Praying that you may prosper and be in good health

III John 2

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 

Many years ago when I moved to Indiana from Tennessee, a colleague gave me a going-away gift with this verse inscribed.  I had never seen the verse before, but really liked its message.  Ever since, I have used this verse as a closing prayer in cards and messages to friends/colleagues who were making some kind of major life transition (e.g. changing jobs, moving away, new responsibility, etc).

III John is the shortest book in the New Testament.  John is writing to his beloved fellow believer, Gaius.  Gaius must not have been healthy when John wrote this letter as verse 2 mentions health and John is referring to physical health.  Health is our autobiography.  I know that when I am in good physical health I am a much better Christian with respect to having energy to help others, being productive in Christian service and having the energy to study the Scriptures and praying.  When I am feeling unhealthy, I have little desire to be spiritual.  So John wishes good health and vigor upon his friend just as much as he wishes spiritual health and vitality.

John prays for Gaius to prosper both in his physical well-being and his spiritual state.  The Bible teaches on prosperity in many places—Genesis 39:3, 23, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:3, Proverbs 28:25, Luke 6:38.  Unfortunately, some pastors and teachers have corrupted these teachings to justify materialism and pursue extravagance.  John is not praying for wealth and physical prosperity alone or he would not have added the last phrase about the soul prospering. 

The word translated "soul" (psyche) refers to the whole being of a person.  So many people take better care of their bodies than their whole persons.  F.B. Meyer wrote: “It would not be desirable to express the wish of III John 2 to all our friends because if their bodies where to correspond to the condition of their souls, they would suddenly fall into ill health”.  In Gaius’ case, his soul was prospering since the verb tense is present.  Apparently his physical prosperity was not as good.  This verse also contradicts the beliefs of some that physical illness is a result of sin or a sinful life.  Gaius was not leading a sinful life as you can read in III John 5-8.

May you be prospering both physically and spiritually.  What are you doing in your life that enables your soul to prosper?