I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.
Parallel translations
- WEB I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
- KJV I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
- BSB I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
- NKJV I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
- NLT I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John had written to the church, but a man named Diotrephes, who craved preeminence, rejected John's authority. Pride and the love of being first corrupt church leadership.
Overview
In sharp contrast to faithful Gaius, Diotrephes is marked by a self-promoting ambition that refused even apostolic instruction. His love of being 'first' reveals a heart governed by pride rather than service. This stands directly against the way of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve, and warns the church against leaders who seek their own glory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Titus 1:7–16For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
- Luke 22:24–27There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
- Luke 9:48and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
- Matt 23:4–8For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
- Mark 9:34But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
- Matt 10:40–42He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
- Phil 2:3–5doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- 3 Jn 1:8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
- Mark 9:37“Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”
- Mark 10:35–45James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”
- Matt 20:20–28Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
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Christ at the center
Faithful love shown for the sake of 'the Name' is service rendered to Christ, who is the truth in which his people walk.
How 3 John 1:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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