1:9-10 Who is Diotrephes?
1:9-10 Who is Diotrephes?
Nothing is known about Diotrephes other than what is recorded here.
He was self-proclaimed leader of Gaius' local church, who rejected instruction from John, and refused to allow teachers John sent into the church. He opposed John publicly, and maliciously slandered him and the teachers. He even excommunicated church members who fellowshipped with the teachers.
Sadly, Diotrephes' authoritarian, one-man rule is replicated in many local churches still.
It is a direct contradiction to what New Testament church leaders are meant to be according to scripture (CP Mt 20:20-28 (also Mk 10:35-45; Lu 22:24-27); Php 2:5-8; 1Ti 3:1-3; 1Pe 5:1-3).
The New Testament church is to be centred around servant - leadership, not authoritarian rule (See also comments on Ac 11:27, 13:1-4, Ro 11:13, Eph 4:11-12, 1Ti 3:1-7, 1Pe 5:1-3).
These are but a few of over a 1000 questions answered from scripture in the QUESTION AND ANSWER STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
These Studies by Br Val Boyle may be downloaded and freely distributed but not sold for profit.