2 John 1

2 John · Chapter 1

2 John 1:8

1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Right after warning that many deceivers deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, the elder tells his readers to watch themselves. They must not lose what has been worked for, but receive a full reward. The next verses say how: abide in the doctrine of Christ and do not welcome those who bring another teaching. 2 John 1:72 John 1:82 John 1:92 John 1:10

Speaking"The elder," who does not give his name. Tradition says he is John the apostle. Some scholars think he was a different church leader. 2 John 1:12 John overview

To"The elect lady and her children." This may be a Christian woman and her family, or a local church and its members. The letter does not say which. 2 John 1:12 John overview

Also involvedThe deceivers of verse 7 are the danger in view. The "we" who worked includes the elder and those who share the truth with him. 2 John 1:72 John 1:12 John 1:8

A call to keep watch over oneself. Giving way to false teaching would mean losing the fruit of past labour. Staying faithful leads to receiving the reward in full. 2 John 1:8Strong's G0991Strong's G0622Strong's G3408Strong's G4134

The letter does not say where it was written. Early tradition places John's last years in Ephesus. It went to a church or household likely in the province of Asia. 2 John overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaEphesusPatmosSmyrnaPergamumThyatiraSardisPhiladelphiaLaodicea

The eventsTravelling teachers moved between churches and relied on believers for housing. Some of them taught that Jesus Christ had not come in the flesh. 2 John overview2 John 1:72 John 1:10

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 85-95, late in John's life. Scholarly view: most scholars also place it in the late first century. 2 John overview

HereTo guard the readers against deceivers, so that their walk in truth and love does not come to nothing. 2 John overview2 John 1:42 John 1:62 John 1:7

In the whole of ScriptureScripture often links faithful labour with a reward from God. Paul says every man "shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." Hebrews urges, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." 1 Corinthians 3:81 Corinthians 3:14Hebrews 10:35Revelation 3:11

For readersGood beginnings need guarding. Like Paul's question, "Have ye suffered so many things in vain?", this verse warns that drifting from the truth can waste what was built. Galatians 3:4Hebrews 12:152 John 1:9

  • look to (watch)βλέπω
    Greek · blepō · G0991

    The word means to see, and it is also used of mental vision: to perceive or discern. "Look to yourselves" is a call to stay alert to danger, much as Jesus said "take heed to yourselves" in Mark 13:9. Strong's G0991Mark 13:9

  • loseἀπολλύω
    Greek · apolluō · G0622

    The lexicon gives the sense "to lose utterly." It glosses the form here as "you may lose." The danger named is real loss of what was gained. Strong's G0622

  • wrought (worked for)ἐργάζομαι
    Greek · ergazomai · G2038

    This is the ordinary word for working or labouring. Here it is glossed "we have worked for." The thing that could be lost is the fruit of shared labour. Strong's G2038

  • rewardμισθός
    Greek · misthos · G3408

    The word means wages or hire, and more generally a reward. The lexicon lists this verse among its uses for divine rewards, along with 1 Corinthians 3:8 and 3:14. Strong's G34081 Corinthians 3:81 Corinthians 3:14

  • fullπλήρης
    Greek · plērēs · G4134

    The word means full or complete. The lexicon cites this verse for a complete reward. The aim is to receive the reward whole, not reduced. Strong's G4134

Takeaway

Stay watchful and hold to the truth about Christ. Then the good already done is not lost, and the reward is received in full. 2 John 1:82 John 1:9Revelation 3:11

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

About AD 85-95. Roman emperor: Domitian (AD 81-96). Where early tradition places John's last years. The greatest city of the province of Asia, on the west coast of today's Turkey.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorDomitianAD 81-96

    Son of Vespasian and brother of Titus. Suetonius says he had himself styled "our Lord and God" in official letters. Early Christian writers say John was exiled to Patmos in his reign. Suetonius, Domitian 13Revelation 1:9Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30.3Eusebius, Church History 3.18

