Who Was Diotrephes in the Bible? The Man Who Loved to Be First
Series: People of the Bible
Primary text:
3 John 9–11
This post is written in three tiers so you can read at your pace: (1) Quick Look, (2) Simple Explanation, (3) Deep Dive.
Key to watch: Diotrephes appears in only two verses of Scripture, yet his example remains one of the New Testament’s clearest warnings about pride, unhealthy influence, and leadership that becomes more concerned with control than with Christ.
Table of Contents
Quick Look: Diotrephes
Who was Diotrephes? Diotrephes was an influential man in a first-century local church mentioned only in 3 John 9–10. John describes him as someone who “loves to be first.”
Diotrephes rejected John’s authority, spread harmful accusations, refused to welcome faithful traveling believers, prevented others from helping them, and removed people from the church when they opposed him.
His exact church office is uncertain. He may have been an elder, another recognized leader, the host of a house church, or simply an influential member with significant control over the congregation. Scripture does not tell us enough to know for certain.
Interestingly, John never explicitly accuses Diotrephes of denying the gospel or teaching heresy. The problem John identifies is his pride, rejection of proper authority, slander, inhospitable behavior, and abusive use of influence.
Big idea: Diotrephes reminds us that a person can be active and influential within a church while still allowing pride and the desire for control to damage Christ’s people and hinder Christ’s mission.
Simple Explanation
1. Diotrephes Appears Only in 3 John
Everything we know for certain about Diotrephes comes from 3 John 9–10.
The Bible tells us nothing about his family, occupation, conversion, or earlier life.
His name was Greek and is commonly understood to mean something like “nourished by Zeus” or “nurtured by Zeus.”
That may suggest a Gentile background, although his name alone cannot tell us the complete story of his ancestry or upbringing.
2. He Was Influential in a Local Church
John clearly presents Diotrephes as someone with significant influence.
Whether he officially served as an elder, bishop, house-church host, or another type of leader cannot be determined with certainty.
What is clear is that he possessed enough authority or influence to restrict who could be welcomed into the congregation and even remove people who disagreed with him.
3. He “Loved to Be First”
John begins with Diotrephes’ heart before describing his actions.
His fundamental problem was his desire for prominence.
He wanted to be first.
That desire eventually shaped how he treated apostles, missionaries, church members, and anyone who threatened his control.
4. He Rejected John’s Authority
John had apparently already written to the church, but Diotrephes refused to receive or acknowledge his authority (3 John 9).
This was especially serious because John was not simply another opinionated church member.
He represented apostolic authority and faithfully taught the truth about Jesus Christ.
5. He Used Words to Attack Others
John says Diotrephes spread malicious accusations against him and his associates (3 John 10).
His pride did not remain hidden within his heart.
It expressed itself through destructive speech.
6. He Tried to Control the Church
Diotrephes refused hospitality to faithful traveling believers.
He also attempted to stop other Christians from welcoming them.
Those who resisted him were put out of the church.
His personal ambition had become harmful to the spiritual health and mission of the congregation.
7. John Planned to Confront Him
John did not ignore the problem.
He told Gaius that if he came personally, he would bring attention to Diotrephes’ behavior (3 John 10).
Love for the church sometimes requires confronting destructive behavior rather than quietly allowing it to continue.
Now let’s look deeper at why John describes Diotrephes the way he does—and why his story still matters for Christians today.
Deep Dive: Why Diotrephes Matters
Why Does John Begin with His Desire to Be First?
John could have begun by describing everything Diotrephes had done wrong.
Instead, he begins with what Diotrephes loved.
He “loves to be first.”
That is important because sinful actions usually grow from deeper desires within the heart.
The slander was a symptom.
The rejection of missionaries was a symptom.
The expulsions were a symptom.
The deeper problem was a heart that wanted prominence and control.
Diotrephes teaches us that pride rarely stays hidden.
Eventually, what we desire in the heart begins shaping the way we treat other people.
