Bible Strands
3 John 1:9
I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The apostle John addresses a recent letter sent to a local congregation, noting that Diotrephes has already rejected its authority. This occurs during a dispute over church leadership and the reception of traveling missionaries.
The words — φιλοπρωτεύων (philoprōteuōn) literally means "loving to be first." The term describes Diotrephes' character as the direct cause of his refusal to submit to apostolic instruction.
The thread — This conflict over leadership mirrors the disciples' dispute in Luke 22:24 and contrasts with the overseer qualifications in Titus 1:7. John later details Diotrephes' expulsion of dissenters in 3 John 1:10.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that church authority derives from apostolic teaching, not personal ambition. It requires readers to reject self-promoting leadership and submit to established doctrinal instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Cross-references
- Titus 1:7 As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
- Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
- Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
- Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
- Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
- Mark 9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
- Mark 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”