Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
John's greeting to the well-beloved Gaius is a loving wish and prayer for him, spoken as is fitting in a personal letter. To prosper and be in health means well-being of body and of outward life, including physical strength and success in honest effort. As the soul prospers qualifies and measures that wish, for health and prosperity of body follow and depend largely on health and prosperity of soul, which is to be sought first. Above all things God desires this good for every person, for He is the One who forgives all iniquities, heals all diseases, redeems life from destruction, and crowns with loving-kindness and tender mercies. That health of body and soul together comes through obedience to His moral law in the ten commandments and to the natural laws He established in the human frame, which Christ Himself honored as a healer of bodies as well as souls.
Words and Setting
The greeting is addressed to the well-beloved Gaius, loved in the truth, with the wish above all things that he may prosper and be in health even as his soul prospers. It belongs with commendation of Gaius for doing faithfully toward brethren and strangers who preached to the Gentiles, bringing them forward on their journey after a godly sort as fellow helpers to the truth. It stands in contrast to Diotrephes, who loved pre-eminence, received not the brethren, forbade those who would receive them and cast them out, and prated with malicious words. It is joined to great rejoicing when brethren testified of the truth in Gaius and that he walks in the truth, for there is no greater joy than to hear that children walk in the truth. It teaches that a kind reception should always be given to God's missionaries.
It is a loving wish and prayer for health, properly spoken in a personal letter. It is joined with gladness to hear at any time and to respond when possible.
To prosper and be in health means physical health and material well-being alongside prosperity of soul. It includes doing well financially, with prayer that God will give largely of His Holy Spirit to strengthen and uphold, to satisfy the earnest desire of the soul, and to make prosperity attend every effort made.
Even as the soul prospers means bodily prosperity and health follow and depend largely on prosperity and health of the soul, so prosperity of soul and godliness come first and are to be sought first. Physical and moral health are closely allied. This requires living in God's favor as His children, in humble nearness where He can bless and commune, and striving to live in His light so as to reflect it to others for the benefit of self and those around. It requires that in eating and drinking and whatever is done, all be done to the glory of God, with true religion as a principle of the heart revealed in deportment, words, and actions, causing growth till perfection and completeness. That life and healing of body and soul are found by looking to Jesus only for eternal life and for healing. Cleanliness, neatness, and order are indispensable to proper management of the household, yet must not be made the all-important duties of life to the neglect of physical development and mental and moral training, because godliness is first and cleanliness only secondary.
Health of Body and Soul
Above all things God desires every human being to prosper and be in health even as the soul prospers, in body as well as in soul. The One who wishes this forgives all iniquities, heals all diseases, redeems life from destruction, and crowns with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Health of body and of soul belong together, and people are to work together with Him for the health of both. Both are promoted by dress that is healthful in all respects, having the grace, beauty, and appropriateness of natural simplicity.
Health comes from obedience to the moral law of the ten commandments and to the natural laws established in the human being, while disease and suffering come from transgression of those laws. Violating natural law through indulgence of appetite and lustful passion is violating the law of God. God has caused the light of health reform to shine to show this sin in violating the laws of being, publishing the law and the penalty distinctly so all accountable beings can understand and live in harmony with natural law. Christ was in every sense a medical missionary who came to preach the gospel and to heal the sick as a healer of bodies as well as souls, and His message was that obedience to the laws of the kingdom brings health and prosperity.
Cleanliness, neatness, and order are indispensable to proper management of the household, yet must not be made the all-important duties of life to the neglect of physical development and mental and moral training, because godliness is first and cleanliness only secondary. Parents must learn the influence of body on mind and mind on body, gain definite knowledge of physiology and the wonderful human organism with the relation and dependence of its complicated parts, and interest and instruct their children in that study instead of letting needless trifles take attention or pleading lack of time. Those preparing for the ministry should diligently study physiology, hygiene, and the human organism to enlighten others in proper treatment of physical, mental, and moral powers, regarding bodily health as sacred and keeping free from disease by nature's own laboratory rather than drugs, with blessing upon those who strive to do this and lead others to do so.
