Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
From them that are without (apo twn ecwqen). "From the outside (of the church) ones." Paul's care for the witness of outsiders is seen in I Thessalonians 4:12; I 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. Pagiv, old word from phgnumi, to make fast. So a snare for birds (Luke 21:35), any sudden trap (Romans 11:9), of sin (I Timothy 6:9), of the devil (I Timothy 3:7; II Timothy 2:26). Ancients used it of the snares of love. The devil sets special snares for preachers (conceit verse I Timothy 3:6, money I Timothy 6:9, women, ambition).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Timothy 3:7:
Luke 21:34
Acts 14:23
1 Timothy 3:6
1 Timothy 3:7
1 Timothy 4:6
1 Timothy 6:9
2 Timothy 2:26
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.