Articles
Many Like Diotrephes – 3John 9
Many Like Diotrephes – 3John 9
I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. (3 John 1:9)
The apostles struggled with the question: “Who is the greatest among us?”. Jesus’ simple answer: he that serves. In the history of the church, there seems to be no shortage of people that try to use the spiritual body of Christ to ‘enlarge themselves’.
Such endeavors often put people into direct conflict with the teachings of the Apostles: ‘he does not accept what we say’! Paul also warned: “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.” (1 Corinthians 14:37) And again: “So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8)
John had also warned: "We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:6)
This goes back to Jesus and his commission of the apostles: "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." Luke 10:16
Are you willing to accept what the apostles say? Is that the end of the discussion for you? OR, are you like Diotrephes?
Hugh
