3 JOHN 1 VS 2 - EXPLAINED

'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.' - 3 John 1 vs 2

Greetings Dearly Beloved in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. I Trust GOD that you will have understanding of this explanation which I make in this publication. AMEN.

Our opening Bible passage is one of those passages of the Bible that has been grossly misinterpreted today by so many teachers and preachers of the Word - they explain financial prosperity to the Brethren with that passage, but in Truth and reality, that portion/that passage has nothing to do with financial prosperity. You must first understand this one thing about the usage of words in the King James Version of the Bible, that many words used in the KJV are derivatives of old English language. In other words, many words/vocabularies used in the KJV translation of the Bible are old English language vocabulary constructions. Let me give you some examples;

'Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' - Hebrews 13 vs 5 {KJV}

The word "Conversation" as used in the above passage is the old English language vocabulary for "Manner of Life/Behaviour"; that's how the Greek (original manuscript of the New Testament) has it. In the Greek, the word "Conversation" is put as "Tropos" also as "Anastrophe" in other usages of the New Testament, which both mean "Manner of life, Behaviour, Character." You see?... Now if as a Bible student or a Bible teacher, you give interpretation to that passage based on the literal meaning of "conversation" as per modern English language which means "Dialogue", you will be having a different meaning of that Bible passage, and your meaning will be obviously and definitely wrong. - Selah

Another example;

'Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.' - 1 Corinthians 15 vs 33 {KJV}

Now, based on modern day English language, the word "Communications" means "Discussions", to discuss, to exchange information through talking. But you see, that is not the line at which it was used in our above Bible passage. The word "Communications" as used in our above passage is gotten from the Greek word "Homilia", which means "Companionship". You see..., so that passage is simply saying "...evil companionship corrupt good manners." - Selah. But let's see another place where the same word "Communications" was used in the New Testament portion of the Bible;

'And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?' - Luke 24 vs 17 {KJV}

Beautiful. Here the word "Communications" as used is not put as "Homilia" in the Greek as the initial was, but it is put as "Logos", which means "Spoken Word, Speech, Topic, Subject of discourse, Utterance, Word, talk." - Selah. You see...? So in this passage, the LORD JESUS CHRIST was saying to the fellows, "...what manner of discussion are these that ye have one to another..." - Selah. Same words, different usage; same words, different interpretations, yet in the same New Testament! You get it now? So you see, it's very important that as a Bible student, or as a Bible teacher, you are careful not to remove words out of their contexts when giving your interpretation of Bible Passages. Okay. Let's proceed now to our subject of discussion.

So the word "Prosper" as used in our opening Bible Passage is gotten from the Greek word "Euodoo". This word euodoo is used in bidding someone farewell for his journey, it is also used in wishing someone well/good-luck in his affairs; according to the Jewish culture. - Selah. Hence, we can collect what the Apostle John was saying to Gaius there in that passage. Uhmmm. If I am to rephrase that portion of the Bible based on the Greek rendering of the word "Prosper" as used in it, then we have;

'Beloved, I wish above all things that it is well with you and your body is healthy, even as it is already well with your soul.' - {Rephrased}
You see? It's easy now to understand. Yea. This portion of the Bible has nothing to do with material or financial prosperity. The Apostle John was simply saying to the Man of GOD, Gaius, I wish that it is well with you and you are healthy in your body (Because it is said that Gaius was an advanced in age), even as it is well with your soul (because Gaius was a Born Again - And for everyone who is Born Again, it is well with His soul because He has escaped eternal wrath.) This is very simple. You see... The Living Bible Translation even puts it clearly;

'Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.' - 3 John 1 vs 2

You see it clearly now? Yea.

GOD is with you.
- Jenning U. Angel