What Does It Mean to Prosper? (Part 2)
It is important that in order to understand 3 John 2 under study is to have a proper understanding of this particular Bible passage. This particular verse along with other passages of scriptures have been systematically perverted by those who are proponent of the prosperity gospel. Instead of seeking to understand the plain meaning of 3 John 2 that many prosperity teachers seek to read into that of this particular passage of scripture to seek some spiritual "revelation" or spiritual insight (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). For example the apostle Paul mentioned the names of two false teachers Hymenaeus and Philetus by which they taught the appearance of Christ as to His resurrection. In so many words that Christ's appearance in regards to His resurrection was spiritual; not having a physical glorified body as to be raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). If in fact Christ's resurrection is somewhat spiritual but not a physical glorified body than how is it possible for believers to anticipate future glory. If in fact Christ's did not rose "bodily" from the dead than our faith is in vain and we are still yet in our sins. For professing Christian teachers to deny that of Christ's physical "glorified" body so as to be resurrected strike a death blow at the nature and character of the gospel (Rom. 1:16) by which it causes God's people to become spiritually shipwrecked. For people's faith to become spiritually shipwrecked is to do damage to the faith and moral life of the Church (2 Tim. 2:18).
Throughout this article I will be writing on a series of articles, "What Does It Mean to Prosper?" (Part 2) by which I will probe into such an important topic of discussion. I would prefer to entitled this article, "What Does the Bible Really Teach about Prosperity?" by which to shed light upon the biblical context of 3 John 2. First, in order that the Church can grasp that of the clear meaning of the Bible is to compare scripture with scripture within its proper context: that of its preceding and previous context of scripture. In so many words scripture in comparison with other biblical passages of the Bible to get such clear meaning. It is also important to mention that there are some biblical passages of the Bible that are difficult to understand. So in order to understand any difficult passage/s of scripture is that there are other passages of the Bible that will shed light upon its biblical meaning (2 Cor. 2:13, 14). The problem with many proponents of the prosperity gospel is to ignore the immediate passage/s of the Bible as to its wider context. Instead they begin to "spiritualize" by "reading into" many Bible passages to seek some spiritual insight that are beyond what is the standard definition of the Bible. The Holy Spirit gives illumination; not revelation. The written revelation of God's Word is in the form of such propositional truth based upon what God has already written within His Word (Deut. 29:29). The Spirit gives believers the understanding of the written revelation of the Bible (Jn. 14:26). Thus, the Holy Spirit is divine Truth by which the Person of Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself.
As we look at 3 John 2 is that it is important that believers read carefully but slowly that of this biblical passage. Believers must take their time in reading that of this particular passage of scripture along with other biblical passages. It is unfortunate that there are those who claim to be "anointed" teachers of the Word of God but do not know how to read properly God's Word. Also it is important for believers to know how to properly interpret scripture. Personal interpretation, preference, and wrong application leave the door open to all kinds of mystical moorings and doctrinal heresies that is evident within that of many evangelical churches and "liberal" mainline Protestant denominations.
Now let us begin by reading 3 John 2 and to look for key words within this particular passage of scripture. The apostle John begins by saying, "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." (NIV) First, the apostle John was writing a letter to Gaius. When someone is writing a letter to a dear friend is their expression concerning that person's well-being. No where does it say otherwise other than the fact that it is a expression of a person's physical well-being. If I were to write a letter to my wife I would like to know how she is doing. Her reply would be, "As to my physical health I am doing quite well." In response to my wife I would say, "I am glad you are doing well." The point that I am making here is my concern in regards to my wife's physical well-being; not what is material nor financial. This is something that is foreign to the clear teaching of scripture (3 Jn. 6). The apostle John's letter to Gaius was for the concern of his beloved friend (Gaius) physical health (v. 3) and that all may go well with him. How is it possible to speak about having such material prosperity when in fact it refers to a person's physical health? Such interpretation of 3 John 2 perpetuated by many prosperity teachers are foreign to the context of the Bible. Nor does Gaius physical health meant to have "perfect" divine health by which many Faith televangelists allure to in 1 Peter 2:24. There is no such thing as "perfect" divine health simply because of what happened as to the Fall of Adam (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-24). Adam's sin and disobedience prohibit people from achieving such "perfect" divine health.
Looking at the first part of 3 John 2 is that the word "prosper" means that, "all may go well with you" referring to the physical health of Gaius; not what is material, financial wealth. There are many Faith televangelist who have made a craft out of 3 John 2 at the expense of their followers (2 Pet. 2:2, 3). They have perverted that of 3 John 2 by "reading into" what is not there in this particular Bible passage of scripture (2 Pet. 3:16). They are unstable people who have distort the truth as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction. Leaders who are perverted in what they teach will adversely affect those who are under their leadership (2 Tim. 3:13).
Also paying attention to the latter part of 3 John 2c the apostle John letter to Gaius says, "even as your soul is getting along well." The apostle John's letter to Gaius was also concern about the soul prosperity of his recipient (Gaius). The issue of soul prosperity has in fact been greatly misinterpreted by many prosperity teachers in the church today. Whenever they attempt to teach on soul prosperity is their gross misunderstanding of this important biblical concept by which it has been interpreted referring to the "spirit" as to its dichotomous view of humanity. Such dichotomist (i.e. "prosperity teachers") deny what is the "soulish" part of man as to refer to the Mind, will, and emotions. In so many words the way by which God communicates to a person is within their "spirit"; not what is rational and reasonable faith. The "true" biblical meaning of "soul prosperity" refers to the believers spiritual growth in the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18). In order that God's people can properly grow spiritually is to have a proper understanding of grace and in the knowledge of Christ (v. 18). We cannot expect to live a life pleasing unto the Lord when works becomes a means by which we can live holy lives. Salvation is by grace to faith in Jesus Christ; not of any works and human achievements (Eph. 2:8-9). The hindrance of believer's properly growing spiritually in the Lord is that of haphazardness, and laziness when it comes to studying God's Word. The rise of false doctrine and heresies in the church today is the Church's basic misunderstanding of the Christian faith. Our knowledge of Christ is that of the fount and wisdom and knowledge of God devoid of such mystical view about Christ. Mysticism, asceticism, and legalism is at the heart of spiritual apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1). The tragedy for many of God's people is to abandon that of the true faith ("God's Word) for some "inward" voice of the spirit to affirm there relationship with God (Col. 2:18, 19). Our knowledge of God is outward; not what is inward based upon the written revelation of the Bible. Whenever the Church "substitute" God's Word for such personal prophecies, revelation of the spirit, or "inward" voice has in fact cross over the threshold of theological mysticism.
The Church must return to a Christ-centered faith that is based upon God's Word and that of "true" authentic worship (2 Chron. 7:14; Jn. 4:24).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman, Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" He is the Podcast Host of, "Ask Darryl" that is aired 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
Throughout this article I will be writing on a series of articles, "What Does It Mean to Prosper?" (Part 2) by which I will probe into such an important topic of discussion. I would prefer to entitled this article, "What Does the Bible Really Teach about Prosperity?" by which to shed light upon the biblical context of 3 John 2. First, in order that the Church can grasp that of the clear meaning of the Bible is to compare scripture with scripture within its proper context: that of its preceding and previous context of scripture. In so many words scripture in comparison with other biblical passages of the Bible to get such clear meaning. It is also important to mention that there are some biblical passages of the Bible that are difficult to understand. So in order to understand any difficult passage/s of scripture is that there are other passages of the Bible that will shed light upon its biblical meaning (2 Cor. 2:13, 14). The problem with many proponents of the prosperity gospel is to ignore the immediate passage/s of the Bible as to its wider context. Instead they begin to "spiritualize" by "reading into" many Bible passages to seek some spiritual insight that are beyond what is the standard definition of the Bible. The Holy Spirit gives illumination; not revelation. The written revelation of God's Word is in the form of such propositional truth based upon what God has already written within His Word (Deut. 29:29). The Spirit gives believers the understanding of the written revelation of the Bible (Jn. 14:26). Thus, the Holy Spirit is divine Truth by which the Person of Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself.
