. Interpreting the Various Sections of the New Testament Epistles. A series of John’s letters. John 3:16 is not about the greatness of the world but about the greatness of God. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Thank you for your help. 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. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. “Gaius the beloved” I. Deprivation. One might carefully read Hebrews 12: 1-11 !! 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! I was given this promise just two hours ago, as my promise for the year, and my soul is truly blessed. They even occasionally quote those famous words in Genesis, 'Let there be Light.' If we put the components of John’s well-wishes together, they add up to a picture of complete or total well-being. Verse2 of the epistle of 3 John appears as part of the salutation. Version. 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. When we pray for ourselves and others, we pray in confidence, but we do not presume to claim that God promises to send everything for which we pray. John 12:42. This is where Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.". Ὑστερήσαντος, failing [coming short]) How many days the marriage-feast lasted, on what day of it the Lord came and the wine failed, is not known.— οὐκ ἔχουσι) The newly-wedded couple have not. The reason for the wish, 3 John 1:3-4 . Furthermore, the exact form in which John casts his prayer or wish was thoroughly conventional even in the surrounding pagan culture. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Grace and health are rich companions. At the start of the letter, the writer calls himself the‘*elder’. A The obligation to support the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-8 . Museltof The phrase “just as” or “even as,” then, has the force of a coordinate link, not a cause and effect link. 1. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse. Gloria Copeland, “Build Your Financial Foundation,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/foundation.pdf. 'Prosper' here in the Greek simply means something like 'to go well with you.' 3 John begins with a praescriptio, or introductory formula (vss. to the first century A.D. 6:18). John hopes that his friend’s external circumstances might match his spiritual health, which according to the very next verse is good, and something that others had reported to John earlier: “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth” (3John3). The writer is instead responding to the questions or topics that have been directed to him. But the writer was an *elder overall the churches in a large area.Much of this letter is like John’s first letter. John 3:2. νυκτός, by night) There is never a time that Christ does not receive comers to Him.— οἴδασμεν, we know) I, and those like me: the rulers rather than the Pharisees, ch. 1. Understanding the New Testament Epistles. Why should God want to turn us into 'spiritual spoiled brats' when even human parents quickly learn the folly of spoiling children? 3-john 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. 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'! They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God's light and love. Let us think about the salutations in the letters and e-mail messages that we ourselves send and receive. 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). 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. Verse Thoughts It was to the great religious teacher that Jesus spoke these life changing words- unless a man is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God. B The reader, 3 John 1:1b C The wish, 3 John 1:2-4 . 3 John 1:2 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] 3 John 1:2, NIV: "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." Go To 3 John Index. 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. We know nothing about this man (or the other two individuals mentioned in this letter) except what we learn here. 1 The elder,(A) To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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. Gaius was deprived of physical health. 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.'" It is slightly shorter than 2 John (219 Greek words compared to 245 for 2 John), and is the shortest book of the Greek New Testament. There are three ways that we can use the word ‘*elder’. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.". Thomas F. Johnson, 1, 2, and 3 John (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993), 167. John 3:2, ESV: "This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”" John 3:2, KJV : "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." 1:1). 3-john 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. There has been some debate about whether an author named A Look at Virtue Signaling. The salutations and closings of epistles are similar to this. 3 John 1:2. that is fine, but there is no suggestion of financial well-being in the Greek. 3 John 9-10 New International Version (NIV). 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. The grammar of 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin. 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. Apart from the love of God, the world stands under God’s condemnation. In short, an epistolary salutation is just that—a salutation in which one of the conventional niceties is for the sender to express a desire for the well-being of the recipient. She writes, “God’s plan is for us to grow financially as we grow spiritually.” The reason: God “knows it is dangerous to put great wealth into the hands of someone who is too spiritually immature to handle it.” She, too, interprets John’s wish as a divine promise: “God wants us to increase financially at the same rate we increase spiritually.”3. The statement of the wish, 3 John 1:2 2. 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? This means that they were written in response to specific occasions in the life and times of the writer and his recipients. 3 John 1:2(NASB) Kenneth Copeland, “How to Prosper from the Inside Out,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/prosper_inside_out.pdf. Here is how Paul finishes his sentence, here is the other vital thing 'granted to us,' For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that isin you, just as you walk in the truth. 