3 Jo 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
People who are influenced by the message of the Prosperity Gospel movement often take this verse to prove that God wants His people to be materially wealthy in this present evil age wherein the King is rejected and not ruling here on earth.
Some of them, every time they see the word "prosper" in the Bible, they then automatically understand it as being financially prosperous.
Actually, the word just means success. And there are many aspects in life that one could be successful in. Success does not have to exclusively mean financial success.
The Greek word for "prosper" carries the idea of being helped on the road to reach one's destination. It simply means successfully achieving a goal. Anyone who has successfully achieved one's goal in life is a success, he is someone who prospered in obtaining his aims in life.
The expression: "prosper IN ALL THINGS" is not to be taken in an absolute sense. It is the same with Philippians 4:13 which says: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Paul was not talking and referring to absolutely all things, even evil things. No, the context limits it. He was referring to all things in relation to doing God's will.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
In the same way, the apostle John was not talking about absolutely all things in 3 John 1:2, he was referring to the all things that pertain to the service and ministry that Gaius rendered to Christians.
You see, Gauis apparently had the gift of hospitality and helps. Gaius' ministry was that he helped and assisted Christian missionaries. The apostle John commended him for it and encouraged him to continue doing it:
3JN 1:5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;
3JN 1:6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
3JN 1:7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
3JN 1:8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
Gauis was a man walking in the truth and his aim and ministry was focused on helping and assisting fellow Christians. John was saying: "May God prosper you, give you success in all things in relation to your ministry."
He was not talking primarily about financial success. The apostles were people who were not rich.
Ac 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
1Co 4:11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands.
Churches influenced by the Prosperity Gospel movement fail to distinguish between God's promises to Israel in the future age and this age.
This age, the Church Age, is Christ rejected by the world. He is not reigning here as King on earth. And we partake of His sufferings and rejection. But in the future, when He comes to reign on earth, with Israel converted and materially blessed, that's the time that Gentiles share in that blessed and glorious age.
