# 3 John 1.2

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [3 John](/codex/3-john/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 1. The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
>
> **2. Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.**
>
> 3. For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth. 4. Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. (3 John 1:1-4, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 1. The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
>
> **2. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.**
>
> 3. For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. 4. I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth. (3 John 1:1-4, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 1. The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. <sup>in: or, truly</sup>
>
> **2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. <sup>wish: or, pray</sup>**
>
> 3. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:1-4, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 1. The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!
>
> **2. beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,**
>
> 3. for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk; 4. greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking. (3 John 1:1-4, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) (self-designated 'the elder')
- **Audience:** Gaius (personal addressee)
- **Location:** Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G3956 - pas](/codex/g3956-pas/), *pas* (Strong's G3956). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 2.1-6](/codex/matthew-2-1-6/), [Matthew 2.16](/codex/matthew-2-16/).
- [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), *psyche* (Strong's G5590). Also appears in: [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 10.28](/codex/matthew-10-28/), [Matthew 10.37-39](/codex/matthew-10-37-39/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.