2 John 1:8 Commentary and Bible Study

Defend the truth; make sure that these things are taught. Make sure that the dear people of God are warned not to listen to false teachers. Many people think this is speaking about our reward in Heaven. I do not think it is speaking here about heavenly rewards. Of course I cannot be dogmatic about that, but I think more it is speaking about your reward even here on earth. To think that the apostle John and the early preachers might live to see error sweeping away many, many people in the churches that they had founded, and regions where they had planted churches, false teaching taking over! Their reward is to see Christ magnified and honoured and glorified. Beware that you do not lose the ground you have gained. When you go to Heaven, you want to have the joy of meeting there many people, entering even after you, who came through your church, who came through your Sunday school class. So this verse would apply equally if it was speaking about the reward and satisfaction of Christian workers on earth. ‘Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought,’ and gained and fought for. ‘But that we receive a full reward,’ even in our earthly labours. It is not sure that Scripture is speaking here about heavenly rewards. It may be that all Christians have the same reward in Heaven.