Was Diotrephes a Pastor or Elder?
Possibly, but Scripture never directly gives him a title.
Some interpreters have viewed him as an early bishop or elder who abused his authority.
Others have suggested he may have hosted the house church and therefore possessed considerable influence over the congregation.
Still others believe he may simply have been a forceful personality who dominated the church without holding a formal office.
Because the text does not settle the question, we should avoid being more certain than Scripture allows.
What matters is not his title.
What matters is what he did with his influence.
A title does not make leadership healthy.
Christlike character does.
Was Diotrephes a False Teacher?
This question deserves careful attention.
John strongly condemns Diotrephes’ behavior, but he never explicitly calls him a false teacher, deceiver, or antichrist.
That is significant because John freely uses those kinds of descriptions elsewhere when confronting doctrinal error.
In 2 John, for example, he clearly warns against teachers who deny the truth about Jesus Christ.
He does not make that accusation against Diotrephes.
For that reason, many scholars understand the conflict primarily as a struggle involving authority, pride, hospitality, and control rather than an explicit dispute over Christology.
This may actually make Diotrephes’ warning even more sobering.
A person does not need to preach obvious heresy to damage a church.
Pride, slander, control, and selfish ambition can cause enormous spiritual harm even when someone claims orthodox beliefs.
Sound doctrine matters deeply.
But sound doctrine should also produce Christlike character.
How Did Pride Turn Into Control?
The progression in 3 John is striking.
Diotrephes loved first place.
Then he rejected outside authority.
Then he attacked those who challenged him.
Then he refused faithful believers.
Then he prevented other Christians from welcoming them.
Finally, he removed people who refused to cooperate.
Pride became control.
Control became intimidation.
Intimidation became exclusion.
The church became something Diotrephes attempted to manage for himself rather than a people belonging to Jesus Christ.
The church belongs to Christ.
Every Christian leader is a steward—not an owner—of God’s people.
Diotrephes Is the Opposite of Gaius
John’s letter intentionally presents two very different examples.
Gaius welcomes.
Diotrephes rejects.
Gaius supports gospel ministry.
Diotrephes obstructs it.
Gaius walks in the truth.
Diotrephes loves first place.
Gaius uses his resources to serve others.
Diotrephes uses his influence to control others.
This contrast prepares for John’s command in 3 John 11:
Do not imitate what is evil.
Imitate what is good.
Gaius represents one path.
Diotrephes represents the other.
Why Didn’t John Ignore the Problem?
Some people assume Christian love means avoiding confrontation.
John shows otherwise.
He planned to address Diotrephes’ actions when he visited the church.
The reason was not personal revenge.
Diotrephes’ behavior was harming believers and obstructing gospel ministry.
Ignoring that behavior would not have been loving.
Sometimes protecting Christ’s church requires bringing destructive actions into the light and calling people to repentance.
Biblical love seeks peace, but biblical love never requires pretending destructive behavior is harmless.
What Diotrephes Teaches the Church Today
Most Christians will never behave as dramatically as Diotrephes.
Yet the desire that shaped him can tempt any believer.
We want recognition.
We want control.
We want our opinions respected.
We want to win arguments.
We want others to know how important we are.
That is why Diotrephes is not merely a warning for pastors.
He is a warning for all of us.
Parents can become controlling.
Teachers can become controlling.
Volunteers can become territorial.
Church members can become jealous.
Ministry leaders can become obsessed with influence.
The answer is not simply avoiding leadership.
The answer is following Jesus.
Christ possesses all authority, yet He humbled Himself and served.
He washed His disciples’ feet.
He welcomed outsiders.
He gave His life for His people.
Diotrephes wanted first place.
Jesus alone deserves first place.
The cure for the spirit of Diotrephes is not simply better leadership technique.
It is a heart increasingly humbled beneath the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Diotrephes in the Bible?
