Today’s passage: 3 John 1:9–10
Focus verse: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. (3 John 1:9)
After affirming and encouraging Gaius, John changes the topic. He mentions two men. They are in sharp contrast to each other. The first gives an example to avoid, while the second shows an example to follow.
These two men are Diotrephes and Demetrius.
First up is Diotrephes. This is the only time he shows up in the Bible, so we don’t know his background or anything else about him, except what John shares in his letter to Gaius, which is most insightful.
In short, Diotrephes has issues. Lots of them.
To start with, this guy loves to be first. He has a huge ego, with a me-first mentality. He wants to be in charge and insists everyone listen to him and follow him. No one can tell him what to do, not even the revered apostle John.
At one time, John wrote a letter to the local church Diotrephes is part of. We don’t know which church this is. And we don’t have the letter to read.
Regardless, the arrogant Diotrephes refused to accept what John said. He dismissed John’s authority, rejected his teaching, and declined to welcome him.
On John’s next visit he promises to publicly call out Diotrephes’s inappropriate actions.
In addition to loving to be first and not accepting John’s authority, Diotrephes compounds the problem by gossiping about John and other disciples. Diotrephes’s smear campaign spreads damaging rumors. He must stop.
In addition to Diotrephes’s refusal to welcome John and his team, he also refuses to welcome other believers when they visit. This is in sharp contrast to the laudable actions of the hospitable Gaius.
But this isn’t only a personal attack on John and an assault on his leadership. Diotrephes also stops others in the church from welcoming visitors. And he expels them from their local gathering if they do.
Diotrephes is part of Jesus’s church, but his actions don’t honor Jesus or support his followers. Diotrephes serves as internal opposition to Jesus. He is in the church, but he works against her.
May we never do that.
Questions:
- What lessons can we learn from Diotrephes?
- When do we seek to be in control or want to be first?
- What do we need to change to honor Jesus?
- What do we need to change to better support his church?
- How can we guard against becoming like Diotrephes?
Discover more about being first in Matthew 19:30 and Mark 9:35.
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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