ἔγραψά τι, a brief letter of commendation, συστατικὴ ἐπιστολή (2 Corinthians 3:1), introducing and authorising a company of itinerant brethren, probably those referred to in 3 John 1:5. φιλοπρωτεύειν, “love to be first, to be chief” (ἅπαξ λεγόμενον). The noun is φιλοπρωτεία and the adj. φιλόπρωτος (Polyb., Plut). προάγειν (2 John 1:9) and φιλοπρωτεύειν denote two tempers which disturbed the Christian life of Asia Minor intellectual arrogance and personal aggrandisement. αὐτῶν refers κατὰ σύνεσιν to ἐκκλησίᾳ. οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς, “doth not receive me in the person of my delegates” (cf. Matthew 10:40), i.e., “disowneth my authority”.

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Old Testament