3 John - What's Your Reputation? Series

Point to Ponder: Are you known as someone who opens their home to bless others?

* Giving Generously  

It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.” (v. 1-8)

These traveling preachers were representing the Name of Jesus and the Gentiles weren’t going to support them.

Gaius supported these brothers generously.

Not everyone is called to be a missionary. But John Piper has said that we have three choices:

Go…Send…or Sin.

Gaius was a man known for his generosity toward God’s work and His workers.

Point to Ponder: What are you currently doing to support and encourage our missionaries?

John was known as a “son of thunder.” In the next section of the letter, he will prove that he still has some thunderbolts left!

Diotrephes

* Arrogance

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 

It seems that Diotrphes was a leader, maybe even an elder, in the church. Gaius was known as a humble, faithful, encouraging leader.

Diotrephes was nothing like Gaius. John writes that he “loves to be first” and, unlike Gaius, he wouldn’t welcome the teachers that John had sent.

His reputation preceded him as well but not in a good way.

Paul wrote that only Jesus is first in the church:

And [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col 1:18)

But Diotrophes was arrogant, a bully, a control freak. Aren’t we glad that those kind of people don’t exist in today’s church culture?

Jesus made it clear to His disciples what He wanted their reputations to be about:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:25-28)

Somehow Diotrephes missed this verse. He loved the authority that he had in the church and he wielded it with an iron fist.

* Accusation

So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers.

John isn’t about to let this attitude slide and plans to confront Diotrephes on his next visit to this house church.

The phrase “malicious nonsense” is a word picture in Greek of a boiling pot with bubbles spilling over the sides.

Diotrephes is spreading rumors, and lies, and slandering John and the traveling missionaries.

* Actions

He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

Arrogance leads to accusations which, ultimately, lead to pompous action toward people In the church like Gaius who showed love and care to John.