3 John 1:9 Commentary and Bible Study

Here in verse nine, you have the disastrous minister. The word pre-eminence is a Greek word which one who is fond of being first, who loves being first. Now the apostle had evidently written to the church of which Diotrephes was perhaps the minister – it does not say that but it sounds very much like that – and Diotrephes had rejected his letter, had not even written a reply by the sounds of it. The apostle John had, I imagine, asked for help to provide for certain visiting preachers that the church at Ephesus would send in their direction. But Diotrephes did not want to know; he was not interested. This domineering and arrogant individual had somehow got into the ministry, and was only interested in people he had appointed himself, people who were for him. He loved to be first. It had to be his very own operation and he did not recognise the apostle John.But everybody recognised the apostle John. He had been with the Lord, he was appointed by the Lord, he had been give the capacity to work exceptional signs and wonders to authenticate him and to prove him. His letters were inspired by God, but Diotrephes does not recognise the apostolic authority. The apostles of course have passed, the Word was completed in their lifetime under their direction: John was the last. However, while he was alive he was an apostle and Diotrephes’ arrogance knew no bounds. He rejected those letters and he would not help, he would not comply with John’s reasonable request.