153:
written communication mentioned by the author at the beginning of v. 9 (and thus did not recognize the author’s apostolic authority), and furthermore (v. 10) refuses to show any hospitality to the traveling missionaries (welcome the brothers) already mentioned by the author. It has been suggested that the description “loves to be first” only indicates that
Diotrephes sought prominence or position in this church, and had not yet attained any real authority. But his actions here suggest otherwise: He is able to refuse or ignore the author’s previous written instructions (v. 9), and he is able to have other people put out of the church for showing hospitality to the traveling missionaries (v. 10).
163:
suggest an unsuccessful prior visit by the author, however; in 3 John 9 he explicitly indicates a prior written communication which
Diotrephes apparently ignored or suppressed. The verb ἐπιδέχομαι can also mean “accept” in the sense of “acknowledge someone’s authority” (BDAG 370 s.v. 2) and such a meaning better fits the context here: Diotrephes has not accepted but instead rejected the authority of the author to intervene in the situation of the traveling missionaries (perhaps because Diotrephes believed the author had no local jurisdiction in the matter).
182:
spreading unjustified charges against the author with evil words; (2) Diotrephes refuses to welcome the brothers (the traveling missionaries) himself; (3) Diotrephes hinders the others in the church who wish to help the missionaries; and (4) Diotrephes expels from the church (throws them out) people who aid the missionaries. (Diotrephes himself may not have had supreme authority in the local church to expel these people, but may have been responsible for instigating collective action against them.)
143:
sometimes suggested that Gaius belongs to this church, but that seems unlikely, because the author uses a third-person pronoun to refer to the other members of the church (among them). If Gaius were one of these it would have been much more natural to use a second-person pronoun: “Diotrephes, who loves to be first among you.” Thus it seems probable that Gaius belongs to (or is in charge of) one local church while
Diotrephes is in another, a church known to Gaius but to which he does not belong.
192:
contrast between the bad behavior of
Diotrephes and the good reputation of Demetrius (mentioned in the following verse); but it seems more likely that Demetrius is himself one of the traveling missionaries (perhaps their leader), rather than the leader of a local congregation who, unlike Diotrephes, has supported the missionaries himself.
202:
implication, the genuineness of
Diotrephes’ faith is called into question, because he has obviously done what is bad (v. 11b; cf. vv. 9-10). In John’s terminology it is clear that the phrase has not seen God is equivalent to “is not a genuine Christian” (see John 3:17-21 and 1 John 3:6, 10; 4:7, 20).
162:
tn Since the verb ἐπιδέχομαι (epidechomai) can mean “receive into one’s presence” (BDAG 370 s.v. 1; it is used with this meaning in the next verse) it has been suggested that the author himself attempted a previous visit to
Diotrephes’ church but was turned away. There is nothing in the context to
33:
In addition to being ambitious, proud, disrespectful of apostolic authority, rebellious, and inhospitable, the author of the letter says that
Diotrephes tried to hinder those desiring to show hospitality to the brothers and to expel these from the congregation. Not even the location of Diotrephes'
191:
sn The exhortation do not imitate what is bad but what is good is clearly a reference to
Diotrephes’ evil behavior. The author exhorts Gaius (whom he wishes to continue assisting the missionaries) not to follow the negative example of Diotrephes, but to do what is right. Implicitly there may be a
142:
sn The church mentioned here, which the author says he may visit (3 John 10) is not the same as the one mentioned in 3 John 6, to which the author apparently belongs (or of which he is in charge). But what is the relationship of this church in v. 9 to Gaius, to whom the letter is addressed? It is
181:
sn
Because Diotrephes did not recognize the authority of the author, the author will expose his behavior for what it is (call attention to the deeds he is doing) if he comes for a visit. These are the charges the author will make against Diotrephes before the church: (1) Diotrephes is engaged in
63:
1:9 I wrote something to the church, but
Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only
152:
sn Diotrephes appears to be an influential person (perhaps the leader) in a local church known to Gaius, but to which Gaius himself does not belong. The description of Diotrephes as one who loves to be first suggests he is arrogant, and his behavior displays this: He refuses to acknowledge the
201:
sn The statement The one who does what is bad has not seen God is asyndetic; its abrupt introduction adds emphasis. The statement reiterates the common Johannine theme of behavior as an indication of genuine faith, found in 1 John in 3:6, 10; 4:7, 20; and in the Gospel of John in 3:17-21. By
76:
wrote a dialogue with a haughty bishop named Diotrephes. Writing anonymously, Udall claimed that his godly and witty protagonist, Paul, was merely cautioning the English bishops to be wary of false counselors, particularly the Catholics from whom they had inherited the structure of English
64:
refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
79:
The state of the Church of Englande, laide open in a conference betweene Diotrephes a byshop, Tertullus a papist, Demetrius an vsurer, Pandocheus an inne-keeper, and Paule a preacher of the worde of God
172:
tn The third-class condition (ἐὰν ἔλθω, ean elthō) seems to be used by the author to indicate real uncertainty on his part as to whether he will visit Diotrephes’ church or not.
