The PRESBYTER to my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.

My dear child, whatever you do in behalf of the brethren, and of those who are strangers, is commendable.

I have writ to the church: but Diotrephes, who affects the superiority, has no regard to our representations.

for which reason, when I come, I shall animadvert upon his conduct, and the malicious aspersions he casts upon us: not contented with this, he will neither receive the brethren himself, nor suffer those who are better inclin'd, to do it; but drives them out of the church.