Diotrephes was an influential member or leader of a first-century church mentioned in 3 John 9–10. John rebuked him for loving first place, rejecting apostolic authority, spreading malicious accusations, refusing hospitality, and removing believers who opposed his actions.
Where is Diotrephes mentioned in the Bible?
He appears only in 3 John 9–10, although John’s command in verse 11 to avoid imitating evil almost certainly follows directly from the example Diotrephes had just provided.
What does the name Diotrephes mean?
The Greek name is commonly understood to mean “nourished by Zeus” or “nurtured by Zeus.” This may suggest a Gentile background, but the Bible provides no further information about his family or upbringing.
Was Diotrephes a pastor?
Possibly, but Scripture never identifies his official role. He may have been an elder, bishop, house-church host, or simply a highly influential church member. What is certain is that he possessed significant control within the congregation.
Was Diotrephes a false teacher?
John never explicitly accuses him of doctrinal heresy. Unlike the deceivers described in 2 John, Diotrephes is criticized primarily for pride, rejection of authority, slander, refusal of hospitality, and abuse of influence.
Why did Diotrephes reject John?
Scripture does not reveal his complete motivation. John identifies the central heart issue: Diotrephes loved to be first. His desire for prominence appears to have contributed to his rejection of John’s authority.
Did Diotrephes excommunicate Christians?
Third John 10 says he put believers out of the church when they wanted to welcome faithful traveling Christians. Whether this was a formal disciplinary process or some other form of exclusion is uncertain, but John clearly viewed his actions as wrongful.
Why is Diotrephes important?
His brief story provides one of Scripture’s clearest warnings about how pride, personal ambition, slander, and controlling leadership can damage a church and hinder gospel ministry.
Bottom Line
Diotrephes appears in only two verses of the Bible, but his story leaves a lasting warning.
His greatest problem was not simply that he made poor leadership decisions. John traces those actions back to a deeper desire: he loved to be first.
That pride led him to reject correction, attack others, control hospitality, hinder gospel ministry, and remove believers who resisted him.
Yet 3 John does not leave us staring at Diotrephes.
John tells Gaius not to imitate evil but to imitate what is good.
The ultimate opposite of Diotrephes is not merely a nicer leader. It is Jesus Christ—the humble King who alone deserves first place and yet willingly gave Himself to serve and save others.
Diotrephes reminds us that influence can either build Christ’s church or harm it. The question is whether we will use what God has entrusted to us to make ourselves greater—or to help others see how great Jesus truly is.
People of the Bible
Meet the People of 3 John
Third John may be one of the shortest books in the Bible, but its people leave lasting lessons about truth, hospitality, pride, leadership, and faithfulness. Continue exploring the people behind the letter.
Who Was Gaius in the Bible?
Meet the faithful friend John praised for walking in the truth, welcoming gospel workers, and becoming a fellow worker for the truth.
Who Was John the Elder in the Bible?
Discover why the apostle John called himself “the Elder” and what the title reveals about his maturity, authority, and pastoral care for the church.
Who Was Diotrephes in the Bible?
Learn why John warned about the man who “loved to be first” and how pride, control, and unhealthy influence can damage Christ’s church.
Who Was Demetrius in the Bible?
Explore the two men named Demetrius in the New Testament and the very different legacies they left behind.
Go Deeper in 3 John
Want to study the entire letter? Explore Foundations, Leader Commentary, Deep Roots, Understanding the Bible studies, and additional resources through the complete 3 John study hub.
Don’t Just Learn About Them — Walk With Them.
The Bible isn’t a collection of random names.
It’s a story of real people met by a real God.
Through the People of the Bible series, we explore the lives of men and women — faithful and flawed — and discover how their stories point us to Christ and speak into our own.
If you want clear, thoughtful, Scripture-centered teaching that helps you see the Bible as one unified story…
Subscribe below.
New studies delivered straight to your inbox.
Let’s grow deeper — more than Sunday mornings.
Leave a Reply