SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:7
Tambin conviene que tenga buen testimonio de los de afuera, para que no caiga en vergenza y en lazo del diablo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:7
Verse 7. The 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 this term see the note on Col. iv. 5. Lest he fall into reproach] For his former scandalous life.
And the snare of the devil.] Snares and temptations, such as he fell in and fell by before. This is called the snare of the devil; for, as he well knows the constitution of such persons, and what is most likely to prevail, he infers that what was effectual before to their transgressing may be so still; therefore on all suitable occasions he tempts them to their old sins.
Backsliders in general fall by those sins to which they were addicted previously to their conversion. Former inveterate habits will revive in him who does not continue to deny himself, and watch unto prayer.
The snare of the devil. - Some would translate pagida tou diabolou, the snare of the accuser; and they give the same meaning to the word in verse 6, because it is evident that diabolouv has that meaning, verse 11, and our translators render it slanderers. Now, though diabolov signifies an accuser, yet I do not see that it can, with any propriety, be restrained to this meaning in the texts in question, and especially as the word is emphatically applied to Satan himself; for he who, in Revelation xii. 10, is called the accuser of the brethren, is, in Rev. xii. 9, called the great dragon, the old serpent, the DEVIL, diabolov, and Satan.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without , &c,] That is, without the church, as the Arabic version reads; for wicked men, though they dislike the principles and profession of godly ministers, and despise their office, yet cannot but speak well of their becoming life and conversation. And this part of their character is necessary to invite persons to hear them, and to recommend their ministry to them, as well as for the reasons that follow: lest he fall into reproach ; into the reproach of men; not only of the world, but of professors of religion; who may be apt to upbraid him with his past sins; especially such that may fall under his censures, admonitions, and reproofs, which hereby will become in a great measure useless and ineffectual: and the snare of the devil ; lest Satan should take encouragement from hence to tempt him to other and greater sins; or lest finding himself slighted and despised by the people of God, because of his former sins, he should break out into anger and revenge against them; or into despondency and despair in himself; or should be negligent of his duty, and timorous of exhorting and reproving others, lest they should retort upon him, and reproach him with his former crimes. The Jews have a regard to the wisdom, prudence, gravity, and manners, of a man they appoint as a minister of a congregation. Their rule is this f48 : they do not appoint a messenger or minister of a congregation, but he who is the greatest in the congregation for wisdom and works; and if he is an elderly man, it is the better; and they take care that the messenger or minister of the congregation be a man whose voice is pleasant, and he is used to read: but he whose beard is not full grown, though he is a very considerable man, he may not be a minister of the congregation, because of the honour of the congregation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - If a man desired the pastoral office, and from love to Christ, and the souls of men, was ready to deny himself, and undergo hardships by devoting himself to that service, he sought to be employed in a goo work, and his desire should be approved, provided he was qualified for the office. A minister must give as little occasion for blame as can be, lest he bring reproach upon his office. He must be sober temperate, moderate in all his actions, and in the use of all creature-comforts. Sobriety and watchfulness are put together i Scripture, they assist one the other. The families of ministers ough to be examples of good to all other families. We should take heed of pride; it is a sin that turned angels into devils. He must be of goo repute among his neighbours, and under no reproach from his forme life. To encourage all faithful ministers, we have Christ's graciou word of promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Mt 28:20. And he will fit his ministers for their work, an carry them through difficulties with comfort, and reward their faithfulness.
Greek Textus Receptus
δει 1163 5904 δε 1161 αυτον 846 και 2532 μαρτυριαν 3141 καλην 2570 εχειν 2192 5721 απο 575 των 3588 εξωθεν 1855 ινα 2443 μη 3361 εις 1519 ονειδισμον 3680 εμπεση 1706 5632 και 2532 παγιδα 3803 του 3588 διαβολου 1228
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. A good report (marturian kalhn). Comp. Acts vi. 3. Not only does kalov occur in the Pastorals nearly twice as many times as in Paul, but the usage is different. Out of 16 instances in Paul, there is but one in which kalov is not used substantively (Rom. vii. 16), while in the Pastorals it is, almost without exception, used adjectively. Marturian, better testimony. Comp. Tit. i. 13. Not in Paul, who uses marturion.
Of them which are without (apo twn exwqen). Exwqen only once in Paul (2 Cor. vii. 6), and oiJ exwqen nowhere in Paul, and only here in Pastorals. Paul's phrase is oJ exw: see 1 Cor. v. 12, 13; 2 Corinthians iv. 16; 1 Thess. iv. 12.
Reproach (oneidismon). By Paul in Rom. xv. 3 only here in Pastorals: three times in Hebrews.
Snare (pagida). Comp. ch. vi. 9; 2 Tim. ii. 26. In Paul, Rom. xi. 9, see note. Both reproach and snare govern diabolou.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:7 {From them that are without} (apo twn exwqen). "From the outside (of the church) ones." Paul's care for the witness of outsiders is seen in #1Th 4:12; 1Co 10:32; Col 4:5. There are, of course, two sides to this matter. {Reproach} (oneidismon). Late word from oneidizw. See #Ro 15:3. {The snare of the devil} (pagida tou diabolou). Here subjective genitive, snare set by the devil. pagis, old word from pegnumi, to make fast. So a snare for birds (#Lu 21:35), any sudden trap (#Ro 11:9), of sin (#1Ti 6:9), of the devil (#1Ti 3:7; 2Ti 2:26). Ancients used it of the snares of love. The devil sets special snares for preachers (conceit verse #6, money #6:9, women, ambition).
