MONDAY – 3 John 9-14, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. ” This week as we continue in looking at 3 John we will find John addresses two more individuals and teaches us again that hospitality to others is a very important issue for Christians and one that pleases God as well. As we saw toward the end of last week when John wrote this letter, travelers were dependent on the hospitality of other people. Amenities such as hotels and restaurants were extremely rare and specifically in view here in the context is the fact that preachers traveled to spread the gospel, and it was the church and other Christians who supported their ministry by offering them hospitality. Those who serve others in giving hospitality participate in the work and according to Jesus will receive a reward for doing so (Matthew 10:41–42).
(Meditate, Apply & Pray) Ask the Lord to teach you from His Word this week concerning how you act in showing hospitality and service to others.
TUESDAY – 3 John 9-10, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. ” After looking at a righteous man Gaius last week who was graciously hospitable, we now turn to a man who was unrighteous and ungraciously unhospitable. Gaius loved the truth and humbly served and loved others. Diotrophes refused truth and loved himself. We see in Diotrophes that prideful people such as him tend to be malicious gossips that actually oppose Christian hospitality. John says I wrote to the church which seems to indicate that Gaius and Diotrephes were both part of that local group of believers. Diotrephes, because of his pride resists John and His leadership and authority. We don’t know much about Diotrephes. His name means “foster child of Zeus,” suggesting he is Greek in heritage. He apparently was a leader in this church and used his leadership not to serve but to inflate his ego. John says of him, who loves to have the preeminence among them. The Greek word used by John to say that Diotrophes loves to have the preeminence is a compound word Philos-love, and protos-first. This speaks to a person who loves themselves, is selfish, self-seeking and self-centered. It is in the present tense as well indicating this was the continual pattern of this man’s life. He didn’t recognize authority over him but desired to rule the church. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:26–27). John says that Diotrephes does not receive us. He is one of those who say, “Yeah I know what the Bible says, but whatever”. Diotrephes refused to hear and submit to John’s counsel. He was so driven by pride and self-love that refused the authority of Jesus given to the church through the Apostle John.
(Meditate, Apply & Pray) How would I evaluate myself concerning pride and self-love? Am I a selfish person constantly wanting to have my way and be first? Think of some specific behaviors that demonstrate whether you are selfish or a servant. Father, forgive my pride and self-seeking. Help me to love and serve.
WEDNESDAY – 3 John 9-10, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. ” John says that if he comes he will deal with this matter in person. He isn’t going to allow the apostolic authority and Christ’s rule of the church to be defied. Diotrephes was guilty of several things. All of them are present tense verbs telling us these are things which he does. First, prating against us with malicious words. The Greek word translated prating against us is used only here in the New Testament but a related word is translated gossips elsewhere. He was using evil, false, slanderous words. Second, he himself does not receive the brethren. Gossip was bad enough, but because of his fear of losing control or preeminence, he refused to help the traveling preachers with hospitality. Thirdly, he forbids those who wish to meaning he worked to obstruct or thwart other believers who desired to show hospitality. Finally, for those who would not bow to his proud pressure Diotrophes was putting them out of the church.
(Meditate, Apply & Pray) Am I fearful of confronting other believers when they are clearly not submitting to the truth and authority of God’s Word? Am I submitting and obeying what I know to be true from Sacred Scripture? Father, help me to humbly obey and also humbly reprove and rebuke when necessary.
THURSDAY – 3 John 11-12, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” John now in preparing to commend another man Demetrius, points out the contrast in the evil behavior of Diotrephes. John declares a moral judgment against Diotrephes. He wants Gaius not to imitate this sinful behavior. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. The person who does good and obeys God is of God. How do we know who a child of God is? “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God” (I John 3:10). Therefore, anyone who continues to do evil, for example, Diotrephes, has not seen or known God. Was Diotrophes unsaved? As David Walls comments, “It is not certain that John was questioning Diotrephes’s salvation. At least he claimed that Diotrephes’s behavior revealed a spiritual blind spot. His attitude and conduct certainly did not come from God. No one who shuts out his Christian brother could claim to be practicing Christian love. Diotrephes was actually imitating the false teachers of 1 and 2 John.” John now declares that Demetrius has a good reputation in the wider church family “from all”. Nothing apart from this verse is known about this man. He possibly delivered this letter. We see his noble Christian character from John. Unlike Diotrephes, his life and character supported the truth itself. John then adds his own testimony as he says, “And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true”. The measure of this man was that he was faithful with a good reputation in the community and to the truth of Scripture.
(Meditate, Apply & Pray) Does my behavior and obedience to Scripture shew that I am a child of God? What is my reputation among those who observe me? Is my desire to do evil or good? Father, help me to be faithful to the truth of Scripture and to live in a way that my reputation to the world and those who observe me, points to You and gives You glory.
FRIDAY– 3 John 13-14, “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.” These two verses are almost identical to the conclusion of 2 John. Among other things, we see in this similarity, that John probably wrote these two letters about the same time. Again we see that John desired to continue this face to face and not through mere written words. We spoke in the last letter the importance of not reading into a letter with our emotions where people may misunderstand and misrepresent the author. This matter concerning Diotrephes was a delicate situation and as we also saw things can be more clearly dealt with in person where the intention and emotions can be clearly seen and heard. John says he hopes to see Gaius soon. “Peace to you.” This is the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom, which is used for both a hello greeting and farewell good-by. Our friends greet you is especially for Gaius, because the pronoun you is in the singular. Jesus called His disciples “friends” (John 15:13–15), but we often use the terms brothers and sisters. John here follows Jesus’ example and calls the recipients of his letter “friends.” John adds a personal touch as he tells Gaius, Greet the friends by name. John is implying the letter is addressed not only to Gaius but to all the members of the congregation.
(Meditate, Apply & Pray) Do I like face to face communication and do I do it where and when it is necessary? Do I desire to spend time with my friends in Christ Jesus? Father, help me to be enjoying peace with You and my family in Jesus. May I be a personal encourager to my brothers and sisters in Christ.