A sound mind belongs in a sound body, with health of body and prosperity of soul going together through natural and correct habits resulting in health, physical force, mental clearness and strength, while artificial and incorrect habits and indoor life tend to physical and mental enfeeblement and are ruinous to body and soul and to physical, mental, and moral strength. Mankind has gone downward for six thousand years with each generation in greater physical feebleness. Man has a body as well as a soul to save, and both are to be restored to health by simple but effective methods appealing to intelligent minds. Through belief in the truth souls are awakened to preparation for life's duties, and as bodily health is restored the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the gospel.
Students who honor God attain health of body and soul as well as well-developed intellects. The sick are to receive care for their bodies and, through prayer and Scripture, be led to healing of the soul and knowledge of eternal life. God wishes His beloved workers to live and be in health even as their souls prosper, so they can stay at their post and act their part where they can do the most good, with active supervision of outdoor work in the open air building up both body and soul while constant sedentary employment injures husband and wife laboring together. For one recovering from sickness this means Jesus as helper and sympathizing friend, the heart kept in the love of God, and restored strength not used unadvisedly but kept as a reserve fund by avoiding unnecessary taxation of the body.
Health of body and mind together with prosperity of soul is the reward of obedience to the laws of health, fulfilled through true remedies of pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, use of water, and trust in divine power. Receiving it requires knowledge of nature's remedial agencies, understanding of principles for treating the sick, and practical training to apply them rightly with care, effort, patience, and sacrifice of hurtful indulgences, since nature's healing and upbuilding is gradual but wise and effective when unhindered. Wishing and praying above all things for prosperity and health even as the soul prospers means for those engaged in health work asking the Lord's blessing upon them all, asking wisdom in devising and executing plans, asking success so God's purpose is not thwarted, and seeking good done not only to bodies but to souls. Keeping the way of the Lord makes this bodily and spiritual good the sure result.
John's greeting to the well-beloved Gaius is a loving wish and prayer for him, spoken as is fitting in a personal letter. To prosper and be in health means well-being of body and of outward life, including physical strength and success in honest effort. As the soul prospers qualifies and measures that wish, for health and prosperity of body follow and depend largely on health and prosperity of soul, which is to be sought first. Above all things God desires this good for every person, for He is the One who forgives all iniquities, heals all diseases, redeems life from destruction, and crowns with loving-kindness and tender mercies. That health of body and soul together comes through obedience to His moral law in the ten commandments and to the natural laws He established in the human frame, which Christ Himself honored as a healer of bodies as well as souls.
Words and Setting
The greeting is addressed to the well-beloved Gaius, loved in the truth, with the wish above all things that he may prosper and be in health even as his soul prospers. It belongs with commendation of Gaius for doing faithfully toward brethren and strangers who preached to the Gentiles, bringing them forward on their journey after a godly sort as fellow helpers to the truth. It stands in contrast to Diotrephes, who loved pre-eminence, received not the brethren, forbade those who would receive them and cast them out, and prated with malicious words. It is joined to great rejoicing when brethren testified of the truth in Gaius and that he walks in the truth, for there is no greater joy than to hear that children walk in the truth. It teaches that a kind reception should always be given to God's missionaries.
It is a loving wish and prayer for health, properly spoken in a personal letter. It is joined with gladness to hear at any time and to respond when possible.
To prosper and be in health means physical health and material well-being alongside prosperity of soul. It includes doing well financially, with prayer that God will give largely of His Holy Spirit to strengthen and uphold, to satisfy the earnest desire of the soul, and to make prosperity attend every effort made.
