1 Timothy 3:6
6 Not [me] a novice, [neophutos] lest [hina me] being lifted up with
pride [tuphoo] he
fall [empipto] into [eis] the condemnation [krima] of the devil. [diabolos] KJV-Interlinear
6 and not a new convert, lest he
become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. NASB
A further restriction
in determining a teacher or church leader, is his
maturity.Age is not in view here, but
maturity is.
A new convert to
Christianity may be a young person or an old person. Age is irrelevant, even
though age is usually a part of ones typical growth
in life.Older and wiser is the common
saying.
But in the spiritual
life, wiser comes not with age per se, but with knowledge, and specifically knowledge
of Bible doctrine.
A spiritually immature Christian, lacks the inner resources to battle the tests that
he is going to face in life.
Immaturity is exposed
to arrogance, because of the lack of wisdom, and the lack of capacity for life
that accompanies wisdom.
Being lifted up, tuphoo, means to be filled or inflated with smoke or air. And that is what arrogance is, a puffing up,
a vanity, an attitude that has no substance.
It was the reason for Satan's
fall, and Satan is far greater than any human being. Not you, not me, not
anybody has the abilities of Satan, and if he failed, then certainly a new
believer who lacks inner resources, will certainly fail.
However, failure is not
stated here as a certainty.Some people, have the unique ability to ignore the perception of,
or the lures of, fame or power, or authority.
But in most cases, failure is almost a certainty, simply because the lack
of doctrine means the lack of ability to cope with the pressures of promotion
to such a high position.
No person should seek, a higher office unless and until they are adequately
prepared.
No person should be
considered for a higher office unless or until they are qualified for that
office.
In the spiritual realm,
the utmost priority for a church leader, a teacher, must be that he is
prepared.Immaturity is not preparation.
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