535:
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38:, a clash of competing ecclesiastical authorities, a disagreement about financial responsibilities for the mission, or personal dislike".
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church can be determined from the letter. It is debatable whether the antipathy expressed in 3 John is based on "a
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576:
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Margaret M. Mitchell, "'Diotrephes Does Not Receive Us;: The Lexicographical and Social Context of 3 John 9-10,"
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120:.2 (1998:299-320), with bibliography of the conflict on each possible arena of the conflict
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sn British Library's English Short Title Catalogue, STC (2nd ed.), 24505
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26:(verses 9–11). His name means "nourished by Jupiter". As scholar
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Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur
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comments, "Diotrephes is not a particularly common name."
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ecclesiology. Although the dialogue's actual title is
129:Harnack, "Über den dritten Johannesbrief" (series
44:was of the view that Diotrephes was the earliest
1578:
56:The following is the passage and notes from the
16:Biblical character in the Third Epistle of John
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81:, it is commonly referred to by scholars as
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246:
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102:An Introduction to the New Testament
104:(New York: Doubleday, 1997), p. 403
51:
13:
277:Life of Jesus in the New Testament
14:
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72:In 1588, the Elizabethan Puritan
1587:People in the catholic epistles
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115:Journal of Biblical Literature
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1:
602:People named Simon or Simeon
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1019:Mary, mother of (John) Mark
133:) 15.3 (Leipzig 1897:3-27).
22:was a man mentioned in the
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592:People named Judas or Jude
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1343:Alexander the Coppersmith
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1250:
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795:Disciple whom Jesus loved
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643:Female disciples of Jesus
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48:whose name has survived.
718:Women at the crucifixion
88:
957:James, brother of Jesus
877:Ananias son of Nedebeus
511:Simon, brother of Jesus
58:New English Translation
762:James, son of Alphaeus
461:Mary, sister of Martha
1513:Tryphena and Tryphosa
774:James, son of Zebedee
456:Mary, mother of James
446:Mary, mother of Jesus
68:Subsequent References
24:Third Epistle of John
1338:Alexander of Ephesus
536:Syrophoenician woman
485:Nicodemus ben Gurion
248:New Testament people
1413:Euodia and Syntyche
582:People named Joseph
476:Son of Nain's widow
406:Joseph of Arimathea
307:Anna the Prophetess
