3JN 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who
loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3JN 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his
deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content
therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them
that would, and casteth them out of the church.
Diotrephes loved to have the preeminence and would not
receive John. He did not want John to steal the attention away from him.
Diotrephes wanted all the attention and praise for himself. Verse 10 says
that he used malicious words against John. He not only did not receive
John but he also would not receive other brethren. And he was not
satisfied to act this way alone. He also would forbid others from
receiving them. If they did he would kick them out of the church.
The man was a self centered, self glorifying tyrant, and had the audacity to run
the church. The mans words and actions are in no way Christian. And
in this context we have verse number 11.
3JN 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but
that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath
not seen God.
Diotrephes was evil and John was telling them to NOT
follow that which is evil. He goes on to say that one that does evil has
not seen God. Diotrephes needed to get born again. Actions are
manifestations of the heart. What was coming out of his heart was evil.
We can all have a bad moment and slip up, but with Diotrephes it was more of a
way of life. He was a false professor and not a possessor and was in the
leadership of the Church.
This even happens today. Some men are attracted
to the attention they can get by being in leadership. They are in it for
all the wrong reasons. Money, attention, power. What a contrast they
are to God's servants. Men who do it because they truly love the Lord and
His people. Humble men who consider others better than themselves.
Men who understand that it is a blessing to be a blessing to others. These
are the kind of church leaders that we need.
Thought On This Chapter
3JN 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children walk in truth.
3JN 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou
doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
The Christians that John is writing to brought him
great joy when he heard that they were walking in truth. They not only
heard the truth, but they let it affect them and they put into action.
They followed thru on what they had learned. One of the things that they
learned was the second great commandment and that is to love thy neighbor as
thyself. They actually walked in that truth. Verse 5 says that these
Christians were faithful in all they did to others. Both to the brethren
and also to strangers. They practiced real Christianity to those that they
knew and to those that they did not know. They did it to people who were
like themselves and to people who were different. They are a shining
example for us to emulate.
3JN 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
3JN 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3JN 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
3JN 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3JN 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
3JN 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
3JN 1:7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
3JN 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
3JN 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3JN 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
3JN 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
3JN 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
3JN 1:13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
3JN 1:14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
General Information About the Book of 3 John.
The book of 3 John warns us of refusing fellowship with
true believers.
The key word is truth.
The key verses are:
3Jo 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we
might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
3Jo 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but
that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath
not seen God.
The theme of the book is truth and love versus pride
and strife.
This book teaches us that our lives are examples of
either good or evil to others.
3 John emphasizes sincerity, hospitality, and Christian
character.
Thought on this Chapter
3JN 1:3 For I rejoiced
greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even
as thou walkest in the truth.
3JN 1:4 I have no greater
joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
John
had seen many people saved under his ministry. He thinks of them as his
children. He loved them, taught them, prayed for them, and labored for
them. He loved them and was concerned for their well being (vs. 1-2).
As he observed their lives and followed what they did, I think that there were
many things that would have given him joy. But he says that he had no
greater joy than to hear that they walked in truth.
There is truth and there is error. There are things that you are to do in
your walk with Christ and things that you are not to do. There are things
that you are to stand for and there are things that are just preferences.
There are proper times for joining together and other times separation is called
for. To walk in truth sometimes you must give a rebuke and other times you
need to keep quiet. We are to walk in truth. Walking speaks of
continually. Walking is different than just taking a step or two.
And where do we find out how to walk? The Bible. It gave John joy to
see his spiritual children studying the Word of God enough to know how to walk
and then to see them actually do it.
Are you
studying enough and obeying what you study enough to give your pastor joy?
