Gaius' good example stands out more clearly beside Diotrephes' bad example. Diotrephes is a rare name and means "nourished by Zeus."13John brought Diotrephes into the picture to clarify the responsibility of Gaius and all other readers of this epistle and to give instructions concerning this erring brother.
v. 9 The letter to the church of which both Gaius and Diotrephes were a part is not extant. "Them"refers to the believers in that church. John exposed Diotrephes' motivation as pride. Diotrephes had persistently (present tense in Greek) put John down to exalt himself. John did not say or imply that Diotrephes held false doctrine. He only blamed his ambition.14
"The temptation to use a role in the Christian assembly as a means of self-gratification remains a real one that all servants of God need to resist."15
v. 10 John promised and warned that whenever he might visit that congregation he would point out Diotrephes' sinful behavior, assuming it continued. Specifically Diotrephes was charging John falsely to elevate himself. Worse than that he was not giving hospitality to visiting brethren, as Gaius was, perhaps because he perceived them as a threat to himself. Third, he intimidated others in the church and forced them to stop welcoming these men.
"Diotrephes was condemned not because he violated sound teaching regarding the person and nature of Jesus Christ but because his life' was a contradiction to the truth of the gospel."16
"The verb ekballei, in the present tense again (literally, he throws out'), need not imply formal excommunication from the Church, as this became known later. Cf. Matt 18:17; Luke 6:22; John 9:34-35; 1 Cor 5:2. On the other hand, it seems as if Diotrephes had already arrogated to himself the task of expulsion,' and was actually driving people out of the congregation (as he had refused to welcome the brothers) rather than merely desiring to do so . . ."17
Obviously Gaius did not bow to his wishes showing that he had strength of character and probably influence in the church. With this epistle John threw his support behind Gaius and against Diotrephes.
v. 11 John's encouragement doubtless strengthened Gaius' resolve to resist Diotrephes. "Of God"and "seen God"are terms John used in his first epistle (cf. 1 John 3:6, 10; 4:1-4, 6-7). God's children do good works because God is their Father and they share His nature (1 John 3:9). The person who does evil may be a Christian, but he is behaving like Satan when he does evil. John was not accusing Diotrephes of being unsaved but of behaving as if he were unsaved. One who knows God intimately (abides in Him) does not do evil (1 John 3:6).
"The expression he is of God' in this context does not mean he is a Christian.' Rather, it means, he is a godly person, or he is a man of God.' In this context it is a fellowship expression."18
