Novice

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

The word occurs in the NT only in  1 Timothy 3:6 as a translation of νεόφυτος. A bishop is to be ‘not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.’ The word literally means ‘newly planted,’ and describes one recently converted to Christianity. It accords with the Pauline metaphor of ‘planted’ (σύμφυτοι,  Romans 6:5) as indicating the Christian relation to Christ. The earlier Greek interpreters explained ‘neophyte’ or ‘novice’ as ‘newly baptized’ (CE[Note: E Catholic Encyclopedia.], article‘Neophyte’), as it was the custom to baptize converts immediately after conversion. In later times, when converts were subjected to a period of instruction and probation, the term was still applied to them, though the more common designation was ‘catechumens.’ Still later, the word was restricted to those who were on probation for entrance into some monastic or Church Order. The term of novitiate was usually not less than a year, and no one could be received on probation under the age of puberty. The word was used in connexion with the Eleusinian mysteries (M‘Clintock-Strong, Cyclopedia, article‘Neophyte’), and among the Romans for ‘a newly acquired slave’ (CE[Note: E Catholic Encyclopedia.], article‘Novice’; see also Deissmann, Bible Studies, Eng. translation, 1901, p. 220 f.).

John Reid.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Νεόφυτος (Strong'S #3504 — Adjective — neophutos — neh-of'-oo-tos )

an adjective, lit., "newly-planted" (from neos, "new," and phuo, "to bring forth, produce"), denotes "a new convert, neophyte, novice,"  1—Timothy 3:6 , of one who by inexperience is unfitted to act as a bishop or overseer in a church. In the Sept.,  Job 14:9;  Psalm 128:3;  144:12;  Isaiah 5:7 .

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) One newly received into the church, or one newly converted to the Christian faith.

(2): ( n.) One who enters a religious house, whether of monks or nuns, as a probationist.

(3): ( a.) Like a novice; becoming a novice.

(4): ( n.) One who is new in any business, profession, or calling; one unacquainted or unskilled; one yet in the rudiments; a beginner; a tyro.

King James Dictionary

NOV'ICE, n. L. from new.

1. One who is new in any business one unacquainted or unskilled one in the rudiments a beginner.

I am young, a novice in the trade.

2. One that has entered a religious house but has not taken the vow a probationer. 3. One newly planted in the church, or one newly converted to the Christian faith.  1 Timothy 3 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Novice In   1 Timothy 3:5 it is enjoined that the bishop must not be a novice. The Gr. word ( neophytos , lit. ‘newly planted’) was afterwards used in the technical sense of one who has not yet taken religious vows. Here it is general one newly introduced into the Christian community.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The word νεόφυτος is literally 'newly planted,' and is applied to those who had been but recently converted. They were not to be appointed as bishops or overseers, lest, being lifted up with pride, they should fall into the condemnation of the devil.  1 Timothy 3:6 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Or neophite, one recently converted and received to the Christian church,  1 Timothy 3:6 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Timothy 3:6

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Νεόφυτος , A Neophyte), one newly converted (literally, Newly Planted), not yet matured in Christian experience ( 1 Timothy 3:6). The ancient Greek interpreters explain it by "new-baptized" ( Νεοβάπτιστος ), "proselyte" (Προσήλμτος ), etc. The word continued to be in use in the early Church; but it gradually acquired a meaning somewhat different from that which it bore under the apostles, when "newly converted" and "newly baptized" described, in fact, the same condition, the converted being at once baptized. For when, in subsequent years, the Church felt it prudent to put converts under a course of instruction before admitting them to baptism and the full privileges of Christian brotherhood, the term Νεόφυτοι (Novitii, novices) was sometimes applied to them, although they were more usually distinguished by the general term of Catechumens (q.v.).

