He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Paul is listing what a man must be before he takes oversight in a local church. Here the test is not talent but time: a new believer is not ready, because pride ruined Satan and can ruin him too.
The word behind "a recent convert"
Older translations call this man a "novice." The word behind both is a picture from a garden:
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe Greek word neophutos literally means 'newly planted'. It describes those who had come to faith only a short time before. They were not to be made bishops or overseers, in case pride lifted them up and they fell into the condemnation of the devil.
This is not about age. Another writer shows how the new importance itself feeds pride:
F. B. HoleHe must not be a novice — someone who may be well on in years, yet is only a beginner in the things of God. Otherwise pride in his new-found importance may lift him up, and he may fall into the very fault that overthrew Satan at the beginning.
Preaching early, oversight later
Nothing here stops a new believer from speaking for Christ. Paul is guarding one role:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinA new convert may begin to speak for the gospel as soon as he has believed. But fitness for oversight, for being an elder, needed time and a practical walk in the truth. How often this has proved true: an assembly made much of a young convert with natural gifts, and then he became lifted up and wanted the first place, like Diotrephes in 3 John.
Knowledge without soul-history
A quick mind can take in a great deal of truth in a short time. That is where the trap lies:
A. J. PollockAbility and knowledge in a young man are no substitute for the soul-history of an elder. Knowledge is not wisdom. Scripture tells us that "knowledge puffs up" (1 Cor. 8:1) — that is, simply picking up the terms of truth. But it also says that we go on "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10). That is not knowledge about God, but personal heart-knowledge of Him, and it comes so largely out of soul-history.
A window into how Satan fell
The last words of the verse look back to what ruined the devil. One writer starts with the word translated "condemnation":
Edward DennettThe word translated "condemnation" means the ground, the charge, or the matter of accusation on which condemnation is passed. (See Luke 23:40; Luke 24:20.) So this passage gives a remarkable insight into the cause of the devil's fall. He was puffed up with pride. He was tempted either by the position he held or by his own beauty and excellence (see Ezekiel 28:11-17), and for this reason judgment fell on him.
Commentators differ here. One reads the phrase as naming the devil's sin; another reads it as the sentence the man would share:
W. T. P. WolstonPride lifted the devil up and he fell (see Ezek. 28:13-19). In the same way, a young man might be puffed up by the position and the place of importance that this office was bound to give him in the local assembly. I take "fall into the condemnation of the devil" to mean that he would face the same judgment as Satan — cast down, as Satan was, for his pride.
The beauty of subjection in the young
Timothy himself was young and gifted — yet Paul wrote this warning to him:
W. TrotterThe call of God and the gift of Christ can rest on a young man like Timothy. Yet Paul addressed the words "not a novice" to Timothy himself. His youth was not to encourage others to act — others who had neither the gift nor the grace given to him. And there is a natural fitness and beauty when the young take the place of subjection instead of rule. This is sadly overlooked sometimes, it seems to me. "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5.)
Summary
- Newly planted. "Novice" means newly planted. It marks a recent convert, which is not the same as a young man; someone can be well on in years and still be a beginner in the things of God.
- Testimony now, oversight later. A new believer may speak for the gospel the day he believes. Oversight needs time and a practical walk in the truth.
- Knowledge puffs up. Picking up the terms of truth is not the same as knowing God. Ability is no substitute for the soul-history of an elder.
- Satan's own ruin. Pride was the charge on which judgment fell on the devil. The same pride can bring the same fall. Commentators differ on whether the phrase names his sin or his sentence.
- Humility is the safeguard. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. So there is a real beauty when the young take the place of subjection rather than rule.