The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Diotrephes
fl. c. 90 (death unrecorded) · Local church leader opposed to the Elder · Asia
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Diotrephes was
“Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not… prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” An aristocratic name; a congregation firmly in hand; a policy of refusing the Elder’s letters and emissaries. He is the first named figure in the church’s long literature of authority disputes — and, the Elder is careful to imply, a matter of ambition, not doctrine. History gave the Elder the last word by preserving it.
3 John 9 only.
Common questions
When was Diotrephes active?
Diotrephes is dated fl. c. 90 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Diotrephes in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Diotrephes?
Diotrephes is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from The Elder (John). Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Diotrephes from?
The archive associates Diotrephes with Asia.
Who were Diotrephes’ contemporaries?
The archive links Diotrephes to 3 other figures, including Gaius, Friend of the Elder, Demetrius the Commended and John the Presbyter (“The Elder”). Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
3 John 1:9
c. AD 95I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.The Elder (John) · read ↗
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Diotrephes.
- 1Asiaprovince only