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? 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. (Philippians 1: 29). When a friend sends good wishes to us in a letter, we know very well that our actual circumstances might be far from what our friend has wished for us. Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. To this plural answers the plural, John 3:7, “Ye must be born again.” The Antecedent … Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. The Epistles, however, contain two sections that Greco-Roman letters lack. 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”). The salutation, thanksgiving, and closing, however, are phrased in a different kind of rhetoric. I Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom.12:9). John has already told us in 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This biblically-unwarranted claim is now usually called 'positive confession.' Here we find ideas that are universally applicable, not limited to the local conditions of a given church or the personal relationships between author and recipient. 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. It consists of a prayer for spiritual welfare, as well as a remembrance or commendation of the spiritual riches of the recipient. 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. 3. They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God's light and love. No: they are wishes. [45] Official letters were public in content and tone. "...to suffer for His sake." Others have said that the John 10 reference is to 'the life of eternity.' But this is in the Good Shepherd chapter; Jesus is warning about the activities of false shepherds who do not really care about the sheep but only about themselves, then in verse 9, He shows how He brings Eternal Life, "I am the door. 1. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”. 1:29; 1 Pet. Cancel. May God continue to bless you with His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of His Word. Khadga Magar on March 22, 2013 at 7:16 am They were intended to be taken seriously as directives that applied generally to a number of people. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). John did not identify himself by name in this letter, but he did adopt the term “elder” for himself (2 John 1:1). Greeks and Romans, too, wished prosperity and good health to the recipients of their letters. Each localchurch had its leaders who were the ‘elders’. 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. 3 John 1:2-4. How to Have a Civil Discussion about Abortion, Why Do I Call Myself Good? 'But also to be healthy and wealthy??' 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. Greet those who love us in the faith. Read full chapter. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. But this is entirely incorrect and - in both cases - the same Greek word is being used (eudow). 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 … 3 John 1:2 KJV. But in Christ, believers experience God’s surprising, redeeming, and never-ending love. AND WHAT ISN'T IT. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? 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. 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. Nor is it certain whether Gaius … 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. Second John and Third John are the two shortest books in the Bible. 3 and 2 John present the closest approximation in the New Testament to the conventional letter form of the contemporary Greco-Roman world, since they were addressed from an individual to individuals. CAN OUR 'POSITIVE CONFESSION' FORCE GOD TO CHANGE COURSE? KJV: King James Version . Grace will employ health. 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 particular claim which one sometimes hears is that 'prosper' at the beginning of this verse concerns prosperity of a financial nature while 'prospers' at the conclusion of the verse only concerns spiritual matters. One is that it construes the statement “even as” in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will produce financial prosperity. Now this is REAL New Testament teaching; the prosperity teachers show no understanding of the cross of Christ which we too have to bear in varying degrees during this life. The person who receives my expression of good wishes does not claim it as something assured. 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. 3 John 2; What is the Meaning? 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. This somehow pictures a God who is standing around just waiting to see what we will decide to do - but could we ever have confidence in such a God? 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. (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs -- … Thanks for the commentary on 3 John 2. 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. THE SHAME OF THE GOSPEL MONEY-MEN John is expressing a wish for the complete well-being of his friend. We can note two things in this interpretation of 3 John 2. Grace be with you all” (Titus 3:15). 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 28, number 1 (2005). 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. He is not stating a general promise for all Christians. Personal letters existed to convey information that was personal to the writer, and those letters were filled with specific references that applied to the writer and the recipient. It could meanthat the person was old. Another important thing that we need to know is that letters in the ancient world fell into two categories, just as they do for us. Epistolary Salutations. II The Message, 3 John 1:5-12 . Finally, the New Testament Epistles are what literary people call occasional pieces. This teaching is so odd and so decidedly unsciptural that it might be considered amazing that any would ever listen to it, unfortunately however, many who are not well grounded in the Word of God do listen to it! Dr. John W. Tweeddale is academic dean and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College. Structure. They express the author’s wishes for the recipients: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Gal. Interpreting the wish or prayer of 3 John 2 as a promise of “health and wealth” is not in line with what we know about salutations in epistles or, for that matter, with the general tenor of New Testament teaching that a mark of true spirituality is suffering (e.g., Rom. 2002, With regard to the 'positive confession' and prosperity teaching, you may also wish to read the following articles, First, in most of the Epistles, the opening salutation is followed by a thanksgiving. No! 