The Modern-Day Diotrephes

Diotrephes! As Judas brings to our minds a picture of betrayal, and as Jezebel brings to our minds the worst in female unpleasantness and ungodliness, so the name of this man brings to our minds a pride and arrogance that should never be in God's kingdom. We find this record of the man:

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteththem out of the church (III John 9-10). 

Our purpose now is to examine that passage, and to note the qualitiesabout this prideful man, and then to note how these same characteristicscan be found in the church today. The purpose is that all of us might be thus warned, and then let each and every one keep himself pure (I Timothy 5:22).

The behavior of a Diotrephes is (1) First, in ATTITUDE. Note that John states that he loved the preeminence. Jesus is to be the preeminentone (Colossians 1:18), and one has a real character flaw if he desires a higher place than God gave him. Love of preeminence is seen in thebehavior of the hypocrites in Judiasm (Matthew 6:1-18). It is animproper motive for one desiring any work in the church, and is contraryto the Will of God in any event. Diotrephes first had a problem with humility.

(2) Then, IMPROPER USE OF THE TONGUE. John states that Diotrephes was “prating against us.” That is, overflowing with talk, and the apostle states, “malicious words” at that! The arrogance of man is seen in his speaking against the apostles and those in company with the apostles. The greater portion of the inspired New Testament message is borne to us through the work of the apostles. To “receive them” is to receive the Christ (Matthew 10:40). Their words were the words of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:13). It is a lack-of-humility and an arrogance “gone to seed” when anyone becomes so big that they stand against inspired apostles!

(3) Further, this man stands TO FORBID OTHERS IN RIGHT DOING. John states that he would not receive the brethren, but forbad those who were doing so! His is a voice and an “authority” in the kingdom that God has given to none! Some have speculated that Diotrephes was an elder in the church, that we cannot say, but no matter, for his behavior was sinful and all the more repugnant if he had entered into the leadership. Anyone in the kingdom, regardless of their particular work, is first of all God’s SERVANT, and has been shown by the Lord that service to others is true greatness (Matthew 20:26).

(4) The last picture of Diotrephes is that of CASTING MEN OUT OF THE CHURCH! A standing against the apostles, and those who would fellowship the apostles, so as to bar acceptance in the kingdom to those who dared oppose him. The Lord adds to the church (Acts 2:47), and it is not the function of any of us to “cast men out.” Men may, due to persistence in impenitent sinfulness, be disfellowshiped, but their sins have removed them from fellowship. They were not “cast out”at the whim and fancy of some arrogant church “leader.”

It is significant that the record of Diotrephes follows the plea by John that we all should be “helpers to the truth” (v. 8). Helpers, not hinderers; helpers, not stumbling blocks. Diotrephes was working contrary to Truth, and therefore against the Truth. We note also that the record of Diotrephes is followed by the admonition to follow the good, and not the evil (v. 11). Diotrephes needed that advice, just as he needed to follow the example of Demetrius (v. 12), who seemed to be his opposite in terms of life and character.

We can avoid having modern-day Diotrephes’ among us when we all remember that: (1) Greatness in God’s sight is in humility, (2) that we, as servants, must always be open to the apostolic message, (3) that preeminence is given to the Christ, (4) that our influence on others should be to lead them toward spirituality, (5) and that none of us hasauthority to cast men from the kingdom. An elder who would be a Diotrephes is unworthy of the office. A man desiring to be an elder who longs for preeminence is unqualified for the office. A person not an elder should not be allowed by those of us in the kingdom ever to achieve the preeminence Diotrephes had! Let us, in looking into III John, seek to be a modern-day Demetrius rather than a modern-day Diotrephes!

Bill Jackson

Neither Ignorance nor Arrogance Is Pleasing/Acceptable to the Lord

Our thoughts in this essay will examine some reasons that men might not obey the Gospel, and also why some in the Lord’s body ought to reconsider the attitudes we might have unconsciously developed. Given the conditions of our (and every) society, Biblically uninformed Christians will undoubtedly find themselves with the same difficult task of repelling the considerable dualities of ignorance and/or arrogance that so many in the world will display with reference to God. The Scriptures certainly speak of both as unacceptable with regard to (and in light of) the Day of Judgment.

In II Thessalonians 1:7–9, the Scriptures speak of those who “know not God” and those who “obey not the gospel.” Clearly there are two distinct classes of people being discussed to be judged: those who have no knowledge of the heavenly creator (resulting from any variety of reasons), and those who have had the opportunity to hear the Gospel and have (for whatever reason) rejected it.

In Romans 10:3, the apostle Paul writes of those who are ignorant (not having information) of God’s righteousness. In the very next chapter he mentions that the brethren should not be ignorant of the mystery, and in the I Corinthians epistle (chapters 10, 12) Paul states that he does not want the believers to be ignorant of important revelation.

Paul says in Philippians 3:10 that one of the most important things in his life (and we hope our lives as well) is to know God (“that I might know Him”). We are also exhorted to grow in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:8; Colossians 1:9; to name a few). This we can do through a continual study of the Scriptures.

It will not be an acceptable excuse on the Day of Judgment to tell the Lord that we did not have/give/take time to know (learn of, about, and from) Him. We will not be able to lay the blame to anyone else. We will all have to give an account to Jesus for our own actions. Paul summoned the elders of Ephesus to Miletus (Acts 20:28–30) so that they might not be ignorant (unaware) of grievous wolves that would not spare the flock. Paul no doubt surprised them when he told them that some of those “wolves” would come from among themselves.

Jude likewise warned against the ignorance that was allowing false doctrine to seep in among them. God wants us to “rightly divide the word of truth.” Knowing the Lord’s Word does not give us the prerogative to be arrogant (or full of pride) with or about it. Our Christian responsibility is to “search the scriptures,” making certain that the things that are said (preached and taught) are in accord with divine truth (Acts 17:11). In order to discern truth correctly we must “study” the inerrant Word of God diligently, so we might “rightly divide” it (handle it properly—for ourselves and others).

Arrogance is a characteristic of pride. The word means to have an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities. God resists such people (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5). When we impart the engrafted Word that saves souls (James 1:21), it is to be in the spirit of meekness and humility. Humility is also warranted when we find that our own opinions or biases are not consistent with (or have the authority of) the holy and Divine Scriptures.

Johnny Oxendine

Humility

Our Savior was born in humble surroundings, among the cattle, but He was the Savior of the world, and now the world must hear Him and obey Him, who once lay in a stable.

The Bible teaches us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt us. I hope the day will come when we can possess the spirit of humility that every child of God must have in order to be a successful worker in the kingdom of our God.

Meekness and humility are the elements we need to fertilize our hearts, so the Word of God can grow in our hearts, and bring forth fruit to the glory and honor of our Lord.

Moses, who was reared in the king’s palace, humbled himself. Desiring to please God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, by being humble, he was permitted to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. As long as he was humble and meek, God was pleased and blessed all of his work, but when he became exalted, he trusted in himself and struck the rock. This was because he lost control of himself and lost that meek and humble spirit, and for this cause he missed the Promised Land.

Many preachers are failing today, and hindering the cause of Christ because they do not have the spirit of humility and meekness. Our Lord remained meek and humble until He finished His work on earth, and we must remain meek and humble until we complete our labors on earth. We should hunger and thirst after the spirit of humility, so we will be a living example to the world, and be able to lead many to Christ, and God’s kingdom will spread and Jesus be lifted up until to God be all praise, honor,and glory.

Marshall Keeble