The David Spoon Experience 8-16-24 part 1

A) Welcome to the third epistle from John, the author of The Gospel of John, The Book of Revelation, as well as John 1 and John 2. This is another letter in the New Testament that is not often taught or discussed, but it contains great treasures and nuggets that are worthwhile for us to pursue. Keep in mind that John is considered the elder of all the apostles, outliving every one of the original twelve. He is the one who wrote the last few letters to the church, this one being before Revelation.

B) John opens up this letter by writing to Gaius, who is in charge of the church in this particular area. This letter is filled with affection, as he refers to Gaius as beloved and expresses his love for him. He also makes an important note that his love for Gaius is rooted in truth, signifying that Gaius is a brother in faith. Our brothers and sisters in faith are our spiritual relatives through Jesus Christ. Verse 2 of 3rd John states, “I pray in every way you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” Some theological circles interpret this as a promise of prosperity for everyone, but that is not what the text implies.

C) It is absolutely clear that John is praying for blessings and prosperity in every area of life, specifically signifying good health. However, all these blessings are tied to the prosperity of the soul. In other words, the priority of prosperity is a person’s spiritual well-being. There can be no question about that, and any additional interpretation is absurd. John makes an important note to let Gaius know that he is overjoyed because of Gaius’s devotion to the truth, his commitment to what is right, his commitment to Jesus Christ, and his commitment to the truth.