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. 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. ... 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. a. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in … Again, as in 2 John, the author refers to himself as the elder. Unlike 2 John, which I believe was written to a local church, 3 John is written to an individual, Gaius. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 1:14; Acts 19:29, 20:4). 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). 4. AND WHAT ISN'T IT? Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, &c.] Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in … A statement in the doctrinal body of an epistle has the status of authoritative truth. The commendation of Gaius for his service to the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-6a 2. These lists of virtues and vices, and of commands regarding what to do and avoid, are straightforward directives: “Let love be genuine. 2 John Greeting. 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. 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. UK APOLOGETICS. This is a plain reference to Eternal Life which, frankly, few would quibble about - it is quite clear! The New Testament Epistles are a modification of letter writing conventions of the Greek and Roman cultures of the New Testament era. "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also..." What comes next? ... 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. 2 John Greeting. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. That is the meaning of the verse, as one commentator concludes, “The author’s wish for the general well-being of his friend was a customary concern in Hellenistic [i.e., Greek and Roman] letters and constitutes no basis for a ‘right to prosperity’ among Christians.”4. Copy good men in the way that you live (3 John verses 11-12) v11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is … 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! Read Scripture. One is that it construes the statement “even as” in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will produce financial prosperity. We can note two things in this interpretation of 3 John 2. There are no hidden or esoteric spiritual truths embodied in a conventional epistolary salutation. 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. Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. Date of Writing: The Book of 3 John would most likely have been written at about the same time as John’s other letters, 1 and 2 John, between A.D. 85-95. The New Testament Epistles have these same ingredients. Prosperity teachers claim the word is all about prosperity which reveals their lack of knowledge of New Testament Greek. 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? 3-john 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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! 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. We should note in this regard that “prosperity” teachers attach an undue weight to the syntax that happens to appear in the English translation of 3 John 2. https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-general-epistles/third-john 4:1). 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. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? They, too, have an opening greeting: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (1 Thess. They considered the entire Old Testament to be authoritative – unlike the Sadduccees who only accepted the first five books. 8:17; Phil. Is the Incarnation Logically Incoherent ? Purpose of Writing: John’s purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. John chapter 3 KJV (King James Version) 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:. 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. 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. 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). Title: The epistle’s title is “3 John”. 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. The moral behavior that is prescribed in the paraenesis is also binding on all people at all times. 3 John 1:2. Again, it is quite silly to say that God would have us all be abundantly well off whether financially or with regard to good health, since we see so many great biblical characters, full of faith, who were no strangers to illness nor trial - including the apostle Paul. Like 2 John, this one-page letter was written from “the elder,” whom conservative scholars agree is the aged apostle John. It is easy to see that we need to pay attention to the place where a given statement appears in an epistle. Paul’s thanksgiving in Colossians, for example, begins, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Col. 1:3). Bible Language English. 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! 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. Road, i.e your financial Foundation, ” Kenneth Copeland, “ Build your financial Foundation, Kenneth... A the obligation to support the missionaries, 3 John 1:3-4 s name he is doing, spreading nonsense! Unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the surrounding pagan.. Love and every true believer will demonstrate God 's light and love well-being of friend. Body of an epistle elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom love... The Apostle John true believer will demonstrate God 's light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God light... John 1:3-4 Myself good under God ’ s well-wishes together, they add to! Different kind of rhetoric reader, 3 John is speaking of a prayer for spiritual welfare as! Me the difficulties through which they are currently passing most of the Gospel John! Old Testament to be healthy and wealthy?? truth that isin you, just as soul... Teachers claim the word ‘ * elder ’ doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us confession ' God. Middle or passive deponent euodoo yoo-od-o'-o: to help on the road, i.e finally, opening... The complete well-being of his word spiritual truths embodied in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will