despair in himself; or should be negligent of his duty, and timorous of exhorting and reproving others, lest they should retort upon him, and reproach him with his former crimes. The Jews have a regard to the wisdom, prudence, gravity, and manners, of a man they appoint as a minister of a congregation. Their rule is this z:

"they do not appoint a messenger or minister of a congregation, but he who is the greatest in the congregation for wisdom and works; and if he is an elderly man, it is the better; and they take care that the messenger or minister of the congregation be a man whose voice is pleasant, and he is used to read: but he whose beard is not full grown, though he is a very considerable man, he may not be a minister of the congregation, because of the honour of the congregation.''

z Maimon. Hilchot Tephilla, c. 8. sect. 11.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without - Who are without the church; that is, of those who are not Christians. This includes, of course, “all” classes of those who are not Christians - pagans, infidels, Jews, moral people, and scoffers. The idea is, that he must have a fair reputation with them for integrity of character. His life must be in their view upright. He must not be addicted to anything which they regard as inconsistent with good morals. His deportment must be such that they shall regard it as not inconsistent with his profession. He must be true and just and honest in his dealings with his fellow-men, and so live that they cannot say that he has wronged them. He must not give occasion for scandal or reproach in his contact with the other sex, but must be regarded as a man of a pure life and of a holy walk. The “reason” for this injunction is obvious.

It is his business to endeavor to do such people good, and to persuade them to become Christians. “But no minister of the gospel can possibly do such people good, unless they regard him as an upright and honest man.” No matter how he preaches or prays; no matter how orthodox, learned, or apparently devout he may be, all his efforts will be in vain unless they regard him as a man of incorruptible integrity. If they hate religion themselves, they insist justly that since he has professed it he shall be governed by its principles; or if they feel its importance, they will not be influenced to embrace it by a man that they regard as hypocritical and impure. Go to a man whom you have defrauded, or who regards you as having done or attempted wrong to any other one, and talk to him about the necessity of religion, and he will instinctively say that he does not “want” a religion which will not make its professor true, honest, and pure. It is impossible, therefore, for a minister to over-estimate the importance of having a fair character in the view of the world, and no man should be introduced into the ministry, or sustained in it, who has not a fair reputation; compare Colossians 4:5 note; 1 Thessalonians 4:12 note.

Lest he fall into reproach - That is, in such a way as to bring dishonor on the ministerial character. His life will be such as to give people occasion to reproach the cause of religion.

And the snare of the devil - The snare which the devil lays to entrap and ruin the ministers of the gospel and all good people. The snare to which reference is here made, is that of “blasting the character and influence of the minister of the gospel.” The idea is, that Satan lays this snare so to entangle him as to secure this object, and the means which he uses is the vigilance and suspicion of those who are out of the church. If there is anything of this kind in the life of a minister which they can make use of, they will be ready to do it. Hence, the necessity on his part of an upright and blameless life. Satan is constantly aiming at this thing; the world is watching for it, and if the minister has any “propensity” which is not in entire accordance with honesty, Satan will take advantage of it and lead him into the snare.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. The sixteenth requisite is, that he should have a good report of them which are without — That he should be one who had not been previously a profligate, or scandalous in his life. Such a person, when converted, may be a worthy private member of religious society; but I believe God rarely calls such to the work of the ministry, and never to the episcopate. Them that are without are the Jews, Gentiles, and the unconverted of all kinds. For the meaning of this term see Clarke's note on "Colossians 4:5".

Lest he fall into reproach — For his former scandalous life.

And the snare of the devil. — Snares and temptations, such as he fell in and fell by before. This is called the snare of the devil; for, as he well knows the constitution of such persons, and what is most likely to prevail, he infers that what was effectual before to their transgressing may be so still; therefore on all suitable occasions he tempts them to their old sins. Backsliders in general fall by those sins to which they were addicted previously to their conversion. Former inveterate habits will revive in him who does not continue to deny himself, and watch unto prayer.

The snare of the devil.-Some would translate παγιδα του διαβολου, the snare of the accuser; and they give the same meaning to the word in 1 Timothy 3:6, because it is evident that διαβολους has that meaning, 1 Timothy 3:11, and our translators render it slanderers. Now, though διαβολος signifies an accuser, yet I do not see that it can, with any propriety, be restrained to this meaning in the texts in question, and especially as the word is emphatically applied to Satan himself; for he who, in Revelation 12:10, is called the accuser of the brethren, is, in Revelation 12:9, called the great dragon, the old serpent, the DEVIL, διαβολος, and Satan.