Who is…
Diotrephes

Meaning: Jove-nourished

This man was a Judaizer, prating against the Apostle John and his fellow-laborers “with malicious words”.

John rebuked him for his pride.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not welcome what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his deeds which he does, unjustly disparaging us with wicked words. And not satisfied with this, he himself does not welcome the brothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. —3 John 1:9-10

“Judaizer” refers to individuals, often early Christians, who insisted that Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity must follow Jewish laws and customs, such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance, to be fully accepted as believers.

This term is not explicitly used in the Bible but describes a group prominent in the early church who maintained strong ties to their Jewish heritage and who mistakenly believed that these practices were essential for all believers.

The issue is most clearly addressed in the Book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, especially Galatians. In Acts 15, the Council of Jerusalem dealt with the debate over whether Gentile Christians needed to follow the Mosaic Law. Some Jewish Christians, referred to as Judaizers, argued that Gentiles must be circumcised and adhere to the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1, 5). The council, led by Peter, Paul, and James, demonstrated that Gentile believers were not required to follow the full Jewish law, emphasizing salvation through faith in Christ alone.

In Galatians, Paul strongly opposes the Judaizers, accusing them of distorting the gospel by adding legalistic requirements (Galatians 1:6-9, 2:14-16). He argues that justification comes through faith in Christ, not through works of the law, and warns against returning to legalism (Galatians 5:1-4). Those who imposed Jewish practices on Gentile Christians undermined the message of grace.