Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have wrought: but that you may receive a full reward.
βλεπετε εαυτους ινα μη απολεσωμεν α ειργασαμεθα αλλα μισθον πληρη απολαβωμεν
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
These exhortations, "Take heed to yourselves" and "Watch," are repeated for no other purpose than to warn and secure us against those who conceal wolves beneath sheep's wool and deceive the careless. Clearly there was an urgent need to repeat everywhere in Scripture: "Take heed to yourselves," watch, be vigilant, be attentive, not only to yourselves, but also to the whole flock. For divine Scripture has passed over in silence nothing that is profitable for us.
He commands those to whom he writes to beware of people who deny both comings of the Lord. He also gives the reason: lest, by joining them, you lose what you have done, but rather receive a full reward.
Someone of that kind may perhaps say: if I do not believe in the coming of Christ in the flesh, yet spend my life in good works, can I not stand with the pious by means of these works? Can I not receive a reward for my deeds?
The Apostle destroys such an objection beforehand. He says that one who denies the coming of Christ in the flesh should not even think of receiving the full recompense for works that awaits the truly faithful. Nor should he think of being numbered among the perfectly pious.
John warns us not to turn aside from faith into heresy, nor in the Old Testament away from the New.
Every work becomes very good when it is carefully tended, but what is done carelessly soon perishes. Virtue especially requires service through daily exercise in it. Without cultivation it loses its leaves and destroys its fruit.
This is the meaning of what you wish to know reliably: "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what you have worked for." Sloth reduces previous labors to nothing, however glorious they may have been. Diligence, on the other hand, destroys even former sloth.
Many, after gaining victory thousands of times, later became prey to their enemies. When, after many triumphs, they were led away captive, they presented a pitiable sight. Setting this before us, one of the apostolic company cried out: "Watch yourselves, that we may not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward."
But what if I do not believe in the coming of Christ in the flesh, yet still do good works? Is it not possible that for these works I may be ranked with the pious and receive a reward? Anticipating this objection, the Apostle says: let no one think that, while denying the coming of the Lord in the flesh, he can receive the full reward for works, the same reward due to the faithful, or that he will be counted pious at all. Everyone who transgresses His commandment, that is, the commandment of Christ who has come, and does not abide in His teaching, does not have God.
"Watch yourselves": look to yourselves attentively and carefully. Be strict with yourselves in a time that threatens you with dangers, in view of deceivers who have appeared and are yet to appear (cf. Mk 13:9; Acts 20:28). Watch over your salvation, lest you be deprived of it by listening to the suggestions of false teachers.
"That we may not lose," and so forth. "We" means us Apostles: John and all the other Apostles who labored in the ordering of the salvation of all believing Christians. Saint Paul expresses himself similarly about this (1 Thess 3:5; Gal 4:11).
"That we may not lose," or be deprived of, "what we have worked for." This means that our work and our labor in ordering your eternal salvation should not be in vain. It also means that the fruit of your work, in receiving the teaching and ordering your life, should not perish.
"Someone of that kind may perhaps say: if I do not believe in the coming of Christ in the flesh, yet spend my life in good works, can I not stand alongside the pious through these works? Can I not receive a reward for them?
"The Apostle destroys such an objection beforehand. He says that one who denies the coming of Christ in the flesh should not even think of receiving the full recompense for works that awaits the truly faithful. Nor should he think of being numbered among the perfectly pious.
"For if he looks with contempt upon Him who came to teach men the perfect knowledge of God, how can he still be pious, when he despises the very Teacher of divine things? No, such a man is godless" (Theophylact).
"But that we may receive a full reward": that both we and you may receive a great reward in heaven (Mt 5:12). That is, we Apostles, the ministers of your eternal life, may by God's mercy receive wages for our labor and work (1 Cor 3:5-15). And you, the faithful, if you remain in faith and virtue despite every trial and temptation, will attain eternal life, which is the end of your faith and virtue (cf. Mt 10:42; 1 Cor 9:25; Heb 4:10; 1 Pet 1:9).
The Apostles, as ministers of men's salvation, undoubtedly received and will receive a reward for ordering men's eternal salvation, even for those who did not stand firm in faith and good life. But here the Apostle speaks of a full or perfect reward. According to the demand of apostolic love, such a reward is possible only when the joy of those who labor, or have labored, is full and perfect (2 Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 1:4; Jn 15:11; Jn 16:24).
According to the teaching of the holy Apostle Paul, those who order the salvation of men and those being so ordered are subject, in his figurative expression, to fire as a testing action. If anyone's work endures, he will receive a reward for that work. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. This points to the grievous moral state of the minister whose work is burned (1 Cor 3:12-15).
But when those who are taught remain in faith and piety, and those who teach see their progress, then the reward for both is full, perfect, and great.
Exhorting Christians to remain in the true faith and the Christian life, the Apostle reminds them of the great reward awaiting all. He warns that they will lose it if they do not remain faithful. Through this, those who labored over them by proclaiming Christian teaching and confirming them in it will also be deprived of the fullness of their reward. Such an exhortation was expressed more than once by the holy Apostle Paul (see 1 Thess 3:5; Gal 4:11).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS