“I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does what is good is of God; the one who does what is evil has not seen God.” — 3 John 1:9–11
In these few verses, the apostle John confronts a serious threat to church unity and apostolic authority: a domineering, self-promoting man named Diotrephes, who resisted godly leadership, slandered faithful workers, and suppressed hospitality within the church. This situation, though recorded nearly two thousand years ago, is as relevant today as ever. The church, in every age, faces internal dangers—not just from false doctrine, but from unrighteous behavior clothed in religious authority.
3 John, written in the late first century C.E., is a personal letter addressed to a faithful brother named Gaius. It is the shortest book in the New Testament by word count, yet it contains profound insights into church leadership, the proper treatment of traveling Christian workers, and the distinction between those who serve self and those who serve God.
Verses 9–11 give us a snapshot of a local congregation under siege—not from persecution or poverty, but from pride, slander, and authoritarianism. John does not shy away from naming Diotrephes, describing his behavior, and warning others not to imitate him. Instead, he exhorts Gaius and the faithful to continue doing good, even when evil seems to prosper.
This devotional will examine the character of Diotrephes, the warning and encouragement John gives in response, the biblical call to imitate good, and how these principles help us cultivate humility, discernment, and courage in the body of Christ today.
“Diotrephes, Who Loves to Be First…” — The Danger of Prideful Ambition
John begins his confrontation by describing Diotrephes as one “who loves to be first among them.” The Greek phrase φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν, philoprōteuōn autōn, literally means “one who loves preeminence”—a man obsessed with recognition, authority, and control.
This is not a minor character flaw. It is a direct contradiction of Christ’s teaching: “Whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave” (Matthew 20:27).
The spirit of Diotrephes reflects the attitude of Satan, not Christ. It seeks position over service, control over unity, and reputation over truth. Such a heart is not simply misguided—it is dangerous. Scripture consistently warns that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18), and in the church, prideful leadership often leads to spiritual abuse and doctrinal compromise.
Diotrephes’ desire to be first shows that he saw the church not as a flock to be shepherded but as a platform for personal authority. The faithful must beware of those who wield spiritual power for self-glory rather than humble service.
“Does Not Accept What We Say… Unjustly Accusing Us with Wicked Words” — The Rejection of Apostolic Authority
John says Diotrephes “does not accept what we say”—meaning he actively resisted the authority of the apostles. He not only dismissed their letters but maligned them with wicked words. The Greek indicates false, slanderous accusations designed to undermine John’s credibility and promote Diotrephes’ own position.
This is more than personal conflict; it is rebellion against the God-ordained foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). Diotrephes placed his own judgment above the inspired teaching of the apostles. His actions exemplify what happens when men exalt themselves above the Word of God—divisions multiply, truth is suppressed, and faithful voices are silenced.
Even today, many reject biblical authority in favor of personal charisma, novel teachings, or institutional control. John warns that such rebellion must be exposed and opposed. He does not shrug off Diotrephes’ behavior as an unfortunate personality issue; he calls it evil and prepares to confront it directly.
“He Himself Does Not Receive the Brothers… and Puts Them Out of the Church” — The Abuse of Hospitality and Discipline
Diotrephes’ pride did not remain internal. It manifested in opposition to faithful believers. He refused to welcome the brothers—likely traveling teachers or evangelists sent by the apostles—and forbade others from doing so, going so far as to expel those who offered hospitality.
Hospitality in the early church was a sacred duty. Traveling preachers depended on local believers for shelter and support as they carried the gospel (3 John 1:5–8; Matthew 10:40–42). To reject them was to reject Christ.
Diotrephes abused the authority of church discipline by turning it against the righteous. Instead of guarding the flock from wolves, he cast out the sheep who refused to bow to his control. This is spiritual tyranny—not biblical leadership.
Such misuse of authority has persisted throughout church history. Wherever leaders silence the faithful, block the truth, or punish righteousness to maintain power, the spirit of Diotrephes is alive. The church must reject such men and hold to the example of Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
“Beloved, Do Not Imitate What Is Evil, But What Is Good” — The Call to Discernment and Faithfulness
Having exposed Diotrephes’ actions, John turns to Gaius with a command: “Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” The Christian walk is not only about what we believe—it is about who we follow and how we live.
Paul gave a similar exhortation in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
John makes clear that doing evil reveals a lack of fellowship with God: “The one who does what is evil has not seen God.” This is consistent with the message of 1 John: anyone who lives in persistent sin, without repentance or love for the brethren, “has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6).
The believer must exercise discernment in choosing examples. Not every leader is worthy of imitation. Popularity, influence, or eloquence do not validate a person’s spiritual life. Only those who do good consistently, humbly, and truthfully should be followed.
Application: Responding to Diotrephes-Like Behavior in the Church
John’s words in 3 John 1:9–11 offer several practical lessons:
Recognize the Signs of Spiritual Abuse Beware of those who demand loyalty above truth, silence opposition, reject accountability, and hinder fellowship. These are marks of Diotrephes—not of Christ.
Submit to Apostolic Authority True Christian leadership is grounded in the inspired Word. Any teaching or practice that contradicts Scripture must be rejected, no matter who promotes it.
Support the Faithful Like Gaius, believers must continue showing hospitality and encouragement to those who labor in the truth—even when it is unpopular or resisted.
Expose and Oppose Evil Within John did not remain silent. He promised to confront Diotrephes publicly. While discipline must be done with humility and order, the church cannot tolerate leadership that undermines truth and righteousness.
Imitate What Is Good Find and follow examples of faithfulness, selflessness, and godliness. Measure men not by charisma but by Christlikeness.
Conclusion: Guarding the Church Against the Spirit of Diotrephes
3 John 1:9–11 is a sobering warning and a needed encouragement. It reminds us that the greatest threats to the church often come not from persecution, but from pride and false authority within. Diotrephes’ actions were condemned because they resisted the truth, rejected the faithful, and exalted self.
Let every believer take heed—not to imitate what is evil, but to follow what is good. Let us walk in truth, speak with humility, support the faithful, and confront evil when necessary. For “the one who does what is good is of God”—and such a life, marked by Christlike service and submission to truth, brings honor to the name of Jehovah and strength to the body of Christ.
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EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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