2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Look	βλέπετε blepete	G991	to look at (literally or figuratively) · verb — present active imperative, 2nd person plural
yourselves	ἑαυτοὺς he'autous	G1438	him- (her- · reflexive pronoun
that	ἵνα ina	G2443	compare G3588 (ὁ)) · conjunction
lose	ἀπολέσητε apolesēte	G622	to destroy fully (reflexively · verb — aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person plural
not	μὴ mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
which	ἃ ha	G3739	the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun · relative pronoun — accusative plural neuter
wrought	εἰργασάμεθα, eirgasametha	G2038	to toil (as a task · verb — aorist middle deponent indicative, 1st person plural
but	ἀλλὰ alla	G235	properly · conjunction
receive	ἀπολάβητε. apolabēte	G618	to receive (specially · verb — second aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person plural
a	μισθὸν misthon	G3408	pay for service (literally or figuratively) · noun — accusative singular masculine
full	πλήρη plērē	G4134	replete · adjective — accusative singular masculine
reward	μισθός misthós	G3408	pay for service (literally or figuratively)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Galatians 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought be…
John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice togethe…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 John 1:7-9

In this principal part of the epistle we find, I. The ill news communicated to the lady-seducers are abroad: For many deceivers have entered into the world. This report is introduced by a particle that bespeaks a reason of the report. "You have need to maintain your love, for there are destroyers of it in the world. Those who subvert the faith destroy the love; the common faith is one ground of the common love;" or, "You must secure your walk according to the commands of God; this will secure you. Your stability is likely to be tried, for many deceivers have entered into the world." Sad and saddening news may be communicated to our Christian friends; not that we should love to make them sorr…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves--amidst the widespread prevalence of deception so many being led astray. So Christ's warning, Mat 24:4-5, Mat 24:24. we lose not . . . we receive--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "That YE lose not, but that YE receive." which we have wrought--So one oldest manuscript reads. Other very old manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "which YE have wrought." The we being seemingly the more difficult reading is less likely to have been a transcriber's alteration. Look that ye lose not the believing state of "truth and love," which WE (as God's workmen, Co2 6:1; Ti2 2:15) were the instruments of working in you. a full reward--of grace not of debt. Fully consummat…

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Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves - Be on your guard against these seducers; watch, pray, love God and each other, and walk in newness of life. That we lose not those things which we have wrought - That we apostles, who have been the means of your conversion, may not be deprived of you as our crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Instead of the first person plural, απολεσωμεν, etc., We lose, etc., many MSS., versions, and fathers, read the whole clause in the second person plural, απολεσητε, Ye lose, etc. Take heed to yourselves that Ye lose not the things which Ye have wrought, but that Ye receive a full reward. This reading is more consistent and likely, and is supported by at least as good ev…

The Church Fathers

Here John is warning people not to fall away into heresy or to revert back to the Old Testament law once they have received the New.
— Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 JOHN

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

2 John 1:8

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 John 1:7-9

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 John 1:8

Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:8

The Church Fathers

2 John 1:8

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 John 1:7-9

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 John 1:8

Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:8

The Church Fathers

John Gill on 2 John 1:8

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 John 1:8