Verse 9
Gaius’ good example stands out more clearly beside Diotrephes’ bad example. Diotrephes is a rare name and means "nourished by Zeus." [Note: Hiebert, 144:574:203.] John brought Diotrephes into the picture to clarify the responsibility of Gaius and all other readers of this epistle and to give instructions concerning this erring brother.
The letter to the church of which both Gaius and Diotrephes were a part is not extant, as far as we know, unless it is 1 or 2 John. "Them" refers to the believers in that church. John exposed Diotrephes’ motivation as pride. Diotrephes had put John down to exalt himself. John did not say or imply that Diotrephes held false doctrine. He only blamed his improper ambition (cf. Matthew 20:27). [Note: Westcott, p. 240.] John never raised the subject of heresy in 3 John directly.
". . . a person like Diotrephes is guilty of usurping a position in the church that belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone! [cf. Colossians 1:18]" [Note: Zane C. Hodges, The Epistles . . ., p. 285.]
"The temptation to use a role in the Christian assembly as a means of self-gratification remains a real one that all servants of God need to resist." [Note: Idem, "3 John," p. 913. Cf. Wiersbe, 2:544.]
"Some forty years ago I wrote an article on Diotrephes for a denominaltional paper. The editor told me that twenty-five deacons stopped the paper to show their resentment against being personally attacked in the paper." [Note: Robertson, 6:263.]
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