Faulty Leadership

In this, John's final letter, he continues the theme of hospitality. In his second letter, he advocated shunning those who brought false teaching to the doors of the church or their homes. Here, he commends his friend Gaius for setting a good example of hospitality. This is then contrasted with the behaviour of Diotrephes. He was expelling genuine believers and exercising church discipline against those who were willing to be hospitable to travelling preachers. This provides us with a warning: that leaders are prone to bad judgement in all areas, and it is the duty of the people to not only support their leaders in material ways but pray heavily for them.