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

5(If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned. People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him. 8Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. 9They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreoverδέde · thenG1161
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• reportμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• them which are withoutἔξωθενexōthen · outsideG1855
• lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• he fallἐμπίπτωempiptō · to fall intoG1706
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• reproachὀνειδισμόςoneidismos · reproachG3680
• the snareπαγίςpagis · trapG3803
• of the devilδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:7

• 1 Timothy 5:24The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there.
• 1 Samuel 2:24Sons, the report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading isn’t good!
• Acts 6:3So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem.
• Acts 10:22The men replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He’s a man who has God’s approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say.”
• Acts 22:12“A man named Ananias lived in Damascus. He was a devout person who followed Moses’ Teachings. All the Jews living in Damascus spoke highly of him.
• 3 John 1:12Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.
• 1 Corinthians 5:12After all, do I have any business judging those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟? Isn’t it your business to judge those who are inside?
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:12Then your way of life will win respect from those outside ⌞the church⌟, and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church.
• 2 Corinthians 6:3We don’t give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve.
• 2 Corinthians 8:21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Keep away from every kind of evil.
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you.
• 1 Timothy 6:9But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin.

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