What is John Warning About in 2 John 8?

(By Pastor Mark Fontecchio)

Question: What is John warning about in 2 John 8?

Answer: Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God could be found in the lives of the people you disciple for Christ. This idea is present in the text of 2 John 8. In this brief statement we also have one of the strongest verses in Scripture regarding the connection between upholding doctrinal truth and future rewards.

Within the immediate context of the Apostle John warning about the deception of false teachers (2 John 7; 9-10), we see the strong exhortation for the believers to look to themselves (v. 8). Why? What was so urgent that John needed to proclaim this? Danger was afoot. Allowing false doctrines to invade the Church would cripple the work of God. Further, this would stifle the rewards these Christians might receive. The resulting application is a strong warning for Christians to guard their doctrine closely. This protects the work of Christ and builds up future rewards in the coming Kingdom of Christ.

But it is here that we must again come back to the text, for there is another application. The word structure of the sentence reveals that John was stating that if the Church suffered because of false doctrine, it would not merely be the saints located there that would lose some of their reward. It would also affect the rewards of the apostles. Undoubtedly, the apostolic doctrines and the work of the apostles among the early Church were instrumental in the lives of these believers. It is not that the apostles would not receive any reward if false doctrines ensued. It would be that they would not receive a full reward. When a church is stunted because of false doctrine, the work of Christ suffers.

The germane application for believers should be obvious. If those who we disciple in the faith fall prey to false teachers it can have a direct impact on our rewards in the Kingdom. Therefore, we must make it our aim to guard not only our doctrine, but continue to warn believers of the eternal ramifications of embracing doctrines that are contrary to the Word of God. This should provide an additional motivation to live to please our Savior. Jesus testified that we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven because, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).