2 John 1:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elder warns them to watch themselves so they do not lose what has been worked for, but receive a full reward.
What Does 2 John 1:8 Mean?
In light of the deceivers, the elder gives a clear charge: 'Look to yourselves.' He calls his readers to watchful care, lest the spiritual progress already made — 'those things which we have wrought' — be lost through carelessness or deception. The labor of faith can be undermined if one drifts from the truth.
Yet the word is finally hopeful, aimed at a 'full reward.' The goal is not bare survival but the complete blessing God intends for those who endure. For the reader, this is a call to spiritual seriousness without anxiety: guard what God has begun in you, stay near the truth about Christ, and look ahead to the fullness God is keeping for the faithful.
2 John 1:8 in the Original Language
misthos (μισθός), 'reward' — wages or recompense, the rightful return given for faithful labor.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 John 1:8
What does 2 John 1:8 mean?
The elder warns them to watch themselves so they do not lose what has been worked for, but receive a full reward.