Fathers

1 Timothy 3

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This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work. The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule one’s own house take care of God’s assembly?) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil. Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things. Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 3:6

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. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 10 ↗

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. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

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. …

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

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. …

Sermons 340A.2 ↗

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 …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