But they had a problem because there was a man in his town that basically said, "I'm in control of the church." He wanted the preeminence. He wanted first place in the church. He even rejected John's letters.
One of the letters he sent, we do not have. A man named Diotrephes intercepted the letter and took it and wouldn't let the church have it.
And then there were those who were sent out from John who passed through the city to minister, and Diotrephes wouldn't let anybody house them. He said if anybody housed them, they would be kicked out of the church.
And this is why it is believed, according to some historical literature outside of the bible, that Gaius receive his letters, because he was kicked out of the church by this man who was controlling everything. And it was a letter from John to encourage him to keep housing the brethren as they came through. He had tremendous love for the brethren. He had tremendous support for the truth.
But somebody in the church basically was telling him that if you keep housing God's servants, we're going to kick you out. And that's all because this one man wanted control and influence over the church and didn't want any of the ministers from outside. And none of John's teachings were allowed in the church, only Diotrephes' teachings.
But they had a problem because there was a man in his town that basically said, "I'm in control of the church." He wanted the preeminence. He wanted first place in the church. He even rejected John's letters.
One of the letters he sent, we do not have. A man named Diotrephes intercepted the letter and took it and wouldn't let the church have it.
And then there were those who were sent out from John who passed through the city to minister, and Diotrephes wouldn't let anybody house them. He said if anybody housed them, they would be kicked out of the church.
And this is why it is believed, according to some historical literature outside of the bible, that Gaius receive his letters, because he was kicked out of the church by this man who was controlling everything. And it was a letter from John to encourage him to keep housing the brethren as they came through. He had tremendous love for the brethren. He had tremendous support for the truth.
But somebody in the church basically was telling him that if you keep housing God's servants, we're going to kick you out. And that's all because this one man wanted control and influence over the church and didn't want any of the ministers from outside. And none of John's teachings were allowed in the church, only Diotrephes' teachings.
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