1 Timothy 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 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ; 1 Corinthians 10:32 ; Colossians 4:5 . There are, of course, two sides to this matter. Reproach (oneidismon). Late word from oneidizw. See Romans 15:3 . The snare of the devil (pagida tou diabolou). Here subjective genitive, snare set by the devil. Pagi, old word from phgnumi, to make fast. So a snare for birds ( Luke 21:35 ), any sudden trap ( Romans 11:9 ), of sin ( 1 Timothy 6:9 ), of the devil ( 1 Timothy 3:7 ; 2 Timothy 2:26 ). Ancients used it of the snares of love. The devil sets special snares for preachers (conceit verse 2 Timothy 6 , money 2 Timothy 6:9 , women, ambition).