3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Beloved	ἀγαπητέ, agapēte	G27	beloved · adjective — vocative singular masculine
wish	εὔχομαί euchomai	G2172	to wish · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 1st person singular
above	περὶ peri	G4012	properly · preposition
things	πάντων pantōn	G3956	all · adjective — genitive plural neuter
that	εὐοδοῦσθαι euodousthai	G2137	to help on the road · verb — present passive infinitive
thou	σέ sé	G4571	thee
prosper	εὐοδοῦταί euodoutai	G2137	to help on the road · verb — present passive indicative, 3rd person singular
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
health	ὑγιαίνειν hugiainein	G5198	to have sound health · verb — present active infinitive
as	καθὼς kathōs	G2531	just (or inasmuch) as · conjunction
thy	σοῦ soû	G4675	of thee
soul	ψυχή. psuchē	G5590	breath · noun — nominative singular feminine
prospereth	εὐοδόω euodóō	G2137	to help on the road

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

2 Peter 1:3-9 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath cal…
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:4-6 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Psalms 20:1-5 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
1 Thessalonians 2:13-14 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the…
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one…
1 Thessalonians 1:3-10 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and o…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 3 John 1:1-2

I. The sacred penman writes and sends the letter, referred to as "The elder," meaning by years and office, deserving honor. Some question whether this was John the apostle, but his style and spirit are evident. Gaius could not question who wrote it. John humbly refers to himself as "the elder," aligning with ordinary church pastors. II. The recipient is Gaius, a well-beloved individual, possibly the same Gaius mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:23. John expresses his love for him "in the truth," for walking in truth, which shows true love rooted in the gospel. III. John prays for Gaius, asking for the prosperity of both his soul and body. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing, often housed in…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 3 John 1:2

above all things--Greek, "concerning all things": so ALFORD: in all respects. But WAHL justifies English Version (compare Pe1 4:8). Of course, since his soul's prosperity is presupposed, "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. I know you are prospering in the concerns of your soul. I wish you similar prosperity in your body. Perhaps John had heard from the brethren (Jo3 1:3) that Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways (Jo3 1:10), to which the wish, Jo3 1:2, refers. prosper--in general. be in health--in particular.

Adam Clarke on 3 John 1:2

I wish above all things - Περι παντων ευχομαι· Above all things I pray that thou mayest prosper, and be in health, και ὑγιαινειν· to which one MS. adds εν αληθεια, which gives it a different meaning, viz., that thou mayest be sound in the truth. The prayer of St. John for Caius includes three particulars: 1. Health of body; 2. Health of soul; and 3. Prosperity in secular affairs. That thou mayest Prosper and be in Health, as thy Soul Prospereth. These three things, so necessary to the comfort of life, every Christian may in a certain measure expect, and for them every Christian is authorized to pray; and we should have more of all three if we devoutly prayed for them. It appears from the la…

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The Church Fathers

Things are going well for Gaius because his soul is carrying on in good works as the will of his mind directs him.
— Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

Dearly beloved, I wish that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. "just as your soul prospers." It acts prosperously, namely in the state that is according to the Gospel.
— Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John

Beloved, I pray that in all things, etc. He says, I frequent prayers to the Lord, that you may complete well what you do well. And just as now your soul, that is, the internal intention of your mind prospers, that is, advances in abundant works of alms, and the liberality of a bountiful mind, and the resources of money which you share with the needy, so may you always be able to lead a life full of virtues with the Lord's help.
— Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

3 John 1:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 3 John 1:1-2

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 3 John 1:2

Adam Clarke on 3 John 1:2

The Church Fathers

3 John 1:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 3 John 1:1-2

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 3 John 1:2

Adam Clarke on 3 John 1:2

The Church Fathers

John Gill on 3 John 1:2

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 3 John 1:1-4