It might be said to be a reference to the 'kingdom of God' which certainly, in a sense, starts to have relevance for Christians in this life, but any notion that Jesus is explicitly referring to financial prosperity here is, frankly, laughable. The other is that this interpretation implies that the wish that the writer of the epistle expresses has the force of a promise from God. Indeed, if John the Apostle expresses his wish that the elder might prosper "in all things" does not this remark itself show that this is not being confined to ones financial life? For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that isin you, just as you walk in the truth. I was given this promise just two hours ago, as my promise for the year, and my soul is truly blessed. 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. CAN OUR 'POSITIVE CONFESSION' FORCE GOD TO CHANGE COURSE? This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 28, number 1 (2005). If God had faith in His Word, we can have faith in our words, they tell us, so that we too can boldly bring what we desire into existence! The result is that, except for the epistle to the Romans (which is really a theological treatise), the New Testament Epistles are generally not systematic discussions of a theological or moral topic. Museltof A The obligation to support the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-8 . When we come to the next verse, we do not have to wonder what Jesus meant by having life 'more abundantly' since He had already explained it in the previous verse! II The Message, 3 John 1:5-12 . There are three ways that we can use the word ‘*elder’. It consists of a prayer for spiritual welfare, as well as a remembrance or commendation of the spiritual riches of the recipient. Finally, the New Testament Epistles are what literary people call occasional pieces. ... John uses the Greek word semeion meaning sign, or ergon meaning work, instead of the term the synoptics use, dynamis or act of power, for miracle. Version. Likewise, they have what we would call the body of the letter, and they end with a conventional closing: “All who are with me send greetings to you. “Gaius the beloved” I. Deprivation. (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs -- … Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 3 John 1:8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. Here is how Paul finishes his sentence, here is the other vital thing 'granted to us,' A specimen passage of paraenesis is this: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). 4. 3 John 1:2(NASB) Second John and Third John are the two shortest books in the Bible. The moral behavior that is prescribed in the paraenesis is also binding on all people at all times. Some of those who uphold the 'prosperity gospel' say that God wants us all to be healthy and wealthy and we are denying ourselves these things by not 'claiming the promises in faith,' they also seem to imply that words themselves have some sort of magical properties to them, so that if we will only boldly say we will have this or have that, we can have those things! 1 The elder,(A) To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. In fact, sometimes the recipients of my letters share with me the difficulties through which they are currently passing. The commendation of Gaius for his service to the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-6a 2. ευοδουσθαι verb - present passive middle or passive deponent euodoo yoo-od-o'-o: to help on the road, i.e. John’s prayer for him implies that his affliction was severe, that it was not a mere passing ailment. For further information or to subscribe to the Christian Research Journal go to: http://www.equip.org, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2 KJV).1, In an article entitled “How to Prosper from the Inside Out,” Kenneth Copeland asks, “How does God prosper His people?” The answer, he says, is in 3 John 2: God “blesses you materially as your soul prospers on His Word.” Copeland asserts that most Christians believe that God will make them prosper “as the economy prospers or even as [their] employers decide to promote [them].” This is wrong, he says; instead, “as the seeds of prosperity are planted in your mind, in your will and in your emotions…they eventually produce a great financial harvest.”2, Gloria Copeland interprets the verse in a similar way. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. It comes from two root words one of which means 'to accomplish,' 'to do,' to make,' or 'to finish,' the other meaning 'to progress,' or 'to further' (as on a journey). The Third Epistle of John, often referred to as Third John and written 3 John or III John, is the third-to-last book of the New Testament and the Christian Bible as a whole, and attributed to John the Evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the Gospel of John and the other two epistles of John. We know nothing about this man (or the other two individuals mentioned in this letter) except what we learn here. A Christian Perspective, Bespoke Religiosity and the Rise of the Nones: a review of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton. The other is that this interpretation implies that the wish that the writer of the epistle expresses has the force of a promise from God. In the beginning of the salutation (v.1), John calls the recipient “beloved Gaius.” The first thing we might note from this is that John is writing to a personal friend. These words were spoken to a very religious leader of the Jews – a ruler and a teacher, who read his bible, worshiped on the right days and tried to keep the commandments of God. Above all things — Or, with respect to all things, as περι παντων rather signifies; that thou mayest prosper and be in health — Namely, of body; even as, I doubt not, thy soul prospereth — In faith, love, and every virtue. 