36:theological dispute
1012:cousin of Barnabas
572:People named James
526:Simon the Pharisee
100:Raymond E. Brown,
46:monarchical bishop
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708:Seventy disciples
597:People named Mary
577:People named John
378:Impenitent thief
42:Adolf von Harnack
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1566:Whore of Babylon
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977:Judas of Galilee
967:Joseph Barsabbas
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31:
29:
25:
21:
1561:Three Angels
1428:Jesus Justus
1398:Epaphroditus
1387:
1283:
1271:
1264:
1257:
1234:
1212:
1200:
1193:
1186:
1179:
1103:Simeon Niger
663:Myrrhbearers
207:
197:
187:
177:
168:
158:
148:
138:
130:
125:
117:
114:
109:
101:
96:
82:
78:
71:
62:
55:
40:
32:
19:
18:
1473:Onesiphorus
1108:Simon Magus
1002:(John) Mark
892:Aristarchus
823:Simon Peter
750:Bartholomew
648:God-fearers
638:Evangelists
329:(Bethsaida)
295:Individuals
1523:Revelation
1388:Diotrephes
1348:Andronicus
1266:Agrippa II
1162:Romans and
1007:Evangelist
863:(Damascus)
784:Evangelist
693:Samaritans
683:Proselytes
541:Theophilus
380:("Gestas")
362:("Dismas")
340:Celidonius
327:Blind man
322:Bartimaeus
272:Historical
83:Diotrephes
74:John Udall
20:Diotrephes
1503:Sosipater
1423:Hymenaeus
1358:Aretas IV
1353:Archippus
1279:Cornelius
1230:Quirinius
1188:Archelaus
1143:Trophimus
1118:Sosthenes
1064:Prochorus
1059:Priscilla
922:Dionysius
917:Demetrius
907:Cornelius
755:Nathanael
713:Shepherds
698:Sanhedrin
688:Sadducees
673:Pharisees
653:Herodians
633:Disciples
556:Zechariah
546:Zacchaeus
481:Nicodemus
368:Elizabeth
1581:Category
1541:Apollyon
1488:Philetus
1483:Philemon
1468:Onesimus
1418:Herodion
1393:Epaphras
1378:Crescens
1333:Achaicus
1325:Epistles
1285:Drusilla
1273:Berenice
1242:Tiberius
1208:Longinus
1202:Herodias
1148:Tychicus
1098:Silvanus
1096: /
1079:Sapphira
1044:Parmenas
1039:Nicholas
1024:Matthias
952:Gamaliel
947:Eutychus
937:Egyptian
897:Barnabas
871:(Judaea)
869:Ananias
861:Ananias
737:Apostles
678:Prophets
668:Nameless
565:Multiple
431:Lysanias
335:Caiaphas
317:Barabbas
302:Alphaeus
1531:Antipas
1508:Tertius
1498:Quartus
1463:Olympas
1458:Nymphas
1453:Michael
1403:Erastus
1373:Claudia
1363:Artemas
1311:Paullus
1259:Agrippa
1181:Antipas
1173:Gospels
1133:Timothy
1128:Theudas
1123:Stephen
1113:Sopater
1069:Publius
1034:Nicanor
912:Damaris
902:Blastus
882:Apollos
813:Matthew
723:Zealots
703:Scribes
551:Zebedee
531:Susanna
483: (
436:Malchus
416:Lazarus
373:Gabriel
345:Cleopas
287:Gospels
1493:Phoebe
1478:Pudens
1408:Eunice
1368:Carpus
1306:Lysias
1301:Gallio
1296:Festus
1236:Salome
1220:Pilate
1214:Philip
1054:Philip
1029:Mnason
997:Manaen
982:Lucius
932:Elymas
927:Dorcas
887:Aquila
856:Agabus
851:Aeneas
833:Thomas
818:Philip
789:Patmos
745:Andrew
628:Demons
618:Angels
611:Groups
506:Simeon
491:Salome
441:Martha
421:Legion
401:Joseph
391:Joanna
350:Clopas
259:Christ
1556:Beast
1551:Woman
1438:Linus
1433:Junia
1383:Demas
1291:Felix
1153:Zenas
1138:Titus
1094:Silas
1084:Sceva
1074:Rhoda
992:Lydia
962:Jason
586:Joses
501:Satan
355:Devil
312:Annas
256:Jesus
89:Notes
1448:Mary
1443:Lois
1251:Acts
1049:Paul
987:Luke
843:Acts
779:John
767:Less
658:Magi
584:(or
426:Luke
411:Jude
118:117
1583::
85:.
60:.
797:"
793:"
588:)
487:)
240:e
233:t
226:v
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