1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. [kjv]
μη νεοφυτον ινα μη τυφωθεις εις κριμα εμπεση του διαβολου [gnt]
A
"neophyte" is someone who is new to something. Internet jargon sometimes uses the term "
newbie" which is abbreviated as "
newb", "
noob", etc. The similar looking term (using the zero "
0" for "
o") "
n00b" usually means "
a stupid person".
Today, the word
"neophyte" often has a pejorative or negative implication.
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic church used the term
"neophyte" to refer to a new convert to Christianity. This term came from Paul's letter to Timothy in the
GNT (Greek New Testament).
The Greek word «
νεόφυτος» literally means
"newly planted".
The Latin "neophytum" ≈ "novice, newly planted".