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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Not a novice." He does not say, not a young man, but not a new convert. For he had said, "I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." Wishing them to point out such an one, he used this word. For, otherwise, what hindered him from saying, "Not a young man"? For if youth only was an objection, why did he himself appoint Timothy, a young man? (and this he proves by saying to him, "Let no man despise thy youth.") Because he was aware of his great virtue, and his great strictness of life. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Apostle speaks here not of one who was young in age, as Timothy was young, which we learn from Paul's words: "let no one despise your youth" (1 Tim. 4:12), but of a recent convert. For, he says, "I planted" (1 Cor. 3:6). Since many of the pagans were converting and being baptized, do not, he says, immediately elevate the newly baptized to such authority. …
Oecumenius
He must not be a recent convert, lest, being arrogant, he fall into the judgment of the Devil. He must not be a recent convert. It does not mean the younger person, but one recently instructed in the faith. For Timothy himself was also younger. "For no one should despise your youth," (1 Timothy 4:12) he says as he goes on. For he who is still a student ought, if anyone makes him a teacher, to be proud and confident. he fall into the judgment of the Devil. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
What does Paul mean by saying "or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil"? It doesn't mean he is to be judged by the devil but that he is to be condemned with the devil. The devil, after all, won't be our judge. He himself fell through pride. Like him, one who has become godless on account of pride will be condemned to everlasting fire. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then he shows how he should behave in regard to the multitude within the Church, in which he should not be new in the faith, but seasoned. Hence he says, not a neophyte, i.e., just recently received into the faith: of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us (Acts 1:21); gather unto me seventy men of the ancients of Israel whom you knowest to be ancients and masters of the people; and you shall bring them to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant and shall make them stand …
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