3 John 1:2

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. ¹ 

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

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

Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.

We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health--that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!

My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.

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

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. ¹ 

¹ tn The noun ψυχή (yuch) is used 10 times in the Gospel of John and 2 times in 1 John; of these 6 of the uses in John and both in 1 John refer to a person’s “life” (as something that can be laid down). In John 10:24 and 12:27 the ψυχή is that part of a person where emotions are experienced; one’s ψυχή is held in suspense or deeply troubled. This is, in other words, the immaterial part of a person as opposed to his physical existence. A close parallel is found in Philo, Heir 58 (285): “nourished with peace, he will depart, having gained a calm, unclouded life…welfare in the body, welfare in the soul (ψυχή)…health and strength…delight in virtues.”

sn Just as it is well with your soul. The equivalent contemporary idiom would be to speak of ‘spiritual’ health as opposed to physical health. The author affirms that Gaius is indeed well off spiritually, and he prays that Gaius’ physical health would match his spiritual health, i.e., that Gaius would be as well off physically as he is spiritually. It is the spiritual health which is to be the standard by which one’s physical health is measured, not the other way round.