3 John 1:9
in 3 John 1I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
KJV
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
⋯
This verse in 3 John 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I wrote unto the church - That is on the former occasion when they went forth. At that time, John naturally commended them to the kind attentions of the church, not doubting but that aid would be rendered them in prosecuting their benevolent work among the Gentiles. The Epistle which was written on that occasion is now lost, and its contents cannot now be ascertained.
This site's exposition
Diotrephes, who loves to be first
on 3 John 1:9-10
Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction, and philoprōteuōn occurs only here in the New Testament. His deeds rise from malicious slander against us to refusing the brothers, forbidding their hosts and putting them out of the church. The elder will only call attention to them.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will bring to light the works he is doing, gossiping wickedly about us. And not content with that, he not only does …
This verse teaches us that we ought to bear the abuse of those who insult us with equanimity, but sometimes we have to protest it because if we do not do so, these people will corrupt the minds of those who might otherwise have heard …
The Medieval Church1 voice
I would have written to the church, but he who loves to have the preeminence among them, etc. Diotrephes, it seems, was an arch-heretic of that time, someone proud and insolent, preferring to usurp the preeminence of knowledge by teaching new doctrines, rather than humbly …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But Diotrephes receiveth us not, admits not our letter and testimony therein." This seems to be the church of which Gaius was a member. A gospel church seems to be such a society as to which a letter may be written and communicated. Gospel churches may well expect and be allowed credentials with the strangers who desire to be admitted among them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
I wrote unto the church,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I wrote--The oldest manuscripts add "something": a communication, probably, on the subject of receiving the brethren with brotherly love (3Jo 8, 10). That Epistle was not designed by the Spirit for the universal Church, or else it would have been preserved. unto the church--of which Gaius is a member. loveth . . . pre-eminence--through ambition.
I wrote unto the Church - The Church where Caius was; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence, φιλοπρωτευων, who loves the presidency, or chief place in the Church. He was doubtless an officer in the Church, at least a deacon, probably a bishop; and, being one, he magnified himself in his office; he loved such eminence, and behaved himself haughtily in it. Receiveth us not - Does not acknowledge the apostolical authority. As some MSS. supply αν after εγραψα, and several judicious critics believe it is implied, the translation will run thus: I would have written to the Church to receive these men kindly, but Diotrephes, who affects the presidency; and into whose hands, if I wrote to the Church, my letter must come, receiveth us not - would not acknowledge my authority to interfere with any of the matters of his Church; and therefore I have written unto thee, whose love to the brethren and general hospitality are well known, that thou wouldst receive those strangers and persecuted followers of our common Lord.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἔγραψά | egrapsa | I have written | G1125 → | 189 times |
| τι | ti | something | G5100 → | |
| τῇ | tea | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίᾳ· | ekklesia | church; | G1577 → | 113 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φιλοπρωτεύων | philoproteuon | loving to be first | G5383 → | |
| αὐτῶν | auton | among them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Διοτρέφης | diotrephes | Diotrephes | G1361 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐπιδέχεται | epidechetai | welcomes | G1926 → | |
| ἡμᾶς. | hemas | us. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ἜγραψάI have written
egrapsaG1125 →189 times
τιsomething
tiG5100 →
τῇto the
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίᾳ·church;
ekklesiaG1577 →113 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
φιλοπρωτεύωνloving to be first
philoproteuonG5383 →
αὐτῶνamong them
autonG846 →5565 times
ΔιοτρέφηςDiotrephes
diotrephesG1361 →
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐπιδέχεταιwelcomes
epidechetaiG1926 →
ἡμᾶς.us.
hemasG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 9:48And 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,…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
- Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- 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.”
- John 13:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
- Matthew 10:40–42
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
- 1 Peter 5:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About 3 John
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John.