3 YHN 1:9 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, the one loving to be first among them, does not receive us.

UST I wrote a letter to your group of believers to tell them to help those other believers. However, Diotrephes, who wants to dominate your group, refuses to do this.

BSB I have written to the church [about this],[fn] but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our [instruction].

1:9 Literally I have written something to the church

MSB I have written to the church [about this],[fn] but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our [instruction].

1:9 Literally I have written to the church; CT I have written something to the church

BLB I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, the one loving to be first among them, does not welcome us.

AICNT I wrote [something][fn] to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept us.

1:9, something: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

OEB I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.

WEBBE I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first amongst them, doesn’t accept what we say.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.

LSV I wrote to the assembly, but he who is loving to be first among them—Diotrephes—does not receive us;

FBV I did write about this to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge,[fn] refuses to accept our authority.

1:9 Literally, “loves to be first.”

TCNT I [fn]wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first, does not acknowledge us.

1:9 wrote ¦ wrote something CT

T4T I wrote a letter to the congregation telling them to help those fellow believers. However, Diotrephes does not ◄acknowledge my authority/pay any attention to what I wrote►, because he ◄desires to be in charge/wants to be the leader► of the congregation.

LEB No LEB 3 YHN (3 JHN) 1:9 verse available

BBE I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.

Moff I have written to the church; only, Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them, repudiates me.

Wymth I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, refuses to listen to us.

ASV I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

DRA I had written perhaps to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, doth not receive us.

YLT I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them — Diotrephes — doth not receive us;

Drby I wrote something to the assembly; but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, receives us not.

RV I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
(I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. )

SLT I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, seeking the superiority over them, receives us not.

Wbstr I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not.

KJB-1769 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
(I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. )

KJB-1611 I wrote vnto the Church, but Diotrephes, who loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not.
(I wrote unto the Church, but Diotrephes, who loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.)

Bshps I wrote vnto the Churche: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among the, receaueth vs not.
(I wrote unto the Churche: but Diotrephes which loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.)

Gnva I wrote vnto the Church: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not.
(I wrote unto the Church: but Diotrephes which loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. )

Cvdl I wrote to the congregacion, but Diotriphes, which loueth to haue the preemynence amonge them, receaued vs not.
(I wrote to the congregation, but Diotriphes, which loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them, received us not.)

TNT I wrote vnto the congregacion: but Diotrephes which loveth to have the preeminence amonge them receaveth vs not.
(I wrote unto the congregation: but Diotrephes which loveth/loves to have the preeminence among them receives us not. )

Wycl I hadde write perauenture to the chirche, but this Diotrepes, that loueth to bere primacie in hem, resseyueth not vs.
(I had write peradventure/perhaps to the church, but this Diotrepes, that loveth/loves to bear primacie in hem, receives not us.)

Luth Ich habe der Gemeinde geschrieben; aber Diotrephes, der unter ihnen will hochgehalten sein, nimmt uns nicht an.
(I have the/of_the Gemeinde written; but Diotrephes, the/of_the under to_them will highgehalten be, takes us/to_us/ourselves not at/to.)

ClVg Scripsissem forsitan ecclesiæ: sed is qui amat primatum gerere in eis, Diotrephes, non recipit nos:[fn]
(Scripsissem perhaps assemblies/churches: but is who/which loves primatum gerere in/into/on to_them, Diotrephes, not/no receives us: )

1.9 Scripsissem forsitan, etc. Perseverare debes in eleemosyna, quia utilitatem tantam in ea intelligo, quod non solum tibi, sed etiam toti Ecclesiæ scripsissem de commendatione eleemosynæ, sed hac necessitate dimisi, quia Diotrephes non curat nostram auctoritatem. Diotrephes hæresiarcha illius temporis nova docendo principatum sibi usurpabat. Diotrephes interpretatur speciose insulsus, sive decor insaniens, ut perfidiam cordis etiam nomine signet. Ecclesiæ. Illi Ecclesiæ, quæ forsitan, id est dubitative est Ecclesia, et ut per observationem eleemosynæ mereretur perfecta fieri Ecclesia, scripsissem.

1.9 Scripsissem perhaps, etc. Perseverare debes in/into/on eleemosyna, because benefit so_much in/into/on them intelligo, that not/no only to_you, but also toti Assemblies/Churches I_wrotessem from/about recommendsione eleemosynæ, but this_way necessitate dimisi, because Diotrephes not/no caret ours by_authoritym. Diotrephes heiriarcha of_that time new by_teaching principality to_himself usurpabat. Diotrephes interprets speciose insulsus, if/or decor insaniens, as perfidiam of_the_heart also by_name signet. Assemblies/Churches. Those Assemblies/Churches, which perhaps, that it_is doubtsive it_is Assembly/Church, and as through observationem eleemosynæ mereretur perfecta to_be_done Assembly/Church, I_wrotessem.

