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DECEMBER 10
for the brethren and for strangers, who have the brethren, and forbids those who wish to,
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borne witness of your love before the church. putting them out of the church.
If you send them forward on their journey in a 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but
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manner worthy of God, you will do well, be- what is good. He who does good is of God, but
cause they went forth for His name’s sake, he who does evil has not seen God.
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taking nothing from the Gentiles. We there- 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all,
fore ought to receive such, that we may and from the truth itself. And we also bear wit-
become fellow workers for the truth. ness, and you know that our testimony is true.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who 13 I had many things to write, but I do not
loves to have the preeminence among them, wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I
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does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak
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will call to mind his deeds which he does, prat- face to face.
ing against us with malicious words. And not Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet
content with that, he himself does not receive the friends by name.
DAY 9:What was the problem with Diotrephes in 3 John 9,10?
John apparently had written a previous letter to the church (v. 9), perhaps on the subject of
hospitality,but it was lost.Perhaps Diotrephes never read it to the church because he rejected John’s
authority (vv. 9,10).“Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence.”The word “preeminence” has
the idea of “desiring to be first.”It conveys the idea of someone who is selfish,self-centered,and self-
seeking.The language suggests a self-promoting demagogue, who served no one, but wanted all
to serve only him. Diotrephes’ actions directly contradict Jesus’ and the New Testament’s teaching
on servant leadership in the church (Matt. 20:20–28; Phil. 2:5–11; 1 Tim. 3:3; 1 Pet. 5:3).
“Diotrephes,…does not receive us.” Diotrephes modeled the opposite of kindness and hospitality
to God’s servants, even denying John’s apostolic authority over the local congregation, and as a
result, denying the revelation of God that came through that authority. His pride endeavored to
supplant the rule of Christ through John in the church.Diotrephes’character was the very opposite
of the gentle and loving Gaius who readily showed hospitality.
“If I come,I will call to mind his deeds”(v.10).John’s apostolic authority meant that Diotrephes
had to answer for his behavior. The apostle did not overlook this usurping of Christ’s place in the
church.Verse 10 indicates that Diotrephes was guilty of 4 things: 1) “prating against us.”The word
“prating”comes from a word meaning “to bubble up”and has the idea of useless,empty jabber,i.e.,
talking nonsense.The charges against John were completely unjustified; 2) “with malicious words.”
Not only were Diotrephes’ charges false, they were evil; 3) “does not receive the brethren.” He not
only slandered John but also deliberately defied other believers; and 4) “putting them out of the
church.”The original language indicates that Diotrephes’ habit was to excommunicate those who
resisted his authority. To accept John’s authority (v. 9), as well as being hospitable to the traveling
ministers, directly threatened the authority that Diotrephes coveted.

With bands of love,
December 10 And I was to them as those who take
the yoke from their neck.
I stooped and fed them.
Hosea 11:1–12:14 5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
11 “When Israel was a child,
I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 As they called them,
So they went from them; 11:1 In tender words reminiscent of the
They sacrificed to the Baals, Exodus from Egypt (Ex. 4:22,23), the Lord re-
And burned incense to carved images. assured Israel of His intense love for her. His
compassion for her was aroused (Is. 12:1;
3 “I taught Ephraim to walk, 40:1,2; 49:13; Jer. 31:10–14; Zech. 1:12–17). See
Taking them by their arms; Matthew 2:15 for Matthew’s analogical use of
But they did not know that I healed them. this verse in relationship to Jesus Christ.
4 I drew them with gentle cords,

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