3 John 1:10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:9-11

I. Here is a very different example and character, an officer, a minister in the church, less generous, catholic, and communicative than the private Christians. Ministers may sometimes be out-shone, out-done. In reference to this minister, we see, 1. His name?a Gentile name: Diotrephes, attended with an unchristian spirit. 2. His temper and spirit?full of pride and ambition: He loves to have the pre-eminence. This ferment sprang and wrought betimes. It is an ill unbeseeming character of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:9-14

1:9-15 I have already written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who is ambitious for the leadership, does not accept our authority. So, then, when I come, I will bring up the matter of his actions, for he talks nonsensically about us with wicked words; he refuses to receive the brothers and attempts to stop those who wish to do so and tries to eject them from the church. Beloved do not imitate the evil but the good. He who does good has the source of his life in God; he who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:10

Wherefore, if I come ,.... Where both Gaius and Diotrephes lived, as he trusted he should shortly, 3 John 1:14 ; I will remember his deeds which he doth ; meaning, not only that he would tell him of them to his face, but make mention of them, and expose them to the whole church, and reprove him for them: and which are as follow, prating against us with malicious words ; it is a common thing for ministers of the Gospel to be prated against, not only by the men of the world, but by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:10

If I come, I will remember - I will show him the authority which, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, I possess. Prating against us - Diotrephes might have been a converted Jew, who was unwilling that the Gentiles should be received into the Church; or a Judaizing Christian, who wished to incorporate the law with the Gospel, and calumniated the apostles who taught otherwise. This haughty and unfeeling man would give no countenance to the converted Gentiles; so far from it, that he would not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

An apostolic pastoral to a Christian man. We have here another price, less fragment, giving us a glimpse into the actual Church life of the first century, and of the Christian deeds and difficulties of one of its honoured members. We have no other inspired letter to a private Church member. This serves a double purpose. It enables us to picture, in outline, Gains, with his Christian work, his character, and his trials. It enables us also to picture a Church as to its fellowship, its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The aged presbyter's letter to a private Church-member. "The eider unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth." As in the Second Epistle, John takes the familiar official designation of "the elder." The receiver of the Epistle was regarded by John with more than ordinary affection; for he at once designates Gaius "the beloved," and three times in the course of the short Epistle be addresses him by this designation. He was widely beloved; for the addition here, while emphasizing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-12

2. MAIN DIVISION . Exhortation. Having thus stated the circumstances which have led to his writing, the elder begins the main portion of the letter, which consists of three sections; the hospitality of Gaius, and its value ( 3 John 1:5-8 ); the arrogance of Diotrephes, and its results ( 3 John 1:9 , 3 John 1:10 ); the moral ( 3 John 1:11 , 3 John 1:12 ). The transition to this central portion of the Epistle is marked by a repetition of the loving address. In all three cases ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:9-10

Diotrephes: a beacon. "I wrote unto the Church: but Diotrephes," etc. I. THE CHARACTER OF DIOTREPHES BRIEFLY STATED . "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them." We do not know who or what this man was beyond what is stated in our text. Whether he was pastor, elder, deacon, or other office-bearer in the Church, we cannot tell. Whatever he was in other respects, we know that he was ambitious of the highest place and of the greatest power in the Church: he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 3 John 1:10

Wherefore, if I come - He was evidently expecting soon to make a visit to Gaius, and to the church, 3 John 1:14.I will remember his deeds which he doeth - That is, he would punish his arrogance and presumption; would take measures that he should be dealt with in a proper manner. There is no evidence whatever that this is said in a vindictive or revengeful spirit, or that the writer spoke of it merely as a personal matter. From anything that can be shown to the contrary, if it had been a private... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 3 John 1:9-11

3 John 1:9-11. I wrote Or have written; to the church Probably that to which they came; but Diotrephes &c. As if he had said, But I fear lest my letter should not produce the desired effect; for Diotrephes, perhaps the pastor of it, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them To govern all things according to his own will; receiveth us not Neither them nor me; or, does not acknowledge my authority as an apostle of Christ. So did the mystery of iniquity already begin to work!... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:9-11

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:9-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:10

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:9-10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 3 John 1:10

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 3 John 1:9-11

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