3 John 1:2

1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. in: or, truly

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

KJV

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

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

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

What does 3 John 1:2 mean?

3 John 1:2 is a verse in the book of 3 John, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include ἀγαπητός (agapetos), εὔχομαι (euchomai), περί (peri). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

Beloved,ἀγαπητόςagapetos/ag-ap-ay-tos'/G27from 25; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.

wishεὔχομαιeuchomai/yoo'-khom-ahee/G2172middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication, to pray to God:--pray, will, wish.

aboveπερίperi/per-ee'/G4012from the base of 4008; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).

all

thingsπᾶςpas/pas/G3956including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

that

thouσύse/seh/G4571accusative case singular of 4771; thee:--thee, thou, X thy house.

mayest

prosperεὐοδόομαιeuodoo/yoo-od-o'-o/G2137from a compound of 2095 and 3598; to help on the road, i.e. (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs:--(have a) prosper(-ous journey).

andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

health,ὑγιαίνωhugiaino/hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no/G5198from 5199; to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); figuratively, to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine):--be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be) whole(-some).

even

asκαθώςkathos/kath-oce'/G2531from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.

thyσύsou/soo/G4675genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.

soulψυχήpsuche/psoo-khay'/G5590from 5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from 2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew 5315, 7307 and 2416):--heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

prospereth.εὐοδόομαιeuodoo/yoo-od-o'-o/G2137from a compound of 2095 and 3598; to help on the road, i.e. (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs:--(have a) prosper(-ous journey).

wish:

or,

pray

Commentary on 3 John 1:2

HENRY_FULL · 3 John 1:2

Completed by John Reynolds, of Shrewsbury. Here we find a canonical epistle inscribed, principally, not only to a single person, but to one also of the softer sex. And why not to one of that sex? In gospel redemption, privilege, and dignity, there is neither male nor female; they are both one in Christ Jesus. Our Lord himself neglected his own repast, to commune with the woman of Samaria, in order to show her the fountain of life; and, when almost expiring upon the cross, he would with his dying lips bequeath his blessed mother to the care of his beloved disciple, and thereby instruct him to respect female disciples for the future. It was to one of the same sex that our Lord chose to appear first after his return from the grave, and to send by her the news of his resurrection to this as well as to the other apostles; and we find afterwards a zealous Priscilla so well acquitting herself in her Christian race, and particularly in some hazardous service towards the apostle Paul, that she is not only often mentioned before her husband, but to her as well as to him, not only the apostle himself, but also all the Gentile churches, were ready to return their thankful acknowledgments. No wonder then that a heroine in the Christian religion, honoured by divine providence, and distinguished by divine grace, should be dignified also by an apostolical epistle. The apostle here salutes an honourable matron and her children, ver. 1-3 . Recommends to them faith and love, ver. 5, 6 . Warns them of deceivers ( ver. 7 ), and to take heed to themselves, ver. 8 . Teaches how to treat those who bring not the doctrine of Christ, ver. 10, 11 . And, referring other things to personal discourse, concludes the epistle, ver. 12, 13 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

John 15:7

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

1 Corinthians 9:23

And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

2 Corinthians 4:5

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 2:17

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Topics

Epistles Gaius

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 3 John 1:2.

Mark 3:32

And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Matthew 1:17

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Matthew 2:3

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:4

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Matthew 2:8

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Matthew 20:3

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

Frequently asked questions

What does 3 John 1:2 say?

3 John 1:2 (King James Version) reads: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. wish: or, pray"

Is 3 John 1:2 in the Old or New Testament?

3 John 1:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of 3 John.

Reflect

As you read 3 John 1:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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