3 John 1:2
in 3 John 1Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
KJV
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
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This verse in 3 John 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseI 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.
This site's exposition
the beloved Gaius
on 3 John 1:1-2
The elder writes to the beloved Gaius, and agapētos, beloved, comes four times in the letter, at verses 1, 2, 5 and 11. The wish that you may prosper and enjoy good health is the usual opening of an ancient letter. Its measure is as your soul also prospers.
This site's exposition
prosper and enjoy good health
The soul sets the measure. Adam Clarke finds three requests in the prayer: health of body, health of soul and success in Gaius's affairs. Matthew Henry adds that grace improves health and that health gives grace its work.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Things are going well for Gaius because his soul is carrying on in good works as the will of his mind directs him.
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.
The Medieval Church2 voices
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 …
The Apostle writes this epistle with the purpose of bestowing praise upon certain brethren. He writes to Gaius, of whom he testifies that he receives many strangers, and for this bestows upon him great praise. For "he who does good is of God," he says …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This supposes regeneration, and an inward fund of spiritual life; this stock is increasing, and, while spiritual treasures are advancing, the soul is in a fair way to the kingdom of glory. His good wish for his friend that his body may prosper and be in health as well as his soul. Grace and health are two rich companions; grace will improve health, health will employ grace.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
above all things--Greek, "concerning all things": so ALFORD: in all respects. But WAHL justifies English Version (compare 1Pe 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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Beloved, I wish above all things - Margin, “pray.” The word used here commonly means in the New Testament to pray; but it is also employed to express a strong and earnest desire for anything, Act 27:29; Rom 9:3; 2Co 13:9. This is probably all that is implied here. The phrase rendered “above all things” - περὶ πάντων peri pantōn - would be more correctly rendered here “concerning, or in respect to all things;” and the idea is, that John wished earnestly that “in all respects” he might have the same kind of prosperity which his soul had. The common translation “above all things” would seem to mean that John valued health and outward prosperity more than he did anything else; that he wished that more than his usefulness or salvation. This cannot be the meaning, and is not demanded by the proper interpretation of the original. See this shown by Lucke, in loc. The sense is, “In every respect, I wish that it may go as well with you as it does with your soul; that in your worldly prosperity, your comfort, and your bodily health, you may be as prosperous as you are in your religion.” This is the reverse of the wish which we are commonly constrained to express for our friends; for such is usually the comparative want of prosperity and advancement in their spiritual interests, that it is an expression of benevolence to desire that they might prosper in that respect as much as they do in others. That thou mayest prosper - εὐοδοῦσθαι euodousthai. This word occurs in the New Testament only in the following places: Rom 1:10, rendered “have a prosperous journey;” 1Co 16:2, rendered “hath prospered;” and in the passage before us. It means, properly, “to lead in a good way; to prosper one’s journey;” and then to make prosperous; to give success to; to be prospered. It would apply here to any plan or purpose entertained. […]
Modern Voices1 voice
Long before battles are won in the natural, they are won in the mind. Every giant first challenges your perspective before he ever challenges your strength.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀγαπητέ, | agapete | Beloved, | G27 → | 61 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | |
| πάντων | panton | all things | G3956 → | |
| εὔχομαί | euchomai | I pray | G2172 → | |
| σε | se | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εὐοδοῦσθαι | euodousthai | to do well | G2137 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑγιαίνειν | hugiainein | to be in good health | G5198 → | |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | |
| εὐοδοῦταί | euodoutai | does well | G2137 → | |
| σου | sou | your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ψυχή. | psuche | soul. | G5590 → |
ἀγαπητέ,Beloved,
agapeteG27 →61 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →
πάντωνall things
pantonG3956 →
εὔχομαίI pray
euchomaiG2172 →
σεyou
seG4771 →2973 times
εὐοδοῦσθαιto do well
euodousthaiG2137 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑγιαίνεινto be in good health
hugiaineinG5198 →
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →
εὐοδοῦταίdoes well
euodoutaiG2137 →
σουyour
souG4771 →2973 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
ψυχή.soul.
psucheG5590 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 4:8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- Proverbs 17:9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
- James 5:20
consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- Proverbs 10:12
Through
2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- 1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Colossians 1:10
Where this verse is studied
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Studies2
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About 3 John
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 3 John and Troy Brewer, "True Prosperity" devotional, Troy Brewer Ministries blog.