Chapter
1
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

3 John 1:9
ESV I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
NIV I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.
NASB I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.
CSB This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
NLT I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us.
KJV I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

What does 3 John 1:9 mean?

Verses 9 and 10 transition from praise of Gaius and godly teachers, to a condemnation of the actions of Diotrephes. According to this verse, John had written about him at least once before. However, the problem had continued. Diotrephes offers an example of an ungodly leader in two ways. First, he was prideful. He may have begun as an encouraging leader, yet let leadership go to his head. Second, Diotrephes did not acknowledge the leadership of other godly people. Instead of serving as one among a team of leaders, he sought to be the only leader. He went so far as to speak and work against other leaders he saw as a threat to his position (3 John 1:10).
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