2 John 1:8

8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

2 John 1:8 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
The Message Bible (MSG)
8 And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
8 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
8 Be careful that you don't destroy what we've worked for, but that you receive your full reward.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
8 Watch yourselves so that you don't lose what we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
8 Watch out that you don't lose what you have worked for. Make sure that you get your complete reward.

2 John 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves
This is an exhortation to the elect lady, and her children, to look about them, and take care of themselves, and beware of these deceivers, and their doctrines:

that we lose not those things which we have wrought;
or as the Alexandrian copy, and many other copies, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read, "that ye lose not those things which ye have wrought"; in embracing the Gospel, making a profession of it, walking in it, showing a zeal, and contending for it, expressing a love both by words and actions to the ministers of it, and suffering much reproach on the account of it; all which would be lost, and in vain, should they at last drop the Gospel, and embrace the errors of the wicked; see ( Galatians 3:4 ) . Moreover, such who do not go such lengths, as to let go the head, Christ, but retain him as the foundation, and the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, yet, among many precious things, may lay much rubbish on this foundation; and therefore should take heed what they build upon it, since, though they themselves may be saved, their works may be destroyed, and so they suffer loss; see ( 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ) ; and if we read the words, "that we lose not--which we have wrought"; the sense is the same, it being only a figure which rhetoricians call communion, and it is frequently used when a common duty is exhorted to; see ( 1 John 2:28 ) ( 2 John 1:5 ) ; unless it should be thought that this has a peculiar reference to the ministers of the Gospel, as it may: for though the Gospel preached by them can never be lost, being the everlasting Gospel, and the word which abides for ever; yet it may be received in vain, and persons may fall from it, and imbibe error, and so the labour of Christ's faithful ministers may be so far in vain, and lost; and likewise, many souls whom they have thought they have gained to Christ, and that they have been instruments of working upon them for good, and have hoped they would be their joy and crown of rejoicing another day; when such are carried away by deceivers, fall off from the truth, ministers of the word lose what they thought they had wrought, which must give them great concern; and this is improved by the apostle into a reason and argument why the persons he wrote to should beware of seducers and their errors:

but that we receive a full reward;
in heaven, and which itself is called the recompense of reward, and the reward of the inheritance; not that this is a reward of debt due to the works of men, which are not rewardable in themselves; for they are such as are due to God before they are performed; and when they are done, they are not profitable to him, nothing is given to him, or received by him; when all is done that can be done, men are unprofitable servants; but this is a reward of grace, God has of his own grace promised it to those who love and serve him; and because it will be given them of his grace, after their work is over, as wages are given to a servant when he has done his work, it goes by this name: and whereas it is said to be a "full" one, the meaning is not as if it was different to different persons, for there is but one recompense of reward, or reward of the inheritance common to all the saints; or, as if it might be incomplete in some; it only signifies a large and exceeding great reward; see ( Genesis 15:1 ) ( 2:12 ) ; in which last place the same phrase is used as here; and where the Septuagint interpreters use the same words as here; and which is thus paraphrased by the Targumist,

``the Lord give thee a good recompence in this world for thy good work, and let thy reward be (amylv) , "full", or "perfect", in the world to come.''

And the Jews F7 often speak of a full reward, and an equal one, to be received hereafter. Perhaps regard is here had particularly to the ministers of the Gospel, who have their reward in part here, for the workman is worthy of his reward, and they will have it in full hereafter. Moreover, the apostle might here be concerned, that he, and every faithful minister, might have their full number, they expected, that none may be missing, and which he may call a full reward: though the above copies and versions read here, as before, "ye", and "not we".


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Targum on Eccl. i. 3. & ii. 11. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 72. 4.

2 John 1:8 In-Context

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Matthew 10:42; Mark 10:29,30; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Hebrews 10:35,36; Hebrews 11:26

Footnotes 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.