Lectionary Calendar
Monday, October 7th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Living Translation

3 John 1:2

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hospitality;   Zeal, Religious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Missionary Work by Ministers;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gaius;   Soul;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Diotrephes;   Gaius;   John the Apostle;   John, the Epistles of;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Love;   Truth;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Brotherly Love;   Diotrephes;   Excommunication;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Joy;   Walk (2);   King James Dictionary - Wish;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - John the Baptist;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Hey, cowboy! I hope all is well with ya. I pray that you ain't caught the consumption and that you are fit as a fiddle. I know your soul is good and I pray your health is the same.
Bible in Basic English
My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.
Darby Translation
Beloved, I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
World English Bible
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayst prosper and be in health, as thy soul prospereth.
Weymouth's New Testament
My dear friend, I pray that you may in all respects prosper and enjoy good health, just as your soul already prospers.
King James Version (1611)
Beloued, I wish aboue all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, euen as thy soule prospereth.
Literal Translation
Beloved, in regard to all things, I pray for you to prosper and to be in health, as your soul prospers.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
My beloued, I wysshe in all thinges, that thou prospere and fare well euen as thy soule prospereth.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I wish, my beloved, you may be as prosperous with regard to your health and other circumstances, as in what concerns your soul.
Amplified Bible
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].
American Standard Version
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Revised Standard Version
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Beloved I wisshe in all thinges that thou prosperedest and faredest well eve as thy soule prospereth.
Update Bible Version
Beloved, I pray that in all things you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
Webster's Bible Translation
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Young's Literal Translation
beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,
New Century Version
My dear friend, I know your soul is doing fine, and I pray that you are doing well in every way and that your health is good.
New English Translation
Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
Berean Standard Bible
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
Contemporary English Version
dear friend, and I pray that all goes well for you. I hope that you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit.
Complete Jewish Bible
Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually.
English Standard Version
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Beloued, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soule prospereth.
George Lamsa Translation
Our beloved, I pray above all things, that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.
Christian Standard Bible®
Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually.
Hebrew Names Version
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.
International Standard Version
Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy.
Etheridge Translation
Our beloved, in all things I pray for thee, that thou mayest prosper and be healthful, even as thy soul prospereth.
Murdock Translation
Our beloved; in all things, I pray for thee that thou mayest prosper and be in health, as thy soul doth prosper.
New King James Version
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
New Life Bible
Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way. I pray that your body is strong and well even as your soul is.
English Revised Version
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
New Revised Standard
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Beloved! concerning all things, I pray thou mayest be prospering, and be in health, even as, thy soul, is prospering,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Dearly beloved, concerning all things I make it my prayer that thou mayest proceed prosperously and fare well, as thy soul doth prosperously.
King James Version
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Lexham English Bible
Dear friend, I pray you may prosper concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Beloued, I wishe in all thynges that thou prosperedst and faredst well, euen as thy soule prospereth.
Easy-to-Read Version
My dear friend, I know that you are doing well spiritually. So I pray that everything else is going well with you and that you are enjoying good health.
New American Standard Bible
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
Good News Translation
My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Most dere brothir, of alle thingis Y make preyer, that thou entre, and fare welefuly, as thi soule doith welefuli.

Contextual Overview

1 This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wish: or, pray

above: James 5:12, 1 Peter 4:8

that: Psalms 20:1-5, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:27

even: 3 John 1:3-6, Colossians 1:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:20, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Philemon 1:5-7, 2 Peter 1:3-9, 2 Peter 3:18, Revelation 2:9

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:40 - quicken 2 Corinthians 7:6 - comforted

Cross-References

Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Job 26:7
God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.
Job 26:14
These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?"
Psalms 33:6
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
Isaiah 45:18
For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. "I am the Lord ," he says, "and there is no other.
Nahum 2:10
Soon the city is plundered, empty, and ruined. Hearts melt and knees shake. The people stand aghast, their faces pale and trembling.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper,.... Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in the business of life, in which he was; and as success of this sort depends upon the blessing of God, which maketh rich, it is to be wished and prayed for from him:

and be in health; that is, of body, which above all things above all outward mercies, is the most desirable; for without this, what are the richest dainties, the largest possessions, or the best of friends? without this there can be no comfortable enjoyment of either of them; and therefore of this sort of mercies, it is in the first place, and above all others, to be wished for, and desired by one friend for another. The rule and measure of this wish is according to the prosperity of his soul,

even as thy soul prospereth: the soul is diseased with sin, and may be said to be in good health, when all its iniquities are forgiven; and may be said to prosper, when having a spiritual appetite for the Gospel, the sincere milk of the word, it feeds upon it, is nourished by it, and grows thereby; when it is in the lively exercise of faith, hope, and love; when spiritual knowledge is increased, or it grows in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus; when the inward man is renewed day by day with fresh strength; and when it enjoys communion with God, has the light of his countenance, and the joys of his salvation; and when it is fruitful in every good work.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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, Acts 27:29; Rom 9:3; 2 Corinthians 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: Romans 1:10, rendered “have a prosperous journey;” 1 Corinthians 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. It would include success in business, happiness in domestic relations, or prosperity in any of the engagements and transactions in which a Christian might lawfully engage. It shows that it is right to wish that our friends may have success in the works of their hands and their plans of life.

And be in health - To enjoy bodily health. It is not necessary to to suppose, in order to a correct interpretation of this, that Gaius was at that time suffering from bodily indisposition, though perhaps it is most natural to suppose that, as John makes the wish for his health so prominent. But it is common, in all circumstances, to wish for the health and prosperity of our friends; and it is as proper as it is common, if we do not give that a degree of prominence above the welfare of the soul.

Even as thy soul prospereth - John had learned, it would seem, from the “brethren” who had come to him, 3 John 1:3, that Gaius was living as became a Christian; that he was advancing in the knowledge of the truth, and was exemplary in the duties of the Christian life; and he prays that in all other respects he might be prospered as much as he was in that. It is not very common that a man is more prospered in his spiritual interests than he is in his other interests, or that we can, in our wishes for the welfare of our friends, make the prosperity of the soul, and the practice and enjoyment of religion, the standard of our wishes in regard to other things. It argues a high state of piety when we can, as the expression of our highest desire for the welfare of our friends, express the hope that they may be in all respects as much prospered as they are in their spiritual concerns.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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 υγιαινειν. 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 last clause that the soul of Caius was in a very prosperous state.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile