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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3 John 1:2-4

Personal Good Wishes and Sentiments

2. I wish above all things that Rather, I pray that in all respects; literally, concerning all things. It might well surprise us to find S. John placing health and prosperity aboveall things; and though the Greek phrase (περὶ πάντων) has that meaning sometimes in Homer, yet no parallel use of it has been found in either N.T. or LXX.

prosper The word (εὐοδούσθαι) occurs elsewhere in N.T. only Romans 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 16:2, but is frequent in LXX. Etymologically it has the meaning of being prospered in a journey, but that element has been lost in usage, and should not be restored even in Romans 1:10.

and be in health Bodily health, the chief element in all prosperity: Luke 7:10; Luke 15:27; comp. Luke 5:31. We cannot conclude from these good wishes that Gaius had been ailing in health and fortune: but it is quite clear from what follows that -prosper and be in health" do not refer to his spiritual condition, and this verse is, therefore, good authority for praying for temporal blessings for our friends. In the Pastoral Epistles -to be in health" (ὑγιαίνειν) is always used figuratively of faith and doctrine.

The order of the Greek is striking, -all things" at the beginning being placed in contrast to -soul" at the end of the sentence: in all things I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as prospereth thy soul. The verse is a model for all friendly wishes of good fortune to others.

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See also 3 John 1:2-4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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:...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE THE THIRD EPISTLE The Third Epistle is addressed by the elder, the aged Apostle John, to a brother by name of Gaius. A Gaius is mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, Ro...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    COMMENDATION OF GAIUS. John expresses his delight at the witness borne to the moral integrity of Gaius by some who had visited the apostle. He prays that Gaius may have prosperity and health commensur...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    3 JOHN 1:12. COMMENDATION OF DEMETRIUS. He was probably the bearer of this letter and one of the evangelists. The name was so common that any identification with the Demetrius of Acts 19:24 is improba...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE TEACHER'S JOY (3 John 1:1-4)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    The Elder to Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you, and that you are in good health of body, as it goes well with your soul. It gave me grea...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WISH. pray. App-134. ABOVE. concerning. App-104. PROSPER. Greek. _euodoumai._ See Romans 1:10. BE IN HEALTH. Greek. _hugiaino._ See Luke 5:31. SOUL. App-110. 3 John 1:1. As Gaius had. so

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PERSONAL GOOD WISHES AND SENTIMENTS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΕΡῚ ΠΆΝΤΩΝ ΕΥ̓́ΧΟΜΑΙ. I PRAY THAT IN ALL RESPECTS; literally, _concerning all things_. It might well surprise us to find S. John placing health and prosperity _above_ all things, as A.V. has it; and...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΑΓΑΠΗΤΈ _voc. sing. от_ ΑΓΑΠΗΤΌΣ (G27) возлюбленный, ΠΕΡΊ ΠΆΝΤΩΝ (G4012; G3956) во всех отношениях (Marshall). Эту фразу надо воспринимать с _inf. от_ ΕΎΟΔΟΫ́ΤΑΙ. Автор молится за благополучие Гая в...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ABOVE ALL THINGS— _In every respect._ Schmidius and Doddridge. The word 'Ευοδουσθαι signifies _to walk in a right path,_ or to go prosperously on one's way; from whence it is applied to prosperity in...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    E. _Translation and Comments_ 1. Gaius The Beloved. 3 John 1:1-8 (1) The old one to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. (3 John 1:2) Beloved, concerning everything I pray (for) you to prosper...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ABOVE ALL THINGS, [ peri (G4012)] - 'concerning all things.' Alford, in all respects. Wahl jus...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 2. BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS. The writer unbosomed himself to the person he addresses by showing his warm affection for him in the expression: "I wish above all things." The wish is, that...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    2 The prosperity of the soul must not be confounded with spiritual prosperity. Like the salvation of the soul (1Pe_1:9), it refers to that physical enjoyment and satisfaction which will be fully known...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    I WISH] better, 'I pray.' This may imply that Gaius had been ill....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DO GOOD WORK 3 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER 1 THE WRITER The author of this letter was the *apostle John. He also wrote 1 John and 2 John. He called himself ‘the *e...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (2 _a._) (2) BELOVED. — St. John’s affection is founded on the high merits of Caius as a Christian. ABOVE ALL THINGS. — This may mean “_in_ all things.” BE IN HEALTH. — An ascetic would be surprised...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Cf._ Law, _Ser. Call_, chap. vii. “Flavia would be a miracle of piety, if she was but half as careful of her soul as she is of her body. The rising of a pimple on her face, the sting of a gnat, will...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Address and Commendation. “The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in Truth. Beloved, in all respects I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I was excee...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE APOSTLE'S JOY 3 John 1:1 Again we meet the words _love_ and _truth_. Transparency of speech and life is an essential condition of soul health. It would not be desirable to express the wish of 3 J...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GAIUS Just as he did at the beginning of 2 John, the apostle describes himself as aged in addressing this personal letter to Gaius, whom he loved. The term here for beloved suggests a very close rela...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Contents After his usual salutation, the Apostle tells his beloved Gaius of his desires, both for his temporal and spiritual prosperity. He commends him for his kindness to the brethren. He remarks o...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. Next to the health of the soul, the health of the body is the greatest blessing. And, among the promises of God in Chri...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _RELIGION AND HEALTH_ ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.’ 3 John 1:2 St. John’s desire is founded on a reflection of primary i...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Third Epistle encourages the believer to the exercise of hospitality, whether towards the known brethren or strangers, and to all benevolent care in furthering their journey when departing, provid...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole 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 Go...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Ver. 2. _That thou mayest prosper_] Gr. ευοδουσθαι, that thou mayest make a good voyage of it,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Beloved, I wish_ Or, _I pray_, as ευχομαι is translated by Beza, Estius, Erasmus, Schmidius, Doddridge, and others. _Above all things_ Or, _with respect to all things_, as περι παντων rather signifie...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH; that he might be as much favored in his health and outward condition as he was in his piety and beneficence. It is desirable that good men should not only be eminent in piety a...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT THOU MAYEST PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Address and commendation of Gaius:...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    WISH: Or, pray...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 Those who are beloved of Christ, will love the brethren for his sake. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "3 JOHN 1:1...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    3 John 1:2 Beloved G27 pray G2172 (G5736) you G4571 prosper G2137 (G5745) things G4012 G3956 and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘ Beloved, I pray that in all things you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.' He knows that Gaius' soul prospers. That is a good testimony to have. He prays that equally his life...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    I PRAY (ευχομα). Here only in John's writings. See Romans 9:3.IN ALL THINGS (περ παντων). To be taken with ευοδουσθα and like περ in 1 Corinthians 16:1, "concerning all things."THOU MAYEST PROSPE...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    3 John 1:2 Spiritual Prosperity. I. Of what, in the language of the world, is commonly designated prosperity, perhaps the two main elements are wealth and power. There is a wealth, a power, of the so...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Exhortation concerning ministering brethren. The domineering Diotrephes and the good Demetrius. CHARACTERS: John, Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. CONCLUSION: Ministers of Christ should aboun...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    MY DEAR FRIEND. The theme of this Letter is to praise Gaius for his good work and to urge hospitality. IN GOOD HEALTH. It was usual to _wish health_ as a greeting. Here John wishes health, both physic...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth._ “GAIUS THE BELOVED” I. Deprivation. Gaius was deprived of physical health. John’s prayer for...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:1 Greeting: The Elder’s Joy at Gaius’s Faithfulness. John’s opening tone is affectionate and positive. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:2 Wishes for GOOD HEALTH were standard in the openings of ancient Greek letters, but John also expresses care for Gaius’s SOUL. Though spiritual growth can come through sicknes...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    PERSONAL CONFIDENCES AND KINDLY WARNINGS _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ 3 John 1:1. THE ELDER.—It cannot be decided whether this was a recognised official title, or an allusion by St. John to his gr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So the third epistle of John is now again, John addresses himself as The elder [the presbyturos] unto the wellbeloved Gaius (3 John 1:1), Probably not the Gaius mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Co...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Beloved. Compare the plural, 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11.

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. This holy man, Gaius who was so hospitable an host to the ministers and members of Christ, had but. weak and sickly body, and wanted health; strength of grace and dearness of respect,...

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