UGNT ἔγραψά τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν, Διοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
(egrapsa ti taʸ ekklaʸsia, all’ ho filoprōteuōn autōn, Diotrefaʸs, ouk epideⱪetai haʸmas.)

SBL-GNT Ἔγραψά ⸀τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
(Egrapsa ⸀ti taʸ ekklaʸsia; allʼ ho filoprōteuōn autōn Diotrefaʸs ouk epideⱪetai haʸmas.)

RP-GNT Ἔγραψα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλ' ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρεφὴς οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
(Egrapsa taʸ ekklaʸsia; all' ho filoprōteuōn autōn Diotrefaʸs ouk epideⱪetai haʸmas.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἔγραψα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρεφὴς οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
(Egrapsa taʸ ekklaʸsia; all ho filoprōteuōn autōn Diotrefaʸs ouk epideⱪetai haʸmas. )

1:9 εγραψα ¦ εγραψα τι CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5–12: It is good to help those who teach the truth

Read 5–12 carefully.

Section Theme: This section contains the main points John is writing to Gaius about. He praises Gaius for helping the traveling Christian preachers and encourages him to follow the good example of Demetrius rather than the bad example of Diotrephes.

Paragraph 9–12

Read 9–12 in both BSB and GNT. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John uses a negative example and a positive example to reinforce what he has said about helping the traveling preachers. He describes Diotrephes, who opposes their work and rejects John’s instructions. Then he describes Demetrius, who is respected by all the Christians.

9a

I have written to the church about this,

¶ I have previously written a letter to the people of the church at your place/town,

(GNT:) a short letter: (Text) After “I have written,” many Greek manuscripts have a word meaning “something,” or “a little.” Several English versions translate this text. Other versions such as BSB follow manuscripts which do not have this text. In your translation it may be best to follow the BSB.

the church: (Multiple Senses) Here this means the group of Christians in the place where Diotrephes was. That was probably in the same place where Gaius lived, or nearby.

9b

but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.

but Diotrephes refuses to accept my instructions because he always wants to be the leader of the church himself.

Diotrephes: (New Participant) It is not clear whether Gaius already knew about Diotrephes or not. In translation he should be referred to as someone who has not previously been mentioned in this letter.

loves to be first: (Connotation) This implies that even if Diotrephes thinks that he is the leader of the church, John does not recognize him as the leader. He condemns Diotrephes for actively seeking such a position.

first: (Multiple Senses) This means being the leader of the church in that place. John does not use either of the biblical terms “bishop” or “elder” here, and at that time Christian leaders were not called pastors or priests. So a more neutral term for a Christian leader should be used in translation here. See GNT, JB, NEB, JBP, LB.

will not accept: (Meaning) The Greek word used here means that Diotrephes did not accept or obey what John had written. It implies that he did not accept John’s authority to give him instructions. See GNT, RSV, LB.

our: (Pronoun Reference) John is here using the plural pronoun to refer to himself. In many languages this may need to be translated as “my.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἔγραψα τὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμάς)

What John wrote was a letter, probably containing instructions about helping traveling Christian teachers. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [a letter about this]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ

˱to˲_the assembly

Here, the church refers to Gaius and the group of believers who regularly met together with him to worship God. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to the assembly of believers in your place]

Note 3 topic: translate-names

Διοτρέφης

Diotrephes

Diotrephes is the name of a man who was a leader of the church.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν

the_‹one› loving_to_be_first ˱of˲_them

John is using the word first in the sense of “most important” or “in charge.” Alternate translation: [who loves to be the most important one among them] or [who loves to act as though he is their leader]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς

not ˓is˒_accepting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἔγραψα τὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμάς)

John is using the word us to represent someone or something associated with himself and those with him. This could mean: (1) that Diotrephes opposes providing hospitality and support to the traveling believers whom John endorses. (The word translated receive in this verse is the same one as in the phrase “he does not receive the brothers” in the next verse.) Alternate translation: [opposes helping these traveling believers] (2) that Diotrephes does not accept John’s authority and so will not do what he says. Alternate translation: [rejects our instructions]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμᾶς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἔγραψα τὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμάς)

Here the word us refers to John and those with him but not to Gaius, so use the exclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Parallel 3 YHN 1:9

Section 5–12: It is good to help those who teach the truth

Paragraph 9–12

9a

9b

Parallel 3 YHN 1:9