UPC, ALJC, PAW, etc.

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by n david

Verse 5 includes a convert - Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch.

And? It doesn’t say he converted that day.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Ehud

And? It doesn’t say he converted that day.

You're absolutely right. The verse's designation of him as a proselyte could be more about his origin than newness in the faith. But that makes me question why it didn't refer to the others as proselytes.

I'm just thinking out loud.

I believe these men being full of the HG and wisdom and being given to prayer and the word was more important to the Apostles than their newness in the faith.

Again, just thinking out loud ... you have 120 in the upper room and 3,000 saved in one day, with multitudes added every day ... there had to have been absolute new converts who rose up to spread the gospel and lead others to Christ.

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by n david

I believe these men being full of the HG and faith and being given to prayer and the word was more important to the Apostles than their newness in the faith.

Absolutely. My personal opinion is that the waiting period is more for the congregation to get to know them than anything. If they don’t have the things you mentioned, they could be there a decade and shouldn’t be in leadership.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Ehud

Absolutely. My personal opinion is that the waiting period is more for the congregation to get to know them than anything. If they don’t have the things you mentioned, they could be there a decade and shouldn’t be in leadership.

This is true.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Ehud

Absolutely. My personal opinion is that the waiting period is more for the congregation to get to know them than anything. If they don’t have the things you mentioned, they could be there a decade and shouldn’t be in leadership.

So the verse says they were full of the HG -- that doesn't take a seasoned saint to obtain.

The verse also says full of wisdom. How long does it take to obtain wisdom? Can a new convert, even someone saved 6 months or a year, be full of wisdom?

I mean, I've been in church all my life and have found myself more than a few times lacking wisdom in certain situations.

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by n david

So the verse says they were full of the HG -- that doesn't take a seasoned saint to obtain.

The verse also says full of wisdom. How long does it take to obtain wisdom? Can a new convert, even someone saved 6 months or a year, be full of wisdom?

I mean, I've been in church all my life and have found myself more than a few times lacking wisdom in certain situations.

Very good questions. Perhaps that is where the fruit should be emphasized and time frames viewed as minimums? As you said earlier, the role being filled must come into play as well. It’s hard to imagine a new convert should be quickly trusted with a teaching role.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

You're absolutely right. The verse's designation of him as a proselyte could be more about his origin than newness in the faith. But that makes me question why it didn't refer to the others as proselytes.

I'm just thinking out loud.

I believe these men being full of the HG and wisdom and being given to prayer and the word was more important to the Apostles than their newness in the faith.

Again, just thinking out loud ... you have 120 in the upper room and 3,000 saved in one day, with multitudes added every day ... there had to have been absolute new converts who rose up to spread the gospel and lead others to Christ.

The Bible does not specify any specific time period for appointment as deacon or overseer. It does warn against appointing novices and says appointees must be tested. The actual time frame is therefore dependent upon whoever is doing the appointing. Thus it may vary from church to church and appointee to appointee. Each situation is different, there is no standardised fill in the blank automated process.