Even as the soul prospers means bodily prosperity and health follow and depend largely on prosperity and health of the soul, so prosperity of soul and godliness come first and are to be sought first. Physical and moral health are closely allied. This requires living in God's favor as His children, in humble nearness where He can bless and commune, and striving to live in His light so as to reflect it to others for the benefit of self and those around. It requires that in eating and drinking and whatever is done, all be done to the glory of God, with true religion as a principle of the heart revealed in deportment, words, and actions, causing growth till perfection and completeness. That life and healing of body and soul are found by looking to Jesus only for eternal life and for healing. Cleanliness, neatness, and order are indispensable to proper management of the household, yet must not be made the all-important duties of life to the neglect of physical development and mental and moral training, because godliness is first and cleanliness only secondary.
Health of Body and Soul
Above all things God desires every human being to prosper and be in health even as the soul prospers, in body as well as in soul. The One who wishes this forgives all iniquities, heals all diseases, redeems life from destruction, and crowns with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Health of body and of soul belong together, and people are to work together with Him for the health of both. Both are promoted by dress that is healthful in all respects, having the grace, beauty, and appropriateness of natural simplicity.
Health comes from obedience to the moral law of the ten commandments and to the natural laws established in the human being, while disease and suffering come from transgression of those laws. Violating natural law through indulgence of appetite and lustful passion is violating the law of God. God has caused the light of health reform to shine to show this sin in violating the laws of being, publishing the law and the penalty distinctly so all accountable beings can understand and live in harmony with natural law. Christ was in every sense a medical missionary who came to preach the gospel and to heal the sick as a healer of bodies as well as souls, and His message was that obedience to the laws of the kingdom brings health and prosperity.
Cleanliness, neatness, and order are indispensable to proper management of the household, yet must not be made the all-important duties of life to the neglect of physical development and mental and moral training, because godliness is first and cleanliness only secondary. Parents must learn the influence of body on mind and mind on body, gain definite knowledge of physiology and the wonderful human organism with the relation and dependence of its complicated parts, and interest and instruct their children in that study instead of letting needless trifles take attention or pleading lack of time. Those preparing for the ministry should diligently study physiology, hygiene, and the human organism to enlighten others in proper treatment of physical, mental, and moral powers, regarding bodily health as sacred and keeping free from disease by nature's own laboratory rather than drugs, with blessing upon those who strive to do this and lead others to do so.
A sound mind belongs in a sound body, with health of body and prosperity of soul going together through natural and correct habits resulting in health, physical force, mental clearness and strength, while artificial and incorrect habits and indoor life tend to physical and mental enfeeblement and are ruinous to body and soul and to physical, mental, and moral strength. Mankind has gone downward for six thousand years with each generation in greater physical feebleness. Man has a body as well as a soul to save, and both are to be restored to health by simple but effective methods appealing to intelligent minds. Through belief in the truth souls are awakened to preparation for life's duties, and as bodily health is restored the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the gospel.
Students who honor God attain health of body and soul as well as well-developed intellects. The sick are to receive care for their bodies and, through prayer and Scripture, be led to healing of the soul and knowledge of eternal life. God wishes His beloved workers to live and be in health even as their souls prosper, so they can stay at their post and act their part where they can do the most good, with active supervision of outdoor work in the open air building up both body and soul while constant sedentary employment injures husband and wife laboring together. For one recovering from sickness this means Jesus as helper and sympathizing friend, the heart kept in the love of God, and restored strength not used unadvisedly but kept as a reserve fund by avoiding unnecessary taxation of the body.
Health of body and mind together with prosperity of soul is the reward of obedience to the laws of health, fulfilled through true remedies of pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, use of water, and trust in divine power. Receiving it requires knowledge of nature's remedial agencies, understanding of principles for treating the sick, and practical training to apply them rightly with care, effort, patience, and sacrifice of hurtful indulgences, since nature's healing and upbuilding is gradual but wise and effective when unhindered. Wishing and praying above all things for prosperity and health even as the soul prospers means for those engaged in health work asking the Lord's blessing upon them all, asking wisdom in devising and executing plans, asking success so God's purpose is not thwarted, and seeking good done not only to bodies but to souls. Keeping the way of the Lord makes this bodily and spiritual good the sure result.