Parakaleo
Puritan Board Sophomore
I'm preaching through the epistles of John and have arrived at my final sermon. I'll be handling false brothers in the church and Diotrephes.
At first, it seems clear that Diotrephes is a false brother based on his reprehensible behavior.
On second thought, if he is a false brother, why isn't John more forceful in his condemnation? All he says is, "I will bring up what he is doing," which seems a far cry from what John taught the church to do with a false brother in his second epistle (do not receive them, welcome them, or even greet them).
However, verse 11 following John's description of Diotrephes says, "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God." If this is referring back to Diotrephes, it doesn't bode well for him being a true brother.
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 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 1:9-10 ESV)
At first, it seems clear that Diotrephes is a false brother based on his reprehensible behavior.
On second thought, if he is a false brother, why isn't John more forceful in his condemnation? All he says is, "I will bring up what he is doing," which seems a far cry from what John taught the church to do with a false brother in his second epistle (do not receive them, welcome them, or even greet them).
However, verse 11 following John's description of Diotrephes says, "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God." If this is referring back to Diotrephes, it doesn't bode well for him being a true brother.