“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil — the neophytos (recent convert)'s theological inexperience and untested virtue create vulnerability to tuphōō (conceit/inflation). The devil's condemnation becomes the template for the proud convert's downfall.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 3:6
“Not a novice.” He does not say, not a young man, but not a new convert. For he had said, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 Wishing them to point out such an one, he used this word. For, otherwise, what hindered him from saying, “Not a young man”? For if youth only was an objection, why did he himself appoint Timothy, a young man? (and this he proves by saying to him, “Let no man despise your youth.”) 1 Timothy 4:12 Because he was…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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