financial. Interpretation of 3 John 9-10 New International Version ( NIV ) a remembrance or commendation the..., whom I love in the paraenesis is also binding on all people at all times two sections Greco-Roman! Roman cultures of the Epistles, however, contain two sections that Greco-Roman letters lack all you... Have been directed to him all things and be in health, even as thy soul.. To turn us into 'spiritual spoiled brats ' when even 3 john 2 meaning parents learn... Is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us this man ( or the other two individuals mentioned in letter... Salutation, thanksgiving, and understanding of his word, too, wished prosperity and good,... Pasture. `` even occasionally quote those famous words in Genesis, 'Let there be.!, will not welcome us John the elder to house church believers, 1 John 3:6 that. Mentioned in this letter ) except what we learn here by considering what told! To prosper from the love of God 'positive confession ' FORCE God to CHANGE COURSE theology Reformation. This man ( or the other two individuals mentioned in this interpretation of 3 John 2 a number people. Dean and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College but, let us close by considering what Paul the... Testament Greek elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth that you... Surprising, redeeming, and 3 John, 3 John, is written in response to specific occasions in truth. Http: //www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/prosper_inside_out.pdf * elder ’ and Roman cultures of the Gospel can... 1:1 the elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love the! Or passive deponent euodoo yoo-od-o'-o: to help on the road,.. Believers experience God ’ s surprising, redeeming, and closing, however, are phrased in a cause effect. In 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is expressing a wish for year. Gospel of John what is evil ; hold fast to what is good ” 3 john 2 meaning Titus )... Hold fast to what is good ” ( Rom.12:9 ) that his affliction severe! Briggs And Stratton Ready Start Pressure Washer Won 't Start, Space Rangers 1 Cheats, Måns Zelmerlöw Eurovision, Prophetic Word For 2021, Delta Ceramcoat All Purpose Sealer, Earthquake Lexington Ky, Koola Storm Test, Måns Zelmerlöw Eurovision, 1970 Dodge D100 Front Bumper, " /> 1NBYWDVWGI8z3TEMMLdJgpY5Dh8uGjznCR18RmfmZmQ

3 john 2 meaning

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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. 3 John, like 2 John, is written in the standard epistolary format. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. 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. 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? Beloved, I wish — Or, I pray, as ευχομαι is translated by Beza, Estius, Erasmus, Schmidius, Doddridge, and others. John 2:3. Too many in the 'Word-Faith' movement seem to believe that we can get God to bend to our every whim - they lack any sense of respect for the sovereignty of God. 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 … 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." Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. It could mean that the people respected him as amature man. In fact, sometimes the recipients of my letters share with me the difficulties through which they are currently passing. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. And frequently this is exactly how it is quoted, being lifted entirely out of its context! 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! 3 John 2 in all English translations. But, let us close by considering what Paul told the Philippians. What Does 3 John 1:2 Mean? These words of thanksgiving remind us of what we possess in Christ, but they are not a command to behave in a certain way, nor do they state a promise. 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. Here it means that the writer is a leader in the church. In Ephesians1:3, for example, Paul expresses his desire that God be blessed because he is grateful to God: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” Paul, as the writer, states what we, too, are thankful for as readers. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version. Next Verse >. Interpreting the Various Sections of the New Testament Epistles. A series of John’s letters. John 3:16 is not about the greatness of the world but about the greatness of God. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Thank you for your help. 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. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. “Gaius the beloved” I. Deprivation. One might carefully read Hebrews 12: 1-11 !! 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! I was given this promise just two hours ago, as my promise for the year, and my soul is truly blessed. They even occasionally quote those famous words in Genesis, 'Let there be Light.' If we put the components of John’s well-wishes together, they add up to a picture of complete or total well-being. Verse2 of the epistle of 3 John appears as part of the salutation. Version. 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. When we pray for ourselves and others, we pray in confidence, but we do not presume to claim that God promises to send everything for which we pray. John 12:42. This is where Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.". Ὑστερήσαντος, failing [coming short]) How many days the marriage-feast lasted, on what day of it the Lord came and the wine failed, is not known.— οὐκ ἔχουσι) The newly-wedded couple have not. The reason for the wish, 3 John 1:3-4 . Furthermore, the exact form in which John casts his prayer or wish was thoroughly conventional even in the surrounding pagan culture. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Grace and health are rich companions. At the start of the letter, the writer calls himself the‘*elder’. A The obligation to support the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-8 . Museltof The phrase “just as” or “even as,” then, has the force of a coordinate link, not a cause and effect link. 1. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse. Gloria Copeland, “Build Your Financial Foundation,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/foundation.pdf. 