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 V-PQI-3S δε 1161 CONJ αυτον 846 P-ASM και 2532 CONJ μαρτυριαν 3141 N-ASF καλην 2570 A-ASF εχειν 2192 5721 V-PAN απο 575 PREP των 3588 T-GPM εξωθεν 1855 ADV ινα 2443 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N εις 1519 PREP ονειδισμον 3680 N-ASM εμπεση 1706 5632 V-2AAS-3S και 2532 CONJ παγιδα 3803 N-ASF του 3588 T-GSM διαβολου 1228 A-GSM
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).
