Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
The last qualification for an overseer looks outside the church, making the opinion of outsiders a test of his fitness to lead. Why should their judgment matter, and what trap opens when it goes bad?
The world's verdict counts
Some treat the opinion of unbelievers as irrelevant to spiritual service. One writer answers that God commands the opposite.
W. T. P. WolstonSome people say, You must not listen to what the world says. God bids us do so. To say the opposite is a completely false principle. God's Assembly is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So the man who is going to fill an official position in it must be well thought of by outsiders. The world reads us up and down as clearly as it can. In the long run its judgment is fair — whether we are honest, straightforward Christians, or whether there is trickery in our history. If a man were not careful in his walk, Satan would be able to trip him up, and the world would most likely know about it. If a man gets a position in the Church of God, Satan will try even harder to trip him up, and that brings dishonour to the Lord. We must all walk carefully.
Business and daily dealings
One writer locates this report in a man's work and ordinary contacts.
A. J. PollockThen the overseer is to have a good report from those outside. That is, his conduct in business must commend him as a Christian. So must his conduct with tradespeople, and with the men and women he meets in the ordinary dealings of life. Of course it is possible to be acceptable to worldly people by being worldly yourself. But when a Christian man or woman deals with the world, while keeping true separation, their conduct should commend Christianity.
The report rests on character, and that character shows in more than one place.
A. J. PollockThis speaks volumes. A man will gain this good report only as he is just and gracious, upright and generous — one who displays the character of true Christian profession. The qualities that make an overseer well regarded by the world are the same qualities that make for peace and good government at home and in the Church of God.
Disgrace, and then the snare
One writer marks off this danger from the one named before it.
Edward DennettThe second thing is that the overseer "must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." Here the meaning is quite different. Suppose a man who held the place of rule in the assembly was not well thought of by those outside. He would soon bring reproach on himself — not so much for the name of Christ as for his own bad reputation. And Satan would not be slow to come in and use this as a snare to entangle his feet.
Another writer names the earlier danger, then shows what a bad reputation does to a man.
J. N. DarbyWe see what "the condemnation of the devil" was: he exalted himself at the thought of his own importance. "The snare of the devil" is another thing. If a man is not well thought of, he will yield somewhere to the enemy, because he will not dare to stand up to him boldly.
The snare disables his work
An overseer has to correct others. The enemy aims to take that ability away from him.
Hamilton SmithThe snare of the enemy is to trap the believer into some questionable conduct before the world, so that he can no longer deal with questionable conduct among the saints.
The reproach does not stop with the man
One writer names who else is dragged in, and who enjoys it.
Leslie M. GrantIf his dealings with the world are questionable, he would himself fall into reproach and involve the assembly with him, if he had any place of eldership. And here the Devil lays his snare for him, because the Devil gloats over being able to speak against the child of God and the assembly of God.
Watchfulness is therefore not optional, because prominence increases exposure.
F. B. HoleThe world has sharp eyes and quickly hurls reproach if there is the least ground for it; and to accomplish this the devil lays his snares.
Summary
- Outsiders judge. The world watches, and over time it judges fairly whether a Christian is honest or crooked. God tells us to take that verdict seriously.
- Business proves it. A man earns this report where he does business and meets ordinary people. He must not buy it by becoming worldly.
- One character, three spheres. Justice, grace, uprightness and generosity win respect outside. The same qualities bring peace to a home and order to the church.
- Bad repute disarms. Disgrace is not the end of the danger. It is the door to it. A man who is not well thought of will give way somewhere, because he no longer dares to face the enemy.
- The snare spreads. Caught in questionable conduct before the world, he can no longer deal with it among believers. His reproach then spreads to the whole assembly.