Diotrephes (Greek: Διοτρεφὴς, romanized: Diotrephēs) was a man mentioned in the Third Epistle of John (verses 9–11).
It is debatable whether the antipathy expressed in 3 John is based on "a theological dispute, a clash of competing ecclesiastical authorities, a disagreement about financial responsibilities for the mission, or personal dislike".
[2] Adolf von Harnack was of the view that Diotrephes was the earliest monarchical bishop whose name has survived.
[10] In 1588, the Elizabethan Puritan John Udall wrote a dialogue with a haughty bishop named Diotrephes.
Although the dialogue's actual title is The state of the Church of Englande, laide open in a conference betweene Diotrephes a byshop, Tertullus a papist, Demetrius an vsurer, Pandocheus an inne-keeper, and Paule a preacher of the worde of God,[11] it is commonly referred to by scholars as Diotrephes.