1 Timothy 3:6

not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

The elevation of a recent convert to the eldership might easily issue in an inordinate pride upon his part; and, therefore, wherever possible, men of settled experience in living the Christian life should be chosen. Young churches might at times find it difficult to find men of this qualification; indeed, it has been suggested that when Paul himself appointed elders on the first missionary tour (Acts 14:23), they might not have been totally free of question on this count. From this, we conclude that the overall order to "ordain elders in every church" should not be set aside on the pretext that no one, in the strictest sense, measures up to all of the qualifications in any perfect manner.

Being puffed up ... These words are from [@tufoo], meaning literally "to raise a smoke, emit smoke, or smolder,"[25] hence metaphorically, "to blind with pride or conceit."

Into condemnation of the devil ... This refers not to any condemnation that may be exercised by Satan, because the prerogative of condemnation is not one that pertains to Satan at all; therefore, it means the condemnation into which Satan and the fallen angels fell when God condemned them. The strict meaning of the Greek word makes possible an opposite interpretation with the meaning that "the snare of the devil"[26] is intended by this. Lenski, however, giving an extensive analysis, said of this alternative rendition that "it is untenable."[27] Consonant with this view is also the fact of pride having been the occasion of the fall of Satan, exactly the temptation of a novice prematurely elevated to the eldership. Wuest also connected these things as follows: "The condemnation of the devil refers to the fact that Satan is under the condemnatory sentence of God, since sin was motivated by pride."[28]

[25] Kenneth S. Wuest, op. cit., p. 58.

[26] A. C. Hervey, op. cit., p. 52.

[27] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 589.

[28] Kenneth S. Wuest, op. cit., p. 58.