3 John 1:2 KJV. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version. Yet the New Testament quite clearly promises us trials and hardships in order to equip us with what we need for the kingdom of God! Greet those who love us in the faith. First, in most of the Epistles, the opening salutation is followed by a thanksgiving. While even some very basic research will show that 3 John 2 really cannot be abused in that way, prosperity adherents will often turn to John 10:10 to back up their point. I often begin an e-mail with the statement, “I hope that this communiqué finds you doing well.” If I find that too understated for a given recipient, I might write, “I hope that this finds you and yours flourishing in every way.” Are these promises? 1:29; 1 Pet. Interpreting the Various Sections of the New Testament Epistles. How to Have a Civil Discussion about Abortion, Why Do I Call Myself Good? These people seem to hijack the biblical understanding of faith (which is always tied in with the will and sovereignty of God) turning it into something which requires God to give us whatever we want, if we will only be bold and brazen enough to ask for it! But the writer was an *elder overall the churches in a large area.Much of this letter is like John’s first letter. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Official letters were public in content and tone. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. Why should God want to turn us into 'spiritual spoiled brats' when even human parents quickly learn the folly of spoiling children? Let us think about the salutations in the letters and e-mail messages that we ourselves send and receive. Kenneth Copeland, “How to Prosper from the Inside Out,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/prosper_inside_out.pdf. More specifically, the Greek word, eudoo (eudow), means 'to succeed in reaching' or 'to succeed in affairs, including business ones' but the word is not specifically concerned with prosperity. The grammar of 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin. Gloria Copeland, “Build Your Financial Foundation,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/foundation.pdf. This is where Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.". The Social Dilemma and What it Means for Christians, The Historical Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Founders of the World’s Major Religions, Do I Drink Virtuously? The letters in these cultures typically included three elements: an opening salutation, which included the sender’s name, the addressee, and a greeting; the body of the letter in which the main topics were stated and elaborated; and the closing, which included additional greetings and final wishes. 3 John, like 2 John, is written in the standard epistolary format. One is that it construes the statement “even as” in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will produce financial prosperity. The phrase “just as” or “even as,” then, has the force of a coordinate link, not a cause and effect link. Read Scripture. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Go To 3 John Index. The Epistles, however, contain two sections that Greco-Roman letters lack. They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God's light and love. 6:18). The person who receives my expression of good wishes does not claim it as something assured. It’s the support of friends like you that enables CRI to to post new articles on subjects of interest and continue our weekly podcast. Epistolary Salutations. The addressee’s name, Gaius, was a very common one in the Roman Empire and it is highly unlikely that the person addressed here is the same Gaius associated with Paul (Rom 16:23; 1 Cor. Thomas F. Johnson, 1, 2, and 3 John (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993), 167. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.3 It gave me great joy when some believers(B)came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. But in Christ, believers experience God’s surprising, redeeming, and never-ending love. Read Scripture. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. To say that first-century pagans used the same formula in their epistolary salutations does not mean that the sentiment that John expresses is not inspired or is anything less than Christian; but some Bible interpreters have a way of implying that they have unlocked a secret and very special message that ordinary Christians have overlooked. John is expressing a wish for the complete well-being of his friend. Thanks for the commentary on 3 John 2. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom.12:9). We need to approach this verse and the common “prosperity” interpretation that the Copelands offer in light of the literary form (or genre) of 3 John, which is epistle. Second, following the body or doctrinal section of a New Testament Epistle, we typically find a section of moral commands that goes by the Greek word paraenesis, which means “exhortations.” This section might contain groupings of proverbs, lists of vices and virtues, catalogs of commands about what to avoid and what to practice, or exhortations about a single moral topic. There are no hidden or esoteric spiritual truths embodied in a conventional epistolary salutation. But, let us close by considering what Paul told the Philippians. Understanding the New Testament Epistles. 3 John 9-10 New International Version (NIV). Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, &c.] Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in … At the start of the letter, the writer calls himself the‘*elder’. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-general-epistles/third-john 1 a The elder to the elect lady and her children, b whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who c know d the truth, 2 e because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 f Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father … Beloved, I wish — Or, I pray, as ευχομαι is translated by Beza, Estius, Erasmus, Schmidius, Doddridge, and others. If we put the components of John’s well-wishes together, they add up to a picture of complete or total well-being. John 3:3 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] John 3:3, NIV: "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'" 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. UK APOLOGETICS. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”. The salutation, thanksgiving, and closing, however, are phrased in a different kind of rhetoric. She means this: I would wish you to withdraw, in order that the rest also may withdraw, before that the scarcity be made evident to all. t is indeed lamentable that this typical farewell message from the apostle John to Gaius the Elder has been picked up and distorted by so many during the last few years. I t is indeed lamentable that this typical farewell message from the apostle John to Gaius the Elder has been picked up and distorted by so many during the last few years. 3 John 2 in all English translations. Second, we might note that John is claiming to be expressing a wish or prayer (nearly all English translations read “I pray,” although a handful, such as the King James Version, read “I wish”). 3 John begins with a praescriptio, or introductory formula (vss. 2 John Greeting. Next Verse >. 1. John 12:42. And frequently this is exactly how it is quoted, being lifted entirely out of its context! They believe that the phrase “even as” means “as a result of,” or “as an inevitable accompaniment to.” The gist of the passage, however, is that John already knows that Gaius is flourishing spiritually (as several English translations and numerous commentaries make clear). 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. A series of John’s letters. 2 John Greeting. The truth is, this message is little different to one which we use all the time today, 'I trust that this letter finds you well.'. The desire for the 'here and now' appears to be too great for some prosperity teachers, they seem to be far less concerned about the eternal state. A statement in the doctrinal body of an epistle has the status of authoritative truth. ... John uses the Greek word semeion meaning sign, or ergon meaning work, instead of the term the synoptics use, dynamis or act of power, for miracle. 3. that is fine, but there is no suggestion of financial well-being in the Greek. Prosperity teachers claim the word is all about prosperity which reveals their lack of knowledge of New Testament Greek. 1 John 3:3 What a powerful motivation this is to become like Him now; to accept your circumstances, to stop quarreling with what God sends to you, and begin in everything to give thanks, allowing these strange instruments of God's grace to do their work in your life. It could meanthat the person was old. Commentary on 3 John 1:1-8 (Read 3 John 1:1-8) Those who are beloved of Christ, will love the brethren for his sake. KJV: King James Version . 'But also to be healthy and wealthy??' 3 John 1:2, ESV: "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." a. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in … Each localchurch had its leaders who were the ‘elders’. There has been some debate about whether an author named This means that they were written in response to specific occasions in the life and times of the writer and his recipients. Nor is it certain whether Gaius … Purpose of Writing: John’s purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. The reason for the wish, 3 John 1:3-4 . 3-john 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). A Look at Virtue Signaling. The New Testament Epistles have these same ingredients. This individual is well-known to the author of 3 John, but it is not so certain whether they had met in person before or not, since the report of Gaius’ conduct toward the brothers is heard second-hand by the author. The salutations and closings of epistles are similar to this. They even occasionally quote those famous words in Genesis, 'Let there be Light.' Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. Is the Incarnation Logically Incoherent ? 1:14; Acts 19:29, 20:4). 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. For John, a Christian who believed in the primacy of the spiritual, no picture of welfare was complete unless it included a person’s soul as well as body. 8:17; Phil. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; The Pharisees were a Jewish sect from the second century B.C. Title: The epistle’s title is “3 John”. 4:1). AND WHAT ISN'T IT. God refused to heal him of his 'thorn in the flesh' because His (God's) grace was sufficient for him, moreover, such grace (Paul was told) is made 'perfect in weakness'! 1. They imply that we can have whatever we want, if we will only be bold enough to ask for it, but, just a moment, who is in charge? Unlike 2 John, which I believe was written to a local church, 3 John is written to an individual, Gaius. A series of John’s letters. 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