rightly dividing the word

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SCRIPTURE IN CONTEXT

Psalm 112 — like much of the Old Testament — was written in ancient Hebrew and addressed to an ancient Hebrew audience living under a Hebrew worldview shaped by the Law, the land, and the covenant.

So when we read phrases like “wealth and riches shall be in his house,” we have to ask:

“What would this have meant to the original audience — not just to modern Western readers?”
 

So when a Hebrew reader saw the phrase “wealth and riches”, they wouldn’t imagine:

• Mansions
   
• Sports cars
   
• Designer clothes
   
• Bank accounts filled to overflowing
   

They would more likely picture:

• A flourishing family
   
• Abundant crops and livestock
   
• Peaceful household with enough to give
   
• Stability across generations
   

And most importantly, they would tie all of it to walking in the fear of the Lord.

• Proverbs 3:9–10 links honoring God with your wealth to barns being filled and vats overflowing — agrarian, practical, community-centered.
   
• Deuteronomy 28 talks about blessings of the covenant as including rain, fruitful land, healthy children, victory over enemies — not just money.
   
• Ecclesiastes 5:19 says the ability to enjoy what you have is a gift from God — pointing to contentment, not accumulation.
   

So that phrase “wealth and riches” — while it can include material prosperity — is not about personal luxury the way it’s often presented today. It’s about God's provision within a righteous, obedient life, in the context of family, community, and purpose.

I used the phrase “in a Hebrew context” to remind us:

To understand the true meaning of Scripture, we must consider the language, culture, and mindset of its original audience.
 

Otherwise, we risk importing our modern assumptions into ancient words — and that’s where much of the distortion in prosperity teaching comes from.

SCRIPTURE IN CONTEXT

Let's break down 3 John 1:2 line by line and go deeper into what it really means—spiritually and practically.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

This is a term of deep affection and spiritual connection. The apostle John is writing to Gaius, a fellow believer, and calling him “beloved” shows this is not just a formal letter—it’s personal and heartfelt.

This phrase expresses sincere desire—almost like saying, “What I pray and hope most for you is…”
It’s not a divine promise, but a personal blessing or well-wish from John.

The Greek word for prosper here is “euodoo”, meaning:

• To succeed in reaching a goal
   
• To have a smooth journey
   
• To do well in practical affairs
   

💡 Note:
This is often misused by prosperity preachers as a blank check for financial wealth. But the context shows John is wishing that Gaius does well in his day-to-day affairs, travel, and ministry work—not just wealth.

This speaks to physical well-being.
John prays that Gaius is healthy physically, which makes sense considering the hardships of early church travel, persecution, and aging.

This is the key phrase in the whole verse.
John is saying:
“I hope your outward life (health and success) matches the well-being of your inner life (soul).”

In other words:

“You’re already strong in spirit and truth—may your physical life catch up to that!”
 

John is:

1. Encouraging a spiritually strong believer (Gaius) by affirming his soul is already prospering.
    
2. Wishing for Gaius’ external life—his health and livelihood—to reflect that same strength.
    
3. NOT teaching that wealth and health are guaranteed to every believer.
    

• Spiritual prosperity is the priority. John clearly sees Gaius’s soul is already doing well. That’s the foundation.
   
• Health and success are secondary blessings—good, but not guaranteed.
   
• It shows a balanced gospel: not a gospel of poverty or prosperity, but one of spiritual maturity first, and then praying that practical life aligns with that.