Neophytes
νεόφυτος/NEE-oh-fytes/
“Newly planted, a new convert”
Summary
A neophyte is a newly converted person, a term Paul used when warning against appointing recent converts to church leadership.
☩Paul's Warning
Paul instructs Timothy that a bishop must not be a 'novice' (neophytos in Greek, from which comes 'neophyte'). The reason given is that a recent convert may be 'lifted up with pride' and fall into the condemnation of the devil. This underscores the need for spiritual maturity in church leadership.
Key verses:1 Timothy 3:6