# General Information:

The word "us" refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])

# congregation

This refers to Gaius and the group of believers who met together to worship God.

# Diotrephes

He was a member of the congregation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# who loves to be first among them

"who loves to be the most important one among them" or "who loves to act as though he's their leader"

# how he says ridiculous things against us with evil words

"and how he says evil things about us that certainly are not true"

# he himself

The word "himself" emphasizes that it is Diotrephes who does these things. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rpronouns]])

# does not receive the brothers

"does not welcome the fellow believers"

# forbids those who desire to do so

"stops those who want to welcome the believers"

# drives them out of the congregation

"he forces them to leave the congregation"