ON THE VANGUARD

QUALIFICATIONS part 4
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”
I Timothy 3:6

We continue on in our study today about the qualifications of being an ‘episkope’ and find ourselves staring into the words of conversion. It is here Paul writes that an ‘episkope’ must not be a recent convert. In my original opinion, I believed this may be one of the first qualifications we have looked at that could be more aimed at the minister as opposed to the general sense of the word. Here is why I thought this. While pride is a factor for each person and at any stage of one’s life, my thinking was that ministers tended to struggle with the sin of pride more. Ministries are built, congregations swell, funds pour in, and the list goes on. How could these items not go to the minister’s head? But how can they also not go to ours who are not in a pulpit position? So then, before I make any more assumptions, let us see how this truly does translate from the Greek.
The ‘episkope’ must not be a ‘recent convert’, or a novice as is stated in the King James Version. In the Greek this is the term NEOPHUTOS, meaning newly planted. To break the word down further, it is a merge of the words NEOS, meaning new or youthful, and PHUO, meaning to puff, blow, or swell. In essence, the ‘episkope’ must not be one who is newly blown on, and I would venture to say this blowing is the conversion to the belief in God. But why is Paul stating that he must not be a fresh convert? The obvious reason is that his understanding of the Word may be lifted or slightly off base still. As a baby believer, the depth of one will not be as deep as one who has been studying God’s Word longer. This is not to same that the fire on the new believer is not enough to spark the fire of others, but simply that in relation to the ‘episkope’ teaching the Word, he may not be ready for the qualification yet.
Another reason, and the reason Paul alludes to here, is based on pride. The fresh convert may become conceited and filled with pride. As I was studying I found these terms related to each other. To ‘become conceited’ is the Greek word TUPHO, meaning to make smoke. But as the verse continues in the Greek, the new convert can move from TUPHO to TUPHOO, from making smoke to being enveloped in smoke, or enveloped in pride and self-conceit. Simply put, the new believer can be lacking true depth is his walk with God still that his theology is his own understanding, and furthermore, he begins to teach his theology as truth. This is where many preachers, both new and old, fall. The pride of their belief is taught, but is never truly the truth of God.
Paul lastly gives warning here, saying that the new believer who is put behind the pulpit can run the same risk of falling as the devil. This term ‘fall’ is not only the falling down or falling off something, but is the word EMPIPTO, which also includes being trapped in or under something. That something is judgment, KRIMA, translated as condemnation or damnation. As we consider what we know of the devil, it was his pride that became his downfall (Ez 28:16-17). It is also pride that he uses as his chief weapon. He used it with Eve in the garden, he tried to use it as a temptation with Christ, and he will surly enough try to use it with anyone else.
So while we can see this qualification and warning of Paul fits for the ministry definition of ‘episkope’, does it also fit in the broad sense of the one being searched by God? I venture to say yes. I have been a believer since the age of five, a total of thirty-three years now, and I can honestly say that not one day goes by where in some manner I still do not struggle with pride. I struggle with pride at work and my ability to daily meet my goals while others do not. I struggle with pride when I learn a new tidbit that others do not know. I struggle with pride in how I handle my money, how I look, and how I function, just to name a few. But in all these areas God continues to humble me. And I am glad He does, because if I ever get too big for my britches, I want Him to deflate me. While I may not be a recent convert spiritually, I can be a recent convert in areas of life. To say I have the authority of NASA when I simply read something off the internet about the moon is absurd. Yet it happens all the time. And because it happens, I need to consider this qualification.