Novice eventually was technically the appellation given to persons of either sex who are living in a monastery in a state of probation previous to becoming professed members of a monastic order. Persons who apply to enter the novitiate state, on being admitted by the superior of the monastery, promise obedience to him during the time of their stay, and are bound to conform to the discipline of the house; but they make no permanent vows, and may leave if they find that the monastic life does not suit them. The period of the novitiate must not be less than one year, and the person who enters as a novice must have attained the age of piuberty. Richard, in the Bibliotheque Sacrae, article Novice, describes the qualities required, according to the canons of the Council of Trent, for the admission of a novice: they are health, morality, voluntary disposition for a monastic life, intellectual capacity, etc. No married person can be admitted unless by the consent of both parties; no person who is encumbered with debts, or whose assistance is necessary for the support of his parents, is admissible. Widowers and widows may be admitted as novices, unless their labor is required for the support of their children. After the termination of the year of probation, the novice, if he (or she) persists in his vocation, and his conduct and capacity have proved satisfactory, may be admitted into the order by taking the solemn vows, which are binding for life. Ducange, in his Glossarium, article Novitius, quotes the 34th canon of the Council of Aquisgrana, A.D. 817, in which superiors of monasteries are cautioned against admitting novices with too great facility, and without a full examination of their disposition, morals, and mental and bodily qualifications. But in after-ages, as the number of monasteries was multiplied beyond measure, prudential restrictions were disregarded, and all means were resorted to in order to induce young people to enter the monastic profession, and parents often forced their children into it against their will. The misery and guilt which resulted from this practice are well known; but few perhaps have exhibited them in so vivid and fearful a light as a modern Italian writer, Manzoni, in his Promessi Sposi, in the episode of "Gertrude." It was in order to guard against such abuses and their fatal results that the Council of Trent (sess. 25, can. 17) prescribed that female novices, after the expiration of their novitiate. should leave the walls of the monastery and return to their friends, and be carefully examined by the bishop of the diocese, or by his vicar by him delegated, in order to ascertain that they were under no constraint or deception; that they were fully aware of the duties and privations of the monastic life, and that they voluntarily chose to enter it. These humane precautions, however, have been evaded in many instances; and it may be doubted whether a very young person should be allowed to bind himself for life by irrevocable vows. Some authors designated the catechumens as novitii, novitioli, tirones Dei. See Penny Cyclop. s.v.; Eadie, Eccles. Cyclop. s.v.; Farrar, Eccles. Diet. s.v.; Hill, Monasticism in England, p. 15; Wolcott, Sacred Archaeology, s.v.; Lea, Hist. Celibacy; Ludlow, Woman's Work in the Church, p. 95, 126, 158, 173. (See Neophyte); Novi. (J. 1:P.)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

nov´is ( νεόφυτος , neóphutos , "newly planted"): In this sense it is found in Septuagint of   Job 14:9 and   Isaiah 5:7 . In the New Testament it occurs once only ( 1 Timothy 3:6 ), where it means a person newly planted in the Christian faith, a neophyte, a new convert, one who has recently become a Christian. This term occurs in the list which Paul gives of the qualifications which a Christian bishop must possess. The apostle instructs Timothy, that if any man desires the office of a bishop, he must not be "novice," must not be newly converted, or recently brought to the faith of Christ "lest he be lifted up with pride, and fall into the condemnation of the devil."

This means that a recent convert runs the very serious risk of being wise in his own eyes, of despising those who are still on the level from which, by his conversion, he has been lifted; and so he becomes puffed up with high ideas of his own importance. He has not yet had time to discover his limitations, he is newly planted, he does not fully understand his true position in the Christian community, he overestimates himself. For these reasons he is peculiarly liable to instability, and to the other weaknesses and sins connected with an inflated opinion of his own powers. His pride is a sure indication of a coming fall. A novice, therefore, must on no account be appointed to the office in question, for he would be sure to bring disgrace upon it.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Novice or Neophyte, one newly converted (literally newly planted), not yet matured in Christian experience . The word continued to be in use in the early church; but it gradually acquired a meaning somewhat different from that which it bore under the Apostles, when 'newly converted' and 'newly baptized' described, in fact, the same condition, the converted being at once baptized. For when, in subsequent years, the church felt it prudent to put converts under a course of instruction before admitting them to baptism and the full privileges of Christian brotherhood, the term Novices was sometimes applied to them, although more usually distinguished by the general term of Catechumens.