3 John 1:9

3 John 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
• New International Version (NIV)I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

Context of 3 John 1:9

7After all, they went on their trip to serve the one named Christ, and they didn’t accept any help from the people to whom they went. 8We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth. I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won’t accept us. 10For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he’s doing. He’s not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers ⌞we send⌟ as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation. 11Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.

3 John 1:9 word by word

Ἔγραψά τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• I wrote untoγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• DiotrephesΔιοτρεφήςDiotrephēs · DiotrephesG1361
• who loveth to have the preeminenceφιλοπρωτεύωphiloprōteuō · to love to be firstG5383
• among themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• receivethἐπιδέχομαιepidechomai · to welcomeG1926
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for 3 John 1:9

• Matthew 20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor.
• Matthew 23:4They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
• Mark 9:34They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.
• Mark 10:35James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.”
• Luke 22:24Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest.
• Romans 12:10Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.
• Philippians 2:3Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.
• 3 John 1:8We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.
• Matthew 10:40“The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
• Mark 9:37“Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
• Luke 9:48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.”

Commentaries on 3 John 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I wrote unto the Church - The Church where Caius was; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence, , 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 after , and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9I 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. It was, probably, however, a letter of mere commendation, perhaps stating the object…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Both the heart and mouth must be watched. The temper and spirit of Diotrephes was full of pride and ambition. It is bad not to do good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would do good. Those cautions and counsels are most likely to be accepted, which are seasoned with love. Follow that which is good, for he that doeth good, as delighting therein, is born of God. Evil-workers vainly pretend or boast acquaintance with God. Let us not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9I have written to the church about this: This could refer to 1 John or to a letter that is now lost. Diotrephes was proud and thought himself important. He was motivated by selfish ambition (see 1 Timothy 3:6). will not accept our instruction: This disagreement was a major issue that John addressed in 1 John (see, for example, 1 John 2:19; 4:5–6). Diotrephes rejected the teachers sent by John and removed any church members who accepted them. He wanted to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. 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. Evidently occupying a high place in the Church where Gaius was (3Jo 10). among them--over the members of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 3 John 1:9

• Ambition
• Church
• Diotrephes
• Minister, Christian
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Diotrephes

Commentaries on 3 John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings