“Beloved one, I pray that in all things you may be prospering and having good health, just as your soul is prospering.

—3 John 2-4.

⁵ The apostle prayed that Gaius might ‘prosper in all things,’ both spiritually and materially. John also prayed that his friend might have “good health.” This fairly common wish did not necessarily mean that Gaius was then ill. (Compare Acts 15:29.) Here John’s use of the word “soul” denotes present life as an intelligent person.