A Conceited Christian Series

Scripture

We are closing in on the conclusion of our study in the Apostle John’s letters that I am calling “That You May Know That You Have Eternal Life.” John wrote three letters toward the end of the first century. He was responsible for the churches around Ephesus. He loved the believers in the churches for which he was responsible. Some false teachers were making the rounds of the churches, teaching that Jesus was not the Son of God. So, John’s letters were written to encourage Christians to know that they have eternal life.

The Second and Third Letters of John were each written on a single sheet of papyrus. The common theme in each of these letters is hospitality shown to traveling teachers. The Second Letter of John is concerned about withholding hospitality from false teachers, whereas the Third Letter of John is about extending hospitality to true teachers.

The Third Letter of John tells us about four men and their reputations. Last time, we looked at the first part of the Third Letter of John, where we examined the reputation of the first man. Gaius showed us how a commendable Christian lives.

Today, we are going to examine the reputation of the second man, whose name is Diotrephes. We will learn how a conceited Christian lives.

Let’s read about a conceited Christian in 3 John 9-10, although for the sake of context, I shall begin reading at verse 1:

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. (3 John 9-10)

Introduction

Coach John Wooden is one of the most revered coaches in all of sports. He is best known as the basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins. He won ten NCAA national basketball champions as the UCLA coach, including a record seven in a row. He was also renowned for his short, simple inspirational messages to his players. These were often directed at how to be a success in life as well as on the basketball court. Wooden once said, “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

This statement is so true, isn’t it? I am sure we can all think of people who have a wonderful reputation. But, then one day, it all comes crashing down and we discover that the person was not at all who we thought he or she was. We learn that there was a serious character flaw that was hidden from all of us.

I have already mentioned that the Third Letter of John is about extending hospitality to true teachers. In those early days of the expansion of the Gospel, Christian teachers would travel from church to church. Because the inns in those days were not only expensive but also were houses of ill repute, itinerant teachers generally stayed in the homes of Christians.

John wrote this Third Letter to a man named Gaius. Gaius apparently frequently housed itinerant teachers in his home and John commended him for his generosity.

However, in the church of which Gaius was a member there was also a man named Diotrephes. Diotrephes was clearly a man with authority in the church, though we don’t know exactly what position he held in the church. Diotrephes was apparently ambitious for even more authority. He took the opposite position from Gaius and did not want itinerant teachers to teach the word of God at the church. When John learned what Diotrephes was doing, he was distressed and wrote this letter to Gaius and the rest of the believers at the church.