Diotrephes

 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. - 3 John 9-12

 

John writes of two men in the church who could not be more different.

 

Let’s deal with Diotrephes first. He was bit of a scoundrel. Read what John says about him

 

He loved pre-eminence

He would not receive Paul

He railed against Paul with vicious words.

He did not receive the brethren who passed by serving God.

He threw people out of the church

 

Diotrephese even refused to receive John.

 

Sadly too many churches have their versions of these people and too often they rise got the preeminence in the church. They gather their followers and wreck havoc in the body of Christ.

 

We are warned here.  Don’t follow that kind of evil. Instead, follow the good. This is real threat and we need to be aware.