For this cause, if I come, I will advertise his works which he doth; with malicious words prating against us. And as if these things were not enough for him, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that do receive them he forbiddeth, and casteth out of the church.
δια τουτο εαν ελθω υπομνησω αυτου τα εργα α ποιει λογοις πονηροις φλυαρων ημας και μη αρκουμενος επι τουτοις ουτε αυτος επιδεχεται τους αδελφους και τους βουλομενους κωλυει και εκ της εκκλησιας εκβαλλει
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
If it is forbidden to repay evil for evil (Rom 12:17), how is the Apostle’s present threat to be explained? We answer that the commandment speaks of not repaying evil for evil to one who sins against us. But when a sin against us also harms the faith, the one committing such a sin must be punished. Thus Paul brought evil upon Elymas, who was turning men away from the ways of the Lord (Acts 13:8-11).
If the Lord commanded us not to repay evil for evil, why does the Apostle threaten here? To this we reply that we are commanded not to repay only the one who sins against us alone. But if the sin is not only directed against us, and also contains an obstacle to faith for others, then such a sinner must be repaid. Thus Paul repaid Elymas, who was turning men away from the ways of the Lord (Acts 13:10).
Certainly we must not provoke the tongues of those who accuse us of nonexistent vices. Likewise, in order to exercise virtue, we should endure the attacks of those stirred up by their own malice. Yet at times they must also be restrained. Otherwise they may corrupt pure hearts that would have been turned through us toward the good. For this reason John here answers the one who slanders him.
“He casts them out of the Church.” Here expulsion does not mean excommunication, which in the ancient Church was used only in extreme cases against heretics. It simply means removal from participation in the services and in the agape meals. This is what the Judaizers did toward Christians from among the Gentiles, and conversely. It is supposed that Diotrephes belonged to the Christians of the circumcision. This explains why he could revile even John himself, as the Apostle complains, and why he did not receive those sent by him (1 Cor 11:18; Gal 2:12).
"If I come": soon (3 Jn 1:14).
"I will call to mind": this is a threat of censure, rebuke, and punishment (cf. Acts 5:1 and following; Acts 13:8 and following; 1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 13:2, 3, 10). It is unknown, however, how the Apostle fulfilled this threat.
"Maligning us": that is, not only the traveling preachers, but even the elder Apostle himself. This was almost unbelievable insolence.
"With evil words": this refers to slander and gossip, although it is unknown what they consisted of.
"And not content with that," and so forth. Diotrephes was vainglorious, proud, and self-willed. Not only does he himself lack brotherly love toward neighbors in general and the virtue of love for strangers in particular, since he does not receive the brethren. He also forbids those who wish to receive them, evidently acting willfully and contrary to Christ's commandment. He casts them out of the church, depriving them of communion with the Church, as though they were heretics or unworthy persons.
Taking the occasion, the Apostle, after praising Gaius as a helper in the Church's progress, condemns Diotrephes. Having the possibility and strength to influence others, Diotrephes uses this to the harm of the Church.
Striving for autocracy without any right to it, he resorts to force, removing persons useful to the Church. He even reaches the point of insolent rebellion against the Apostle and against what was written by him in his former writings.
Having denounced Diotrephes in his absence, the Apostle expresses some hope of shaming his self-will in person also. Meanwhile he concludes that Diotrephes is not only not a true Christian, but is as though he had heard nothing about God. For he commits obvious evil, and does so openly, without being ashamed of his insolent actions.
See Jas 3:1.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 33 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS