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1 Timothy 3:6

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    He maye not be a yonge skoler lest he swell and faule into the iudgement of the evyll speaker.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.

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Cross-references (22)

Passages linked to 1 Timothy 3:6 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 1 Timothy 6:4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,
  • Hebrews 5:12-13 For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.
  • 1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,
  • 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  • Isaiah 2:12 For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and arrogant, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:
  • Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, shining one, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!”
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:6-8 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
  • Deuteronomy 8:14 then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
  • Deuteronomy 17:20 that his heart not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he not turn away from the commandment to the right hand, or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the middle of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 14:10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?’ ”
  • 2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into Yahweh’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:25 But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
  • Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
  • Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
  • Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
  • Luke 10:18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
  • 2 Timothy 3:4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
  • 2 Peter 2:4 For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved for judgment;
  • Jude 1:6 Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 6 Not a novice There being many men of…

6 Not a novice There being many men of distinguished ability and learning who at that time were brought to the faith, Paul forbids that such persons shall be admitted to the office of a bishop, as soon as they have made profession of Christianity. And he shews how great would be the danger; for it is evident that they are commonly vain, and full of ostentation, and, in consequence of this, haughtiness and ambition will drive them headlong. What Paul says we experience; for “novices” have not only impetuous fervor and bold daring, but are also puffed up with foolish confidence, as if they could fly beyond the clouds. Consequently, it is not without reason that they are excluded from the honor of a bishopric, till, in process of time their proud temper shall be subdued.

Lest he fall into the condemnation of the devil. The judgment or condemnation of the devil may be interpreted in three ways; for some take Διαβόλου (of the devil) to mean Satan; and others, to mean slanderers. I give the preference to the former view; because it rarely happens that “judgment” means slander. But again, “the judgment of Satan” may be taken either actively or passively. This latter sense is adopted by Chrysostom, with whom I willingly agree There is an elegant contrast, which heightens the enormity of the case, “If he who is placed over the Church of God fall, by his pride, into the same condemnation with the devil.” Yet I do not reject the active signification, namely, that he will give the devil occasion for accusing him. But the opinion of Chrysostom is more correct.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Lest by reason that he is advanced to that…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Not a novice; not a young plant, that is,…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain A novice signifies, a young plant; here, a young,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Not a novice,.... Or one newly planted, the Arabic…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Lest being puffed up - With this new honour,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 6. Fifteenth. - It is required that he…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Not a novice - Margin, “one newly come to…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Not a neophyte. Not one newly as it were…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain not a novice--one just converted. This proves the Church…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 6. Novice—Literal, new-plant; green young convert.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 6. “Do not set a new convert to rule…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (6) Not a novice.—In the Church of Ephesus, which,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Puffed up for lifted up with pride, A.V A…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 6. Not a novice. One recently converted. Those chosen…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 He should not be a new convert

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