Introduction
To the Christians who knew him, the apostle John was not “Saint John,” but a man. For a certain Diotrephes, to whom John gave the responsibility of a community that we do not know, John was a bothersome old man. In order to better dominate his church, Diotrephes was cutting off the relationship.
John, however, in his three letters, as in the Gospel, speaks of the “communion” which must exist among Christians. Any church or group must remain open to others, maintain ing constant contact with them. Paul also insists on this responsibility: to welcome in their homes all Christians coming from other places in order to strengthen the bonds of the common faith.