Diotrephes [Diŏt're phēs]—nourished by jupiter. The professed disciple who refused to recognize the authority of John as an apostle, and who loved to have the pre-eminence (3 John 9). Diotrephes tried to act like a little Caesar. Pride and self-pleasing led to the dethronement of Christ. The word “pre-eminence” occurs twice in the New Testament. Paul speaks of Christ having the “pre-eminence” (Col. 1:18). Diotrephes substituted self for Christ.