2 John 1:8

“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…”

“Look to yourselves--amidst the widespread prevalence of deception so many being led astray. So Christ's warning, Mat 24:4-5, Mat 24:24. we lose not . . . we receive--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "That YE lose not, but that YE receive." which we have wrought--So one oldest manuscript reads. Other very old manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "which YE have wrought." The we being seemingly the more difficult reading is less likely to have been a transcriber's alteration. Look that ye lose not the believing state of "truth and love," which WE (as God's workmen, Co2 6:1; Ti2 2:15) were the instruments of working in you. a full reward--of grace not of debt. Fully consummated…”

“Look to yourselves - This seems to be addressed to the lady to whom he wrote, and to her children. The idea is, that they should be particularly on their guard, and that their first care should be to secure their own hearts, so that they should not be exposed to the dangerous attacks of error. When error abounds in the world, our first duty is not to attack it and make war upon it; it is to look to the citadel of our own souls, and see that all is well guarded there. When an enemy invades a land, the first thing will not be to go out against him, regardless of our own strength, or of the security of our own fortresses, but it will be to see that our forts are well manned, and that we are…”

“That we lose not the things which we have wrought - Which every apostate does. But receive a full reward - Having fully employed all our talents to the glory of him that gave them. Here again the apostle modestly transfers it to himself. 2 John 1:9”

“1:8 we: This word refers to the apostles and their co-workers. The apostles taught the truth and defended it against heresies, and believers (referred to as you) are admonished to protect their faith from teaching that could destroy them (1:9).”

“Look: Mat 24:4, Mat 24:24, Mat 24:25; Mar 13:5, Mar 13:6, Mar 13:9, Mar 13:23; Luk 21:8; Heb 12:15; Rev 3:11 that we lose: Gal 3:4, Gal 4:11; Phi 2:15, Phi 2:16, Phi 3:16; Heb 10:32, Heb 10:35; Rev 3:11 wrought: or, gained, "Some copies read, which ye have gained, but that ye receive, etc." that we receive: Dan 12:3; Joh 4:36; Co1 3:8, Co1 3:14, Co1 15:8 2 John 1:9”