As we look at 3 John 2 is that it is important that believers read carefully but slowly that of this biblical passage. Believers must take their time in reading that of this particular passage of scripture along with other biblical passages. It is unfortunate that there are those who claim to be "anointed" teachers of the Word of God but do not know how to read properly God's Word. Also it is important for believers to know how to properly interpret scripture. Personal interpretation, preference, and wrong application leave the door open to all kinds of mystical moorings and doctrinal heresies that is evident within that of many evangelical churches and "liberal" mainline Protestant denominations.
Now let us begin by reading 3 John 2 and to look for key words within this particular passage of scripture. The apostle John begins by saying, "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." (NIV) First, the apostle John was writing a letter to Gaius. When someone is writing a letter to a dear friend is their expression concerning that person's well-being. No where does it say otherwise other than the fact that it is a expression of a person's physical well-being. If I were to write a letter to my wife I would like to know how she is doing. Her reply would be, "As to my physical health I am doing quite well." In response to my wife I would say, "I am glad you are doing well." The point that I am making here is my concern in regards to my wife's physical well-being; not what is material nor financial. This is something that is foreign to the clear teaching of scripture (3 Jn. 6). The apostle John's letter to Gaius was for the concern of his beloved friend (Gaius) physical health (v. 3) and that all may go well with him. How is it possible to speak about having such material prosperity when in fact it refers to a person's physical health? Such interpretation of 3 John 2 perpetuated by many prosperity teachers are foreign to the context of the Bible. Nor does Gaius physical health meant to have "perfect" divine health by which many Faith televangelists allure to in 1 Peter 2:24. There is no such thing as "perfect" divine health simply because of what happened as to the Fall of Adam (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-24). Adam's sin and disobedience prohibit people from achieving such "perfect" divine health.
Looking at the first part of 3 John 2 is that the word "prosper" means that, "all may go well with you" referring to the physical health of Gaius; not what is material, financial wealth. There are many Faith televangelist who have made a craft out of 3 John 2 at the expense of their followers (2 Pet. 2:2, 3). They have perverted that of 3 John 2 by "reading into" what is not there in this particular Bible passage of scripture (2 Pet. 3:16). They are unstable people who have distort the truth as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction. Leaders who are perverted in what they teach will adversely affect those who are under their leadership (2 Tim. 3:13).
Also paying attention to the latter part of 3 John 2c the apostle John letter to Gaius says, "even as your soul is getting along well." The apostle John's letter to Gaius was also concern about the soul prosperity of his recipient (Gaius). The issue of soul prosperity has in fact been greatly misinterpreted by many prosperity teachers in the church today. Whenever they attempt to teach on soul prosperity is their gross misunderstanding of this important biblical concept by which it has been interpreted referring to the "spirit" as to its dichotomous view of humanity. Such dichotomist (i.e. "prosperity teachers") deny what is the "soulish" part of man as to refer to the Mind, will, and emotions. In so many words the way by which God communicates to a person is within their "spirit"; not what is rational and reasonable faith. The "true" biblical meaning of "soul prosperity" refers to the believers spiritual growth in the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18). In order that God's people can properly grow spiritually is to have a proper understanding of grace and in the knowledge of Christ (v. 18). We cannot expect to live a life pleasing unto the Lord when works becomes a means by which we can live holy lives. Salvation is by grace to faith in Jesus Christ; not of any works and human achievements (Eph. 2:8-9). The hindrance of believer's properly growing spiritually in the Lord is that of haphazardness, and laziness when it comes to studying God's Word. The rise of false doctrine and heresies in the church today is the Church's basic misunderstanding of the Christian faith. Our knowledge of Christ is that of the fount and wisdom and knowledge of God devoid of such mystical view about Christ. Mysticism, asceticism, and legalism is at the heart of spiritual apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1). The tragedy for many of God's people is to abandon that of the true faith ("God's Word) for some "inward" voice of the spirit to affirm there relationship with God (Col. 2:18, 19). Our knowledge of God is outward; not what is inward based upon the written revelation of the Bible. Whenever the Church "substitute" God's Word for such personal prophecies, revelation of the spirit, or "inward" voice has in fact cross over the threshold of theological mysticism.
The Church must return to a Christ-centered faith that is based upon God's Word and that of "true" authentic worship (2 Chron. 7:14; Jn. 4:24).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman, Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" He is the Podcast Host of, "Ask Darryl" that is aired 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
Comments
Post a Comment