Diotrephes and Demetrius

9 I have written to the church [about this],[fn] but Diotrephes, who loves to be first will not accept our [instruction]. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to [his] malicious slander [against] us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting [them] out of the church.

11 Beloved, {do} not imitate what [is] evil, but what [is] good. The [one who] does good is of God; the [one who] does evil has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify [for him], and you know that our testimony is true.