Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Parallel translations
- KJV Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- BSB Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- NKJV Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- NASB And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.
- NLT Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He must have a good reputation with outsiders to avoid disgrace and the devil's trap. It shows the church's witness depends on leaders' public integrity.
Overview
Paul requires a leader to be well regarded even by non-believers, guarding against reproach. A poor reputation can ensnare him and harm the gospel's witness. The church's standing before the watching world is tied to the integrity of its leaders.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- 2 Cor 8:21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
- 2 Tim 2:26and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
- Col 4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- 1 Cor 10:32Give no occasion for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;
- 2 Cor 6:3We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
- 1 Th 4:12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
- Titus 2:8and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
- Acts 6:3Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
- 1 Tim 6:9But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
- Titus 2:5to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
- 1 Th 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.
- Acts 10:22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
- 1 Pet 4:14–16If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
- Acts 22:12One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
- 1 Tim 5:14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
- Mark 4:11He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
- 1 Tim 5:24–25Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.
- 1 Cor 5:12For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within?
- 1 Sam 2:24No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey.
- 3 Jn 1:12Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 3:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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