Meaning of Condemnation of the Devil in 1 Timothy
In 1 Timothy 3:6, the Apostle Paul warns against appointing a new convert to overseer, "lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil" [3]. The Greek term for "condemnation" here is krima (κρίμα), which can refer to a judgment, a sentence, or the resulting punishment [9]. The phrase "of the devil" (τοῦ Διαβόλου) has been interpreted in different ways by biblical scholars.
One primary interpretation, supported by many ancient and modern expositors, understands "condemnation of the devil" to mean the same judgment and punishment that the devil incurred due to pride [9]. This view aligns with the understanding that the devil "sinned from the beginning" (1 John 3:8) and was cast out of heaven, eventually destined for "everlasting fire" [1, 2, 11, 13]. Pride is often cited as a key factor in the devil's fall [5]. Thus, a new convert, elevated too quickly, might become "puffed up" with pride, leading to a similar spiritual downfall and divine judgment [8, 9]. Augustine, for instance, discusses the damnation of the devil and his adherents, noting that the devil's nature is depraved and malignant, bent on assailing God's glory and man's salvation [11, 13]. He also argues that the devil deserves heavier punishment than men [12].
Another interpretation, though less common, suggests that "the devil" (Διάβολος) in this context could refer to a "slanderer" or "calumniator," a human enemy of the gospel [9, 10]. In this view, falling into the "condemnation of the devil" would mean giving the devil (the slanderer) an occasion to accuse the new convert or the church [9]. The term diabolos (διάβολος) itself means "slanderer" [6]. However, John Calvin notes that krima (judgment) rarely means "slander," making this interpretation less likely for this specific passage [10].
The broader biblical understanding of the devil (Gr. diabolos) portrays him as the arch-enemy of humanity's spiritual interests, the accuser of the brethren, and a spiritual being at enmity with God [4, 6]. He is associated with deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons [7]. The concept of "condemnation" in scripture is often linked to the sentence of God against sin, universal due to Adam's offense, and an inseparable consequence of sin, increased by pride and unbelief [5].
Therefore, the warning in 1 Timothy 3:6 primarily cautions against the spiritual danger of pride in new converts, which could lead them to a similar state of divine judgment and punishment as experienced by the devil due to his original rebellion [3, 9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devil, The — Sinned against God -- 2Pe 2:4; 1Jo 3:8. Cast out of heaven -- Lu 10:18. Cast down to hell -- 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6. The author of the fall -- Ge 3:1,6,14,24. Tempted Christ -- Mt 4:3-10. Perverts the Scripture -- Mt 4:6; Ps 91:11,12. Opposes God's work -- Zec 3:1; 1Th 2:18. Hinders the gospel -- Mt 13:19; 2Co 4:4. Works lying wonders -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Assumes the form of an angel of light -- 2Co 11:14. The wicked Are the children of. -- Mt 13:38; Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:10. Turn aside after. -- 1Ti 5:15. Do the lusts of. -- Joh 8:44. Possessed by. -- Lu 22:3; Ac”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hell — The place of disembodied spirits -- Ac 2:31. Which Christ visited. -- Lu 23:43; Ac 2:31; 1Pe 3:19. Contains, a place of rest, Abraham's bosom. -- Lu 16:23. Paradise. -- Lu 23:43. And a place of torment. -- Lu 16:23. The place of future punishment Destruction from the presence of God. -- 2Th 1:9. Described as Everlasting punishment. -- Mt 25:46. Everlasting fire. -- Mt 25:41. Everlasting burnings. -- Isa 33:14. A furnace of fire. -- Mt 13:42,50. A lake of fire. -- Re 20:15. Fire and brimstone. -- Re 14:10. Unquenchable fire. -- Mt 3:12. Devouring fire. -- Isa 3”
- 1 Timothy “not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. -- 1 Timothy 3:6”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Demon — In the Gospels generally, in (James 2:19) and in Reve 16:14 The demons are spoken of as spiritual beings, at enmity with God, and having power to afflict man not only with disease, but, as is marked by the frequent epithet "un-clean," with spiritual pollution also. They "believe" the power of God "and tremble," (James 2:19) they recognized the Lord as the Son of God, (Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41) and acknowledged the power of his name, used in exorcism. In the place of the name of Jehovah, by his appointed messengers, (Acts 19:15) and looked forward in terror to t”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Devil — (Gr. diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man's spiritual interest (Job 1:6; Rev. 2:10; Zech. 3:1). He is called also "the accuser of the brethen" (Rev. 12:10). In Lev. 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning a "goat" or "satyr" (Isa. 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the objects of idolatrous worship among the heathen. In Deut. 32:17 and Ps. 106:37 it is the translation of Hebrew shed, meaning lord, and idol, regarded by the Jews as a "demon," as the word is rendered in the Revised Version. In the narratives of th”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:1 (BSB) — Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 3:6: not a novice--one just converted. This proves the Church of Ephesus was established now for some time. The absence of this rule in the Epistle to Titus, accords with the recent planting of the Church at Crete. Greek, "neophyte," literally, "a young plant"; luxuriantly verdant (Rom 6:5; Rom 11:17; Co1 3:6). The young convert has not yet been disciplined and matured by afflictions and temptations. Contrast Act 21:16, "an old disciple." lifted up with pride--Greek, literally, "wrapt in smoke," so that, inflated with self-conceit and exaggerated ideas ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 13.14: reject the active signification, namely, that he will give the devil occasion for accusing him. But the opinion of Chrysostom is more correct. 62 62 “The words εἰς κρῖμα ἐμπέσὟ τοῦ Διαβόλου are, by most expositors ancient and modern, understood of falling into the same condemnation and punishment that the devil fell into through pride, which is supported by the authority of the Pesch. Syr. Several eminent expositors, from Luther and Erasmus downwards, take τοῦ Διαβόλου to mean the “calumniator,” or slanderous enemy of the gospe”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 13.18: slanderous enemy of the gospel, the noun being, they say, used generically of those who seek an occasion to calumniate the Christians; but, as Calvin observes, ‘it rarely happens that “judgment” means slander.’ Moreover, the expression Διάβολος would thus have to be taken of just condemnation.” — Bloomfield.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 14.--OF THE DAMNATION OF THE DEVIL AND HIS ADHERENTS; AND A SKETCH OF THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF ALL THE DEAD, AND OF THE FINAL RETRIBUTIVE JUDGMENT. (part 1): After this mention of the closing persecution, he summarily indicates all that the devil, and the city of which he is the prince, shall suffer in the last judgment. For he says, "And the devil who seduced them is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, in which are the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." We have alre”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 26.--WHATEVER IS BORN THROUGH CONCUPISCENCE IS NOT UNDESERVEDLY IN SUBJECTION TO THE DEVIL BY REASON OF SIN; THE DEVIL DESERVES HEAVIER PUNISHMENT THAN MEN.: This wound which the devil has inflicted on the human race compels everything which has its birth in consequence of it to be under the devil's power, as if he were rightly plucking fruit off his own tree. Not as if man's nature, which is only of God, came from him, but sin alone, which is not of God. For it is not on its own account that man's nature is under condemnation, because it is the ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: minds of men he involves in error; he stirs up hatred, inflames strife and war, and all in order that he may overthrow the kingdom of God, and drown men in eternal perdition with himself. Hence it is evident that his whole nature is depraved, mischievous, and malignant. There must be extreme depravity in a mind bent on assailing the glory of God and the salvation of man. This is intimated by John in his Epistle, when he says that he “sinneth from the beginning,” ( 1 John 3:8 ), implying that he is the author, leader, and contriver ”