And Not a New Convert

---and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 1Tim 3:6

Often times there are verses with commands that give no rationale for the mandate. It is not the case in this verse. Here, Paul gives insight into the reasoning. “Not a new convert unless they become conceited AND fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil”.

When I hear a word like “new”, I tend to think, “How old would one need to be before assuming responsibility for a thriving business”. I would not put a teen in charge. So too, I would not put someone who has not been a Believer, less than 20 years, in charge of church. The ages correlate to one another.  Conceit leads to the “condemnation incurred by the devil”. What was the condemnation? It is the “same judgment as”. The devil’s judgment was separation and condemnation.