3 John 1:2

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, etc] Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in the business of life, in which he was; and as success of this sort depends upon the blessing of God, which maketh rich, it is to be wished and prayed for from him: and be in health; that is, of body, which above all things above all outward mercies, is the most desirable; for without this, what are the richest dainties, the largest possessions, or the best of friends? without this there can be no comfortable enjoyment of either of them; and therefore of this sort of mercies, it is in the first place, and above all others, to be wished for, and desired by one friend for another. The rule and…”

“above all things--Greek, "concerning all things": so ALFORD: in all respects. But WAHL justifies English Version (compare Pe1 4:8). Of course, since his soul's prosperity is presupposed, "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. I know you are prospering in the concerns of your soul. I wish you similar prosperity in your body. Perhaps John had heard from the brethren (Jo3 1:3) that Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways (Jo3 1:10), to which the wish, Jo3 1:2, refers. prosper--in general. be in health--in particular.”

“Beloved, I wish above all things - Margin, “pray.” The word used here commonly means in the New Testament to pray; but it is also employed to express a strong and earnest desire for anything, Acts 27:29; Rom 9:3; 2 Corinthians 13:9. This is probably all that is implied here. The phrase rendered “above all things” - περὶ πάντων peri pantōn - would be more correctly rendered here “concerning, or in respect to all things;” and the idea is, that John wished earnestly that “in all respects” he might have the same kind of prosperity which his soul had. The common translation “above all things” would seem to mean that John valued health and outward prosperity more than he did anything else; that…”

“wish: or, pray above: Jam 5:12; Pe1 4:8 that: Psa 20:1-5; Phi 2:4, Phi 2:27 even: Jo3 1:3-6; Col 1:4-6; Th1 1:3-10, Th1 2:13, Th1 2:14, Th1 2:19, Th1 2:20, Th1 3:6-9; Th2 1:3, Th2 2:13; Plm 1:5-7; Pe2 1:3-9, Pe2 3:18; Rev 2:9 3 John 1:3”