Incorruptible Crowns

Throughout the New Testament the Bible speaks of three different types of crowns that are given after death as a reward for service: a crown of righteousness, a crown of life, and a crown of glory. In each case the word for crown is Strongs #4735:

Crown (4735): A badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally. “In classic Greek not used of the kingly crown but of the crown of victory in games, of civic worth, military valor, nupital joy, festal gladness. Woven of oak, ivy, myrtle, olive leaves or flowers. Used as a wreath of the garland. Contrast diadema (1238), diadem, a white linen band encircling the brow to indicate the assumption of royal dignity.”

This tells us that the crowns the Bible speaks of are not crowns of authority but crowns of victory. I Corinthians tells us that we are striving to obtain an incorruptible crown:

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.
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.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
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.”

There are a couple interesting things about this. First, the Scriptures clearly teach that we cannot lose our salvation, so that is not what we are striving for. This passage seems to indicate that there is some other prize that we are working to obtain – something that we must put effort into lest we become “castaways”. This passage does not say “Well, you’re saved now and you’re going to Heaven so you might as well do whatever you want; it really doesn’t make a difference either way.” It warns of a very real danger – a loss of something precious when the race has ended. (Prizes, after all, are only awarded upon the completion of the race, and are only given to those who finished well.)

What is this prize that we are striving for? It is right there in verse 25 – an “incorruptible crown”. As far as I have been able to determine there are three different types of incorruptible crowns. Paul elaborates about one of of them in 2 Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth 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.”

Here Paul says that because he finished his life well he will receive a crown of righteousness. This crown will be given to all those who long for the return of Jesus Christ and are excited about the Second Coming. These are people that don’t dread the prospect of Jesus coming back (which many today do) but instead long for it with hope and anticipation.

Paul is not saying that if we live our life well we will be given righteousness itself because that is not something we can earn; the Lord Jesus gives that to us freely when we are saved. Becoming a Christian means being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness and that is a work of grace, not of works. So Paul is talking about something else altogether – a reward for a life well lived that is not given to those who did not finish well.

It’s also worth noting that the crown of righteousness isn’t given to people who led particularly holy lives. Instead it’s given to those who long for Jesus to come back. All those who are saved and long for His return will be given this crown, and all those who were indifferent or hated the idea of His return (or wished He would just stay away because His return would interfere with their plans) will not.

James speaks of another type of crown – 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.”

As we can see, the crown of life is given to those who endure temptation. Christ wants us to love Him and the way we show our love for Him is by keeping His commandments. This means that those who keep His commandments prove that they really do love Him. That is why the verse says that this crown is given to those who love Him, because the believers that keep Christ’s commandments are the believers that truly love Him. Those who endure temptation and defeat it, choosing to walk in the ways of God instead of the ways of the flesh, will be given the crown of life.

Once again I do not believe this is taking about eternal life itself because that is something that God freely gives to us after we are saved. We cannot earn it and we cannot lose it by being disobedient. James is not saying that if we give into temptation we will be damned to Hell regardless of whether we are Christians or not. This is something different – a reward that is only for those that have lived a holy life.

Christ Himself speaks of this crown in Revelation:

Revelation 2:10: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Once again note that Christ promises the crown to those who are faithful unto death. He did not say “Your faithfulness does not matter – you get it either way”. Our salvation and the promise of eternal life does not rest on our faithfulness; it rests on the faithfulness of Christ. The crown of life, however, is different: whether or not we get it depends on how we have lived our lives.

Peter speaks of the third type of crown – the crown of glory:

I Peter 5:1: “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:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

This crown is promised to those who faithfully and selflessly take care of the Church. It appears that it will be given to pastors, evangelists, and elders that executed their job faithfully. Those who did well will be given the crown of glory, and those who were faithless will lose it.

It’s worth pointing out that in Revelation Christ warns us that we must be careful because these crowns can be lost:

Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Our salvation cannot be lost and eternal life cannot be lost, so Christ is clearly not talking about either of those. What can be lost are our crowns because they are rewards for a life well lived. If we dread the return of Christ then we will not be given the crown of righteousness. If we live selfish, carnal lives then we will never receive the crown of life. Finally, if we are pastors that choose to side with the world instead of with the Bible then we will never receive the crown of glory.

I think it’s very interesting to note that the last time in Scripture these crowns are mentioned they are found in the throne room of Heaven, being used to glorify God:

Revelation 4:10: “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

To cast the crowns before the throne is to use them to honor and glorify the Lord – who, after all, is the One who provided the grace needed to endure temptation and live faithfully. In the end even our rewards are to bring glory and honor to the Living God.

As an aside, this is more evidence that the crows are real, physical crowns, and not simply symbolic or “spiritual”. After all, how can you cast a “spiritual” crown at the feet of Christ?