Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, ^(A)prating^[a] against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(B)for the sake of dishonest gain. ^12 (C)One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. ^(D)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and ^(E)commandments of men who turn from the truth. ^15 (F)To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to ^(G)know God, but ^(H)in works they deny Him, being ^[a]abominable, disobedient, ^(I)and disqualified for every good work.

²⁷ For I have not ^[a]shunned to declare to you ^(A)the whole counsel of God. ^28 (B)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(C)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[b]of God ^(D)which He purchased ^(E)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(F)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.