LORD’S DAY, MARCH 19
3 John 1:1-14
Philippians 2:6-8

"… being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself…"

LOVE TO HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE

Diotrephes was a person contentiously resisting the Apostle John’s authority and forbidding others from exercising the Christian hospitality which he himself refused to show. The phrase "loveth to have the preeminence" means he likes or loves to be first in rank or position. The words may indicate that he was a church official who abused his position. He desired to be number one!

He was probably more than a private member of the church. It may be that he was the pastor. Although already having preeminence, he coveted more than his due. He lorded over God’s heritage by ruling the flock with force and cruelty. It may be also that he sought to have the preeminence over the rest of the elders of the church, for in those churches there were more than one elder (Acts 20:17). His ambitious spirit is a characteristic of a false leader, who set himself up as the head and even above the apostles of Christ. This is one sure way towards apostasy.

John wanted to remind Diotrephes of the evil that he had done to the brethren. He was prating (i.e. talked nonsense and made empty charges against another, made outrageous or malicious statements or badmouthing). Diotrephes even cast brethren out of the church. This included the notion of violence in driving them out.

Should we not follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:6-8)?

THOUGHT: Do I love to have preeminence in the church?
PRAYER: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Ps 8:3-4).