Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 3 John 1:9

"I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." — 3 John 1:9 (ASV)

This paragraph brings us to the nub of the problem that the elder is writing about. He had already addressed a letter to the church through its leader Diotrephes. That letter is lost, perhaps destroyed by Diotrephes himself. Its contents are not, however difficult to imagine. On the basis of 3 John, we can surmise that he had written the church asking them to extend hospitality to the traveling missionaries he had sent out. It may also have included a request for support that would speed them on their way. Diotrephes chose to thwart John’s intention by suppressing the letter or else opposing the request before the congregation. He also had threatened the expulsion of any in the church who were considering offering hospitality to the elder’s emissaries. In fact, some may already have been forced out of the church.

Why Diotrephes was opposing the elder is not clear. The elder’s statement that Diotrephes “loves to be first” could simply reflect personal rivalry. Or it could reflect an inflated and dictatorial ego. John’s prominence in the community was obviously longstanding. Diotrephes may have been troubled by John’s continued influence over the church he was leading. If Diotrephes was a younger man, the elder’s age may have been a problem. That there was a deeper split, perhaps involving theological differences, is not supported by the text.