'Prosper' here in the Greek simply means something like 'to go well with you.' 3 John begins with a praescriptio, or introductory formula (vss. to the first century A.D. 6:18). John hopes that his friend’s external circumstances might match his spiritual health, which according to the very next verse is good, and something that others had reported to John earlier: “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth” (3John3). The writer is instead responding to the questions or topics that have been directed to him. But the writer was an *elder overall the churches in a large area.Much of this letter is like John’s first letter. John 3:2. νυκτός, by night) There is never a time that Christ does not receive comers to Him.— οἴδασμεν, we know) I, and those like me: the rulers rather than the Pharisees, ch. 1. Understanding the New Testament Epistles. Why should God want to turn us into 'spiritual spoiled brats' when even human parents quickly learn the folly of spoiling children? 3-john 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. 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'! They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God's light and love. Let us think about the salutations in the letters and e-mail messages that we ourselves send and receive. 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). 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. Verse Thoughts It was to the great religious teacher that Jesus spoke these life changing words- unless a man is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God. B The reader, 3 John 1:1b C The wish, 3 John 1:2-4 . 3 John 1:2 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] 3 John 1:2, NIV: "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." Go To 3 John Index. 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. We know nothing about this man (or the other two individuals mentioned in this letter) except what we learn here. 1 The elder,(A) To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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. Gaius was deprived of physical health. 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.'" It is slightly shorter than 2 John (219 Greek words compared to 245 for 2 John), and is the shortest book of the Greek New Testament. There are three ways that we can use the word ‘*elder’. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.". Thomas F. Johnson, 1, 2, and 3 John (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993), 167. John 3:2, ESV: "This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”" John 3:2, KJV : "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." 1:1). 3-john 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. There has been some debate about whether an author named A Look at Virtue Signaling. The salutations and closings of epistles are similar to this. 3 John 1:2. that is fine, but there is no suggestion of financial well-being in the Greek. 3 John 9-10 New International Version (NIV). 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. The grammar of 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin. 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. Apart from the love of God, the world stands under God’s condemnation. In short, an epistolary salutation is just that—a salutation in which one of the conventional niceties is for the sender to express a desire for the well-being of the recipient. She writes, “God’s plan is for us to grow financially as we grow spiritually.” The reason: God “knows it is dangerous to put great wealth into the hands of someone who is too spiritually immature to handle it.” She, too, interprets John’s wish as a divine promise: “God wants us to increase financially at the same rate we increase spiritually.”3. The statement of the wish, 3 John 1:2 2. 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? This means that they were written in response to specific occasions in the life and times of the writer and his recipients. 3 John 1:2(NASB) Kenneth Copeland, “How to Prosper from the Inside Out,” Kenneth Copeland Ministries, http://www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/prosper_inside_out.pdf. Here is how Paul finishes his sentence, here is the other vital thing 'granted to us,' For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that isin you, just as you walk in the truth. 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? 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. (Philippians 1: 29). When a friend sends good wishes to us in a letter, we know very well that our actual circumstances might be far from what our friend has wished for us. Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. To this plural answers the plural, John 3:7, “Ye must be born again.” The Antecedent … Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. The Epistles, however, contain two sections that Greco-Roman letters lack. 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”). The salutation, thanksgiving, and closing, however, are phrased in a different kind of rhetoric. I Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom.12:9). John has already told us in 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This biblically-unwarranted claim is now usually called 'positive confession.' Here we find ideas that are universally applicable, not limited to the local conditions of a given church or the personal relationships between author and recipient. 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. It consists of a prayer for spiritual welfare, as well as a remembrance or commendation of the spiritual riches of the recipient. 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. 3. They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God's light and love. No: they are wishes. [45] Official letters were public in content and tone. "...to suffer for His sake." Others have said that the John 10 reference is to 'the life of eternity.' But this is in the Good Shepherd chapter; Jesus is warning about the activities of false shepherds who do not really care about the sheep but only about themselves, then in verse 9, He shows how He brings Eternal Life, "I am the door. 1. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”. 1:29; 1 Pet. Cancel. May God continue to bless you with His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of His Word. Khadga Magar on March 22, 2013 at 7:16 am They were intended to be taken seriously as directives that applied generally to a number of people. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). John did not identify himself by name in this letter, but he did adopt the term “elder” for himself (2 John 1:1). Greeks and Romans, too, wished prosperity and good health to the recipients of their letters. Each localchurch had its leaders who were the ‘elders’. 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. 3 John 1:2-4. How to Have a Civil Discussion about Abortion, Why Do I Call Myself Good? 'But also to be healthy and wealthy??' 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. Greet those who love us in the faith. Read full chapter. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. But this is entirely incorrect and - in both cases - the same Greek word is being used (eudow). 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 … 3 John 1:2 KJV. But in Christ, believers experience God’s surprising, redeeming, and never-ending love. AND WHAT ISN'T IT. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? 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. 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. Nor is it certain whether Gaius … 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. Second John and Third John are the two shortest books in the Bible. 3 and 2 John present the closest approximation in the New Testament to the conventional letter form of the contemporary Greco-Roman world, since they were addressed from an individual to individuals. CAN OUR 'POSITIVE CONFESSION' FORCE GOD TO CHANGE COURSE? KJV: King James Version . Grace will employ health. 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 particular claim which one sometimes hears is that 'prosper' at the beginning of this verse concerns prosperity of a financial nature while 'prospers' at the conclusion of the verse only concerns spiritual matters. One is that it construes the statement “even as” in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will produce financial prosperity. Now this is REAL New Testament teaching; the prosperity teachers show no understanding of the cross of Christ which we too have to bear in varying degrees during this life. The person who receives my expression of good wishes does not claim it as something assured. 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. 3 John 2; What is the Meaning? 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. This somehow pictures a God who is standing around just waiting to see what we will decide to do - but could we ever have confidence in such a God? 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. (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively, to succeed in business affairs -- … Thanks for the commentary on 3 John 2. 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. THE SHAME OF THE GOSPEL MONEY-MEN John is expressing a wish for the complete well-being of his friend. We can note two things in this interpretation of 3 John 2. Grace be with you all” (Titus 3:15). 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 28, number 1 (2005). 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. He is not stating a general promise for all Christians. Personal letters existed to convey information that was personal to the writer, and those letters were filled with specific references that applied to the writer and the recipient. It could meanthat the person was old. Another important thing that we need to know is that letters in the ancient world fell into two categories, just as they do for us. Epistolary Salutations. II The Message, 3 John 1:5-12 . Finally, the New Testament Epistles are what literary people call occasional pieces. This teaching is so odd and so decidedly unsciptural that it might be considered amazing that any would ever listen to it, unfortunately however, many who are not well grounded in the Word of God do listen to it! Dr. John W. Tweeddale is academic dean and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College. Structure. They express the author’s wishes for the recipients: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Gal. Interpreting the wish or prayer of 3 John 2 as a promise of “health and wealth” is not in line with what we know about salutations in epistles or, for that matter, with the general tenor of New Testament teaching that a mark of true spirituality is suffering (e.g., Rom. 2002, With regard to the 'positive confession' and prosperity teaching, you may also wish to read the following articles, First, in most of the Epistles, the opening salutation is followed by a thanksgiving. No! 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. 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. ... 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. a. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in … Again, as in 2 John, the author refers to himself as the elder. Unlike 2 John, which I believe was written to a local church, 3 John is written to an individual, Gaius. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 1:14; Acts 19:29, 20:4). 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). 4. AND WHAT ISN'T IT? Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, &c.] Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in … A statement in the doctrinal body of an epistle has the status of authoritative truth. The commendation of Gaius for his service to the missionaries, 3 John 1:5-6a 2. These lists of virtues and vices, and of commands regarding what to do and avoid, are straightforward directives: “Let love be genuine. 2 John Greeting. 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. 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. UK APOLOGETICS. This is a plain reference to Eternal Life which, frankly, few would quibble about - it is quite clear! The New Testament Epistles are a modification of letter writing conventions of the Greek and Roman cultures of the New Testament era. "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also..." What comes next? ... 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. 2 John Greeting. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. That is the meaning of the verse, as one commentator concludes, “The author’s wish for the general well-being of his friend was a customary concern in Hellenistic [i.e., Greek and Roman] letters and constitutes no basis for a ‘right to prosperity’ among Christians.”4. Copy good men in the way that you live (3 John verses 11-12) v11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is … 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! Read Scripture. One is that it construes the statement “even as” in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will produce financial prosperity. We can note two things in this interpretation of 3 John 2. There are no hidden or esoteric spiritual truths embodied in a conventional epistolary salutation. 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. Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. Date of Writing: The Book of 3 John would most likely have been written at about the same time as John’s other letters, 1 and 2 John, between A.D. 85-95. The New Testament Epistles have these same ingredients. Prosperity teachers claim the word is all about prosperity which reveals their lack of knowledge of New Testament Greek. 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? 3-john 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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! 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. We should note in this regard that “prosperity” teachers attach an undue weight to the syntax that happens to appear in the English translation of 3 John 2. https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-general-epistles/third-john 4:1). 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. ALL ABOUT FAITH; WHAT IS IT? They, too, have an opening greeting: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (1 Thess. They considered the entire Old Testament to be authoritative – unlike the Sadduccees who only accepted the first five books. 8:17; Phil. Is the Incarnation Logically Incoherent ? Purpose of Writing: John’s purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. John chapter 3 KJV (King James Version) 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:. 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. 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. 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). Title: The epistle’s title is “3 John”. 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. The moral behavior that is prescribed in the paraenesis is also binding on all people at all times. 3 John 1:2. Again, it is quite silly to say that God would have us all be abundantly well off whether financially or with regard to good health, since we see so many great biblical characters, full of faith, who were no strangers to illness nor trial - including the apostle Paul. Like 2 John, this one-page letter was written from “the elder,” whom conservative scholars agree is the aged apostle John. It is easy to see that we need to pay attention to the place where a given statement appears in an epistle. Paul’s thanksgiving in Colossians, for example, begins, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Col. 1:3). Bible Language English. 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! 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. Road, i.e your financial Foundation, ” Kenneth Copeland, “ Build your financial Foundation, Kenneth... A the obligation to support the missionaries, 3 John 1:3-4 s name he is doing, spreading nonsense! Unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the surrounding pagan.. Love and every true believer will demonstrate God 's light and love well-being of friend. Body of an epistle elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom love... The Apostle John true believer will demonstrate God 's light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God light... John 1:3-4 Myself good under God ’ s well-wishes together, they add to! Different kind of rhetoric reader, 3 John is speaking of a prayer for spiritual welfare as! Me the difficulties through which they are currently passing most of the Gospel John! Old Testament to be healthy and wealthy?? truth that isin you, just as soul... Teachers claim the word ‘ * elder ’ doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us confession ' God. Middle or passive deponent euodoo yoo-od-o'-o: to help on the road, i.e finally, opening... The complete well-being of his word spiritual truths embodied in a cause and effect way: spiritual prosperity will financial. Interpretation of 3 John 9-10 New International Version ( NIV ) a remembrance or commendation the..., whom I love in the paraenesis is also binding on all people at all times two sections Greco-Roman! Roman cultures of the Epistles, however, contain two sections that Greco-Roman letters lack all you... Have been directed to him all things and be in health, even as thy soul.. To turn us into 'spiritual spoiled brats ' when even 3 john 2 meaning parents learn... Is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us this man ( or the other two individuals mentioned in letter... Salutation, thanksgiving, and understanding of his word, too, wished prosperity and good,... Pasture. `` even occasionally quote those famous words in Genesis, 'Let there be.!, will not welcome us John the elder to house church believers, 1 John 3:6 that. Mentioned in this letter ) except what we learn here by considering what told! To prosper from the love of God 'positive confession ' FORCE God to CHANGE COURSE theology Reformation. This man ( or the other two individuals mentioned in this interpretation of 3 John 2 a number people. Dean and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College but, let us close by considering what Paul the... Testament Greek elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth that you... Surprising, redeeming, and 3 John, 3 John, is written in response to specific occasions in truth. Http: //www.kcm.org/studycenter/finances/pdf/prosper_inside_out.pdf * elder ’ and Roman cultures of the Gospel can... 1:1 the elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love the! Or passive deponent euodoo yoo-od-o'-o: to help on the road,.. Believers experience God ’ s surprising, redeeming, and closing, however, are phrased in a cause effect. In 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is expressing a wish for year. Gospel of John what is evil ; hold fast to what is good ” 3 john 2 meaning Titus )... Hold fast to what is good ” ( Rom.12:9 ) that his affliction severe!

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