3 John 1:2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →John prays that Gaius would flourish in body and circumstance just as he is already flourishing in his soul.
What Does 3 John 1:2 Mean?
Having greeted his friend, John adds a warm wish for his well-being, a courtesy common in letters of the age but here filled with genuine care. He prays Gaius would "prosper and be in health" outwardly, matching the spiritual health he already enjoys.
The striking phrase is "even as thy soul prospereth." Gaius's inner life with God was thriving, and John takes that as the measure he longs to see reflected in the rest of his life. The order matters: the soul comes first. A heart right with God is the truest prosperity, and from it every other blessing finds its proper place. John's prayer invites us to ask whether our souls are as healthy as we wish our bodies to be.
In the Original Language
psyche (ψυχή), "soul" — the whole inner person, the living self that stands before God.