Diotrephes
May 2, 2023
“Diotrephes"
Blessings folk!
As we have often heard…"there is nothing new under the sun”.
John addresses an issue within the Body.
Remember, he is writing Gaius.
He now mentions someone else there…
3 John 1:9-10
I have written something to the church,
but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first,
does not acknowledge our authority.
So if I come,
I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us.
And not content with that,
he refuses to welcome the brothers,
and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
ESV
John is letting Gaius know of a situation.
John had written something to the church, but apparently Diotrephes was blocking the letter.
Diotrephes who:
- put himself first
- did not acknowledge the authority of John
- talked wicked nonsense against John
- refuses to welcome the brothers (likely those John had mentioned earlier)
- stops those who want to welcome the brothers
- put them out of the church.
John was planning to address Diotrephes, if John was able to visit.
He wanted Gaius to know.
I know many Diotrephes.
They need to be addressed.