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(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9but holding 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

• And he mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• reputationμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• outsideἔξωθενexōthen · outsideG1855
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• that he will not fallἐμπίπτωempiptō · to fall intoG1706
• into 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 men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.
• 1 Samuel 2:24No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the Lord’s people circulating.
• Acts 6:3Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
• Acts 10:22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”
• Acts 22:12“A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
• 3 John 1:12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
• 1 Corinthians 5:12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
• Colossians 4:5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:12so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
• 1 Timothy 5:14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
• 2 Corinthians 6:3giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
• 2 Corinthians 8:21for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22abstain from every form of evil.
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• 1 Timothy 6:9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men 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