  • Roman emperorsNerva and TrajanAD 96-98, 98-117

    After Domitian was murdered in AD 96 the Senate chose the elderly Nerva, who adopted the general Trajan. Early tradition says John lived on in Ephesus into Trajan's reign. Suetonius, Domitian 14-17Cassius Dio, Roman History 68.1-4Irenaeus, Against Heresies 2.22.5

  • Governor of the province of AsiaThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in its leading cities, Ephesus among them. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • King of ParthiaPacorus IIc. AD 78-110

    Ruler of the Parthian empire beyond the Euphrates, Rome's great rival in the east, at peace with Rome through these years. Cassius Dio, Roman History 68.17

What was happening, AD 70 to AD 96
  1. AD 70
    WarJerusalem and its temple destroyed

    Roman armies under Titus took Jerusalem after a long siege and burned the temple, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Jewish War 6.249-287Luke 21:5-6Luke 21:20-24

  2. August AD 79
    DisasterVesuvius buries Pompeii

    The eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny the Younger watched it from across the bay; his uncle Pliny the Elder died trying to rescue people. Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16, 6.20

  3. AD 80
    BuildingThe Colosseum opens in Rome

    Titus opened the great amphitheater begun by his father Vespasian with 100 days of games. Suetonius, Titus 7.3Cassius Dio, Roman History 66.25

  4. AD 83 or 84
    WarRome's furthest push into Britain

    The governor Agricola defeated the Caledonians at Mons Graupius in what is now Scotland, and his fleet sailed around the north of Britain. Tacitus, Agricola 29-38

  5. AD 85-89
    WarWar with the Dacians

    The Dacians crossed the Danube and killed a Roman governor. After years of fighting, Domitian made a peace that paid their king Decebalus a yearly subsidy. Suetonius, Domitian 6Cassius Dio, Roman History 67.6-7

  6. c. AD 89
    BuildingEphesus builds a temple to the emperors

    Ephesus won the honor of a provincial temple for the worship of the emperors, the Temple of the Sebastoi, with a colossal statue of an emperor. Its remains stand in the city's upper square. Temple of the Sebastoi, Ephesus (excavated remains and inscriptions)

  7. AD 93-94
    DiscoveryJosephus finishes his history of the Jews

    In Rome the Jewish historian Josephus completed his Antiquities of the Jews, which mentions John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, and Jesus himself. Josephus, Antiquities 20.267Josephus, Antiquities 18.116-119, 20.200

  8. c. AD 95
    The churchJohn on Patmos

    John was on the island of Patmos "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" when he received the Revelation. Early writers date this to the end of Domitian's reign. Revelation 1:9Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30.3

  9. c. AD 96
    The churchClement of Rome writes to Corinth

    The church at Rome sent a letter, traditionally by Clement, to settle a dispute at Corinth where younger members had removed their elders. It is one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. 1 Clement 1, 44, 47

  10. September AD 96
    RulersDomitian is murdered

    Domitian was killed in a palace plot. The Senate condemned his memory and chose Nerva as emperor. Suetonius, Domitian 14-17, 23

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years (Suetonius, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Josephus, Pliny, Irenaeus, Eusebius). The letter names no place, so the setting follows early tradition. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
do watchβλέπετεblepeteG0991
to see

βλέπω (blepō) βλέπω, [in LXX chiefly for ראה, also for פּנה, etc. ;] 1. of bodily sight; (a) to see, have sight (opposite to τυφλὸς): Mat.12:22, Jhn.9:7, Act.9:9, Rom.11:8, Rev.3:18, al.; (b) to perceive, look (at), see: absol., Act.1:9; with accusative, Mat.7:3, Mrk.5:31, Luk.6:41, Jhn.1:29, al.; ὅραμα, Act.12:9; γυναῖκα, Mat.5:28; βιβλίον, Rev.5:3, 4; τ. βλεπόμενα, 2Co.4:18. 2. Metaphorical, of mental vision; (a) to see, perceive, discern: absol., Mat.13:13, Luk.8:10; δι ̓ ἐσόπτρου, 1Co.13:12; with accusative, Heb.2:9 10:25; before ὅτι, Heb.3:19, Jas.2:22; …

