THE FIVE CROWNS
There are five crowns
(stephanos) discussed in the New Testament of the Bible. The crowns can more
appropriately be called wreaths, or garlands, like the ones worn on the heads of
athletic champions. The garlands will be our prizes when it comes time for God
to hand out awards to born again believers. They will be the awards for our
walk and stand for God and His Word. They are not available to us now, but we
will receive them after Christ's return.
1. THE
INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN:
I Corinthians
9: 25 -- And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain
a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
The first crown
mentioned is the 'incorruptible' crown. This means it is a crown that will
never be destroyed; it will never turn to dust. We will be immortal, and so
will this crown. To fully understand the record we will begin at:
I Corinthians
9: 19 - 23 -- For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might
gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might
gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain
them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the
weak: I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's
sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul is describing how
he worked to win others to the Word of God. It is the type of Christian walk to
which we can all aspire.
I Corinthians
9: 24 -- Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth
the prize? So run, that ye may obtain [win].
Here, our walk is
compared to an athletic endeavor like a footrace. The Lamsa translation of the
Peshitta (Aramaic) text reads:
I
Corinthians 9: 24 -- [Aramaic
Translation] Do you not know that the runners in
a race all run, but only one is victorious? So you must run that you may obtain
victory.
We are urged to run
with the intention of winning. This is not a Saturday morning Fun Run, but a
race to win a crown.
I
Corinthians 9: 25 -- [Aramaic
Translation] And every man who battles in the
contest frees his mind from every thing else. And yet they run to win a garland
which is perishable; but we to win one which is everlasting.
A champion athlete is
focused on the race at hand. They are not distracted by noises or activities
going on around them. If they get distracted, they do not run well. Yet, all
that an athlete wins is a perishable prize. It will not last forever. The prize
for which we compete is everlasting.
I Corinthians
9: 26 -- I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that
beateth the air:
I
Corinthians 9: 26 -- [Aramaic
Translation] I therefore so run, not for
something that is uncertain; and I so fight, not as one who beats the air;
Paul said that he ran
for something that is certain. When he was in the boxing ring, he fought
and made the blows count. He did not 'shadow box', or beat the air.
I Corinthians
9: 27 -- But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached
to others, I myself should be a castaway.
I
Corinthians 1: 27 -- [Aramaic
Translation] But I conquer and subdue my body so
that, by no chance, when I have preached to others, will I despise myself.
Paul kept his body in
subjection to his mind (renewed mind), so that after he had called others to
join in the competition (verses 19 - 23), there was no chance that he would
fail in achieving the reward.
The Incorruptible Crown
will be made available to the committed, focused Christians. Those who renew
their mind, and practice discipline and self control like a committed athlete
are the ones who will receive the award.
2. THE
CROWN OF REJOICING:
I
Thessalonians 2: 19, 20 -- For what is
our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
The crown of rejoicing
described here is one example of when we, as Christian believers, will be
expected to loudly rejoice or exalt. When Christ comes back and we will all be
together, we can let everyone else know about it. Our brothers and sisters in
Christ will make up the crown of rejoicing.
Philippians
3: 20, 21 -- For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself.
We look forward to the
return of Jesus Christ. When he does return, our earthly, mortal bodies will be
changed to be like his -- immortal and glorious.
Philippians
4: 1 -- Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown,
so stand fast in the Lord, my
dearly beloved.
Twice Paul referred to
the believers as 'dearly beloved', so we know how he loved his brothers and
sisters in Christ. Also, they are his 'joy and crown'. Every day we must be
thankful for all the believers in the world. On the day of Christ's return, we will
all get together and wear the crown of rejoicing.
3. THE
CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
II Timothy 4:
7, 8 -- I have fought a good fight [ran a great race], I have finished my course, I have kept the faith [thy
believing]: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
II Timothy
4: 7, 8 -- [Aramaic
Translation] I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my race, I have kept my faith: Henceforth there is preserved for me a
crown of righteousness, which my Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at
that day; and not to me only but also to all those who have loved his
appearing.
The crown of
righteousness makes an athletic reference like the 'incorruptible crown'. Paul
says he has fought a good fight -- he didn't give up, lie down, or quit. He
finished the race -- he kept believing. Because of this, a crown of
righteousness has been reserved for him, and for others who look forward to the
appearing of Jesus Christ. 'Righteousness' means that something is just and
right. How many times have we read a news story, or seen something on
television that made us say, "It just isn't right"? That won't happen
even one time once Christ returns. Paul wrote this to the church in order to
exhort them (us) to stand for God in light of the hope of the return of Jesus
Christ. If we look forward to our crown of righteousness, we can stand firm and
sure right now.
4. THE
CROWN OF LIFE:
James 1: 12
-- Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Happy is the person
that endures (remains behind after others have left) trials, tribulations and
temptations. For when he is proved, he will receive (manifest) the crown of
life (life in all its fullness, complete).
The church of God, of
which we are a part, is exhorted to be steadfast in the face of trials and
tribulations. When we overcome them, we will receive the crown of life.
5. THE
CROWN OF GLORY:
I Peter 5: 1
- 4 -- The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre [dishonorable gain],
but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.
Peter writes these
lines to the elders of the church, so we see the crown of glory will be
available to leaders in the Word. They are supposed to feed the 'flock' the
undiluted and perfect Word of God, not for money or any personal gain, but
willingly and out of love. They are not 'overlords' of the other believers, but
should lead by example. If they do this, Peter says, when Christ (the chief
Shepherd) returns, they will receive a crown of glory that never fades away. It
is everlasting, and the color and brilliance will abide forever.
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The five crowns will be
part of our reward we receive after the return of Christ. The Word of God tells
us some things about the crowns, but not everything. A big part of the reward
will be the surprise of finding out everything about our new life, and the
privileges and responsibilities that go with it. For now, we can do the best we
can for God, and look forward to the Hope, the return of Jesus Christ.
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