From the Pulpit...

The big picture is that the recipient is a prominent member of a local church which has a problem. The problem is is a person named Diotrephes. John has written a previous letter to the church (since lost), but it was not received well. Those who were on the apostle's side were removed from the church. Those representatives sent by John were not treated well by Diotrephes. On the other hand, Gaius did help those representatives.