yourselvesἑαυτοὺςhe'autousG1438
/him/herself

αὑτοῦ (ahutou) αὑτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ = ἑαυτοῦ (which see), Mat.6:34, Luk.12:17, al. (MM, see word) (AS)

so thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

notμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

you may loseἀπολέσητεapolesēteG0622
to destroy

ἀπολλύω (apolluō) ἀπ-όλλυμι and ἀπολλύω [in LXX for אָבַד, etc. (38 words in all)]. 1. Act., 1 to destroy utterly, destroy, kill: Mk 124, 922, al.; τ. ψνχήν, Mat.10:28, al.; 2 to lose utterly: Mat.10:42, al.; metaphorically, of failing to save, Jhn.6:39 18:9. 2. Mid., 1 to perish; (a) of things: Mat.5:29, Jhn.6:12, Heb.1:11 (LXX, al.; …

what thingsἃhaG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

we have worked for,εἰργασάμεθα,eirgasamethaG2038
to work

ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) ἐργάζομαι (ἔργον), [in LXX for עָבַד, פָּעַל, עָשָׂה, etc. ;] 1. intrans., (a) to work, labour: Mat.21:28, Luk.13:14, Jhn.5:17 9:4 b, Act.18:3, 1Co.9:6, 2Th.3:10-12; τ. χερσίν, 1Co.4:12, 1Th.4:11; νυκτὸς κ. ἡαέρας, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8; of working for pay, Mat.21:28; for reward, Rom.4:4-5; (b) to work at a trade or business, to trade: before Iv (Dem.), Mat.25:16. 2. Trans., …

butἀλλὰallaG0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

a rewardμισθὸνmisthonG3408
wage

μισθός (misthos) μισθός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for שָׂכָר ;] 1. prop., wages, hire: Mat.20:8, Luk.10:7, Rom.4:4, 1Ti.5:18, Jas.5:4, Ju 11; μ. ἀδικίας, Act.1:18, 2Pe.2:13 (but see Mayor and ICC, in l), 2Pe.2:15. 2. Generally, reward: Jhn.4:36, 1Co.9:18; esp. of divine rewards, Mat.5:12 6:1-2, 5 6:16 10:41-42 Mrk.9:41, Luk.6:23, 35, 1Co.3:8 3:14, 2Jn.8, Rev.11:18 22:12; ἔχειν μ., Mat.5:46, 1Co.9:17.† (AS)

fullπλήρηplērēG4134
full

πλήρης (plērēs) πλήρης, -ες [in LXX chiefly for מָלֵא ;] 1. full, filled: Mat.14:20 15:37; with genitive of thing(s), Mrk.8:19; λέπρας, Luk.5:12; metaphorically, of the soul: πνεύματος ἀγίου, Luk.4:1, Act.6:3 7:55 11:24; πίστεως, Act.6:5; χάριτος, ib. Act.6:8; χ. καὶ ἀληθείας (where π. is indecl.; see M, Pr., 50; Milligan, NTD, 65, with reff. in each), Jhn.1:14; δόλου, Act.13:10; θυμοῦ, Act.19:28; ἔργων ἀγαθῶν, Act.9:36. 2. full, complete: μισθός, II Jn 8; σῖτος (π. prob. in­decl. here; see on Jhn.1:14, supr.), Mrk.4:28.† (AS)

you may receive.ἀπολάβητε.apolabēteG0618
to get back

ἀπολαμβάνω (apolambanō) ἀπο-λαμβάνω [in LXX: Num.34:14 (לָקַח (Deu.25:5 A, Isa.5:17, 2Ma.4:46 2Mac 6:21 2Mac 8:6, 4Ma.18:23 * ;] 1. to receive from another; absol., to receive as one's due: Luk.16:25 18:30 (seel. λάβῃ) Luk.23:41, Rom.1:27, Gal.4:5, Col.3:24, 2Jn.8. 2. to receive back: Luk.6:34 15:27. 3. to take apart or aside: Mrk.7:33 (cf. use in π. of the recluses of the Serapeum; MM, see word).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.