1 Timothy 3:7

1 Timothy 3:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
• New International Version (NIV)He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Context of 1 Timothy 3:7

5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil. 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. 9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 3:7 word by word

δεῖ δὲ καὶ μαρτυρίαν καλὴν ἔχειν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔξωθεν, ἵνα μὴ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν ἐμπέσῃ καὶ παγίδα τοῦ διαβόλου.¶Read the interlinear

• Furthermoreδέde · thenG1161
• Furthermoreκαίkai · andG2532
• he mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• reputationμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• withἀπόapo · away fromG575
• outsidersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• outsidersἔξωθενexōthen · outsideG1855
• so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he will not fallμήmē · notG3361
• he will not fallἐμπίπτωempiptō · to fall intoG1706
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• disgraceὀνειδισμόςoneidismos · reproachG3680
• snareπαγίςpagis · trapG3803
• devilδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:7

• 1 Timothy 5:24The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
• 1 Samuel 2:24No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people.
• Acts 6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
• Acts 10:22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
• Acts 22:12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
• 3 John 1:12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
• 1 Corinthians 5:12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
• Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
• 2 Corinthians 6:3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
• 2 Corinthians 8:21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• 1 Timothy 6:9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7The 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Moreover 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Paul wanted Christians to live in a way that others outside the church could respect (see also 6:1; Titus 2:5–10). snare of the devil: might relate to the false teachers (see 1 Timothy 1:20; 5:14–15; 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. a good report--Greek, "testimony." So Paul was influenced by the good report given of Timothy to choose him as his companion (Ac 16:2). of them which are without--from the as yet unconverted Gentiles around (1Co 5:12; Col 4:5; 1Th 4:12), that they may be the more readily won to the Gospel (1Pe 2:12), and that the name of Christ may be glorified. Not even the former life of a bishop should be open to reproach [Bengel]. reproach and the snare of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:7

• Bishop
• Church
• Commandments
• Minister, Christian
• Satan

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery
• Novice
• Rule
• Wife

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings