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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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1 Timothy 3:6
Comments
The Greek word translated ‘novice’ literally means ‘a newly planted one.’ Obviously a plant that is newly planted, a little seedling, is easily plucked up. Any animal can grab that weak tender vulnerable shoot. A strong wind may rip it out of the ground; children playing can tread it down. The problem is that a newly planted Christian, who is prematurely given office, may be lifted up with pride, self-exaltation, and become self-important, self-opinionated. The pride term is derived from a word meaning ‘enveloped in smoke’, and is used metaphorically to describe the blinding effect of pride. The one enveloped in smoke cannot see where he is going, and neither can the one who has allowed pride to rise up within him.
Application
Pride makes a man only concerned about himself and what people think of him. The devil will play havoc with that, and lob all sorts of crazy ideas into the mind, things that are to the injury of the church. That person will either implement those ideas, or be prevented from implementing them by his fellows, and be furious and disturbed and become antagonistic. Anybody who is in office in the church of Jesus Christ is vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, as indeed we all are, and has got to know how to keep the heart. He must keep his eye fixed firmly on his weaknesses, his vulnerabilities, and keep his dependence upon the Lord.
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