SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:8
Mirad por vosotros mismos, para que no perdamos las cosas que hemos obrado, sino que recibamos el galardn cumplido.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:8
Verse 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, apoleswmen, &c., WE lose, &c., many MSS., versions, and fathers, read the whole clause in the second person plural, apoleshte, YE lose, &c. 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 evidence as the other. We find that if these persons did not keep on their guard they might lose their salvation, and the apostles their rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Even this intimation might put them on their guard.
Had the apostle said ye cannot finally fall, what a different effect would it have produced! Griesbach has placed these readings in the margin as being very probable.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. Look to yourselves , etc.] 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 Ruth 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 amyl , full, or perfect, in the world to come.
And the Jews 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-11 - The deceiver and his deceit are described: he brings some erro concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus. Such a one is deceiver and an antichrist; he deludes souls, and undermines the glor and kingdom of the Lord Christ. Let us not think it strange, that ther are deceivers and opposers of the Lord Christ's name and dignity now for there were such, even in the apostles' times. The more deceiver and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must be. Sad it is that splendid attainments in the school of Christ, should ever be lost The way to gain the full reward is, to abide true to Christ, an constant in religion to the end. Firm cleaving to Christian trut unites us to Christ, and thereby to the Father also; for they are one Let us equally disregard such as abide not in the doctrine of Christ and those who transgress his commands. Any who did not profess an preach the doctrine of Christ, respecting him as the Son of God, an salvation by him from guilt and sin, were not to be noticed an countenanced. Yet in obeying this command, we must show kindness and good spirit to those who differ from us in lesser matters, but holy firmly the all-important doctrines of Christ's person, atonement, an holy salvation.
Greek Textus Receptus
βλεπετε 991 5720 εαυτους 1438 ινα 2443 μη 3361 απολεσωμεν 622 5661 α 3739 ειργασαμεθα 2038 5662 αλλα 235 μισθον 3408 πληρη 4134 απολαβωμεν 618 5632
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Look to yourselves that (blepete eautouv ina). %Ina in order that, marks the intent of the caution. See on John xv. 13.
We lose (apoleswmen). The best texts read ajpoleshte, ye lose. So Rev, with destroy in margin. For the meanings of the verb see on Luke ix. 25. We receive (apolabwmen). The best texts read ajpolabhte ye receive. The compounded preposition ajpo, has the force of back: receive back from God.
Reward (misqon). See on 2 Pet. ii. 13, and compare Matt. v. 12; John iv. 36; 1 Cor. iii. 8; Apoc. xi. 18; xxii. 12.
