Is 3 John 2 a promise intended for all of us to financially prosper?

  3 John 2:  “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.’

 Those who preach the “health and prosperity gospel,” misinterpret this verse to mean this is a scripture promise that he will be financially prosperous.

This was a standard form of greeting in their day, much like peace be unto you.   The Greek word for “prosper” here does not refer specifically to financial prosperity but simply means that it would “go well with someone.” Even if it did mean to financially prosper it is not a promise to everyone but to “The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth,” it is Gaius that is being addressed here.  Gaius was growing in the knowledge of the truth and his soul was prospering.  It was John’s earnest desire for his life, his relationships were o be as abundant as his soul was, (in a moral sense).

“above all things”-peri- if we take the interpretation that the prosperity teachers do then this verse would mean that John valued physical health and outward prosperity more than he did the health of his  soul, this would go against what John taught elsewhere that we are to first desire spiritual health.

This word is also found in: Rom 1:10, it is rendered “have a prosperous journey;”

The wish for “things to go well” along with the wish for “good health,” financial prosperity is not the actual intent of this greeting.