2 Beloved, I wish above all things [ peri pantoon, "concerning all things"] that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul [life] prospereth.

Spiritual Diagnosia

The first and foremost sign of spiritual health will be found where there is a strong panting desire for the daily reading of the Word of God as for necessary food.

Another indication of robustness in the inner man is where there is a good sharp appetite for all meetings where the truth and its obedience are in the ascendant. Those who are neither so cold nor hot that they can either do with a meeting or without it as a matter of choice, are sadly out of health. They need to take Paul's prescription,

"Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together."

Another evidence of good health is where there is salt (uncorruptness) in the speech, and thorough disrelish for mere "small talk" and "playing the fool," together with a wise consecration of leisure time to the service of the truth.

Another unmistakable token of health in the mind is where there is a modest absence of that studied decoration of sin's flesh which characterises the empty-headed devotees of fashion, who (pity for them) have no higher thoughts to occupy their vain minds than the things which "perish with the using."

Another characteristic of a sound mind is the readiness with which opportunities of doing good are perceived and embraced, conjoined with the spirit which counts it an honour to have the chance of doing the smallest thing for Christ's sake. Those who are tardy and hesitating in these directions, are slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

Another key to spiritual healthiness is where the principles of the kingdom to come are the rule of action now, in every department of life.

Another sign which is present in a healthy condition, is an unreserved identification with the sufferings, interests, and general well-being of the body of Christ, not merely as an onlooker, but as a member of the body.

Another sure indication of health is where Christ's affairs are always the most important to be attended to, and where all other affairs only exist as the servants and subordinates of the truth, which is king.

One more mark of spiritual vitality, and a strong constitution, is where people are proof against change of circumstances, where, come weal or come woe, they are the same—God-trusting, humble, unpretending, plodding and familiar companions of the poor despised servants of the truth.

Bro Shuttleworth

The Christadelphian, Oct 1875

The word translated "soul" is ψυχη psuche, which is rightly translated "soul" if "soul" be understood in its simple original sense of life; but wrongly, if soul is read as the symbol of an immortal entity, for there is no such idea connected with the Greek word.

But how comes it, it may be asked, that John should make a distinction between the "life" of his "well-beloved Gaius" and Gaius himself and his health? The answer is that this distinction belongs more to the English translation of John's words than to the words that John wrote.

The phrase translated "above all things" as written by John is περι παντων, peri pantoon, the strict sense of which is about (with reference to, or concerning) all things. If he had meant "above all things," in the English sense of that phrase, he would have written προ παντων pro pantoon, as in 1 Peter 4:8, "above all things (προ παντων) have fervent charity among yourselves."

But he wrote peri pantoon, "concerning all things." This has a different sense: "Beloved, I wish concerning all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as prospers thy ψυχη."

This was a wish that Gaius in all his affairs might have the same prosperity and health that he had in his spiritual life; for observe what follows:

"For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth. For I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth."

To "walk in the truth," then, is for a man's life to prosper according to John's view of it. And no wonder, for away from this walk in the truth, a man is drawing near to the gates of death. His temporal surroundings may be developing, but his own well-being is slowly setting in the murky clouds of the divine displeasure, while

"the path of the just is as the shining light, shining brighter and brighter unto the perfect day."

Death to them is but a rest which in a moment, as it were to them, ends in the glorious awaking of the blessed who shall rise to vigour, and life, and joy for ever. Gaius was prospering so well in this matter, by the reports that reached John, that he makes this prosperity the measure of his good wishes concerning his temporal affairs.

The Christadelphian, Nov 1872

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

In some sectarian places, it is made a rule to be attentive to strangers who step into a place of meeting. This is well, when it is not overdone. It is overdone frequently with the effect of repelling intelligent visitors who wish to be left to the power of conviction and not to be embarrassed with personal importunity. But it is possible to go to the other extreme.

We have heard of meeting places of the brethren where no one speaks to visitors, and where even brethren visiting have thus been overlooked, and been obliged to go away without making themselves known. This is certainly inconsistent with the cordial urbanity that belongs to the House of Christ.

The Christadelphian, Feb 1886

9 I wrote unto the ecclesia: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Brother Thomas answered his critics who accused him of wanting to be the head of a sect:

"As to desiring to be the head of a religious party in this country, I scorn the position as unworthy a Christian man. When I reflect upon who have been the heads of the religious parties in the world, I feel that I should be degraded were I to be added to their coterie. A man can attain to no higher honour in this state, than to that of being an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ of the promise made to Abraham. The head of a sect! Contemptible! I leave such vanities to those whose empty heads are best pleased therewith; they have no charms for me."

Life and Works of Dr Thomas.