Verse 7
‘Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.’
This takes up the idea of being beyond reproach (which when taken in depth included much of what followed) and applies it specifically to witness to outsiders. It was important that a bishop be a good advertisement for the church, and one important test of this was how outsiders whose opinion could be trusted thought of him. (not, of course, those who had become riled by his spirituality or his forthrightness in preaching the Gospel). For if he was not of a suitable character he might well unnecessarily bring reproach on the church and himself by his behaviour, and find himself tripped up by the Devil (for he would become a targetman both for outsiders and for the Devil) to the detriment of the church as a whole. It was necessary that he be able to maintain his reputation in the eyes of fair-minded people even when under attack in one way or another.
The idea of ‘hoi exow’ (those outside) is thoroughly Pauline. See 1 Corinthians 5:12; Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:12.
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