The Crown

One of my favorite songs, is a song that R.J. Stevens did not even see fit to include in our hymnals – Crown Him With Many Crowns, written by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring and set to music by George J. Elvey. The sentiments of the song stir the soul. Here is how poem originally appeared without the music.

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne

Hark! How the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own!

Awake, my soul and sing of Him who died for thee;

And hail Him as thy matchless King thro’ all eternity

Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side,

Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified;

No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his won-d’ring eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o’er the grave;

Who rose victorious to the strife for those who came to save

His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high;

Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of heav’n! One with the Father known,

One with the Spirit through Him giv’n from yonder glorious throne!

To Thee be endless praise, for Thou for us hast died;

Be Thou, O Lord, thro’ endless days adored and magnified.

The poem begins with a call to crown Jesus – “Crown him with many crowns.” Then as each verse progresses some of these crowns are identified: “Crown Him the Lord of love … Crown him the Lord of life … Crown Him the Lord of heav’n.” And to this I say AMEN – “Crown him with many crowns”.

The English word crown is derived from the Latin word corona—which means a garland. And corona is derived from the Greek word korŌnē, which means wreath. In ancient times the wreath or garland was given to those who were in some way victorious.

In the NT there are two different Greek words translated crown – diadayma and stephanos. The first word, diadayma, is the root of our English word diadem. Diadayma is a kingly crown – a crown of authority. This is the crown worn by Christ in Rev 19:12 and by those who pretend to have His authority – the dragon and the beast of Rev 12:3; 13:1.

The second word stephanos is the root from which we get the name Stephen. Stephanos is a victor's crown. It refers to the garland or wreath of laurel leaves (that we have already mentioned) – the wreath that was placed on the head as a reward for those who have been victorious. The victory may have been on the field of battle or it may have been in an athletic contest. Those who possessed this crown saw them as objects of pride and proof of their victory.

During his earthly ministry Paul declared his converts were to him a stephanos—a crown.

(Phil 4:1) Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

(1 Th 2:19) For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Most of the churches established by Paul were made up of individuals who had turned from idols and who were maintaining their faith amid serve persecution. To Paul such congregations were emblems of victory; they were his crown of exultation. And they would be even more so “in the day of Christ” – at his second coming. For on that day it will be seen that that he did not run in vain or labor in vain (Phil. 2:16).

Paul valued his converts who were living faithfully to the Lord Jesus Christ; John did too. For in his third epistle he wrote in verse four: “I have know greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” I have no doubt that Paul would have said a hearty, “Amen,” to this. For in truth one of man’s greatest earthly glories lies in those whom he has set or helped on the path to Christ” (William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, 225). It is because Paul had such a view of his converts that he could say

Paul spoke of his converts as being, to him, “crown of exaltation.” But as we might expect the word stephanos is most often used in the New Testament in connection with the future – to the crown that God will give to the faithful on that final day. Let’s consider some of the ways that the Spirit saw fit to describe this is crown. In 1 Cor 9:25 it is described as …

·        … an incorruptible or imperishable crown.

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Just prior to these words Paul had been teaching that Christians must waive their rights to exercise their liberties not only to help the weak Christian but also to save own souls.

(vss 22-23) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it

As one commentator points out: “The man who refuses to give up his rights for the sake of the weak brother … commits spiritual suicide” (Mike Willis, 1 Corinthians, 249). It is for this reason that Paul encourages the Corinthians to “[r]un in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor 9:24).

Some of the Christians may have been tempted to complain about this – about how hard, how inconvenient it might be to sacrifice their liberties for the sake of others; how hard it was to control their fleshly appetites. Paul does not deny that these things require self-discipline. But to motivate them to practice this self-discipline he reminds them of what athletes were prepared to do to win a prize that is of a far lesser value than they prize they were aiming for.

“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

Every two years the Isthmian Games were conducted in Corinth. These games rivaled the Olympian games that were held in Athens every four years. The Corinthians understood that in every event there could only be one winner. They also understood that months before these contests every serious contender changed their lifestyle. “As with modern athletes, the Grecian athlete thought there was no sacrifice too great for him to make if it gave him some advantage over the other competitors. His mental disposition was not that of one who desired to use every liberty which he possessed; rather, his attitude was that of a man who willingly sacrificed many rights in order to gain” the advantage over the other competitors (Willis, 250); and he practiced this self-control to win a “perishable wreath (stephanos).”

Everything on this earth is perishable; everything is temporary. Our world is a place where “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt 6:19). After a few years, that crown of laurel leaves that the athlete received for his feat of strength or agility or endurance would become so brittle that the slightest touch could cause it to disintegrate. What’s the point? If athletes are willing to practice self-control to win a prize that won’t last, shouldn’t the Christian willingly practice self-discipline to win the greater prize – an imperishable wreath? This is Paul’s point! And so he concludes the thought with these words….

(1 Cor 9:26-27) Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; {27} but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Those Christians who do not discipline their body to make it their slave, who do not practice self-control with regards to the fleshly appetites (even the legitimate ones) shall be disqualified. In other words, they won’t win the victor’s crown – the imperishable wreath. They will forfeit what they have gained in Christ. “So run in such a way that you may win.”

·        … an unfading crown of glory.

There is another place in the NT that also brings out the eternal quality of this crown. While addressing the eldership – encouraging them to fulfill their task as shepherds in the church of God Peter writes (in 1 Pet 5:2-4) …

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; {3} nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. {4} And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

In this context elders who faithfully shepherd the flock of God are the ones who are promised this victor’s crown – this stephanos – of unfading glory. Keep in mind that in ancient times this stephanos was made up of fresh laurels. With the passing of time these laurels would wither and eventually disintegrate. But in contrast to this, those elders who faithfully shepherd the flock of God in their midst, will receive a crown of “unfading glory.” The word “unfading” is from a Greek word that means: “not subject to withering.” The word glory appears to involve brightness and splendor. Hence the glory or the splendor of this crown is such that it will never wither or fade away – it will remain fresh!

Thus, you pastors of the flock of God here at Tyngsboro, do not serve for material gain or popular approval from the sheep; but serve as with the view of receiving from the Chief Shepherd this crown of unfading glory that he will give to all of his faithful under-shepherds at his coming.

So what have we learned thus far about the crown that will be given by Christ on that final day? What we have learned is this: That it is an imperishable crown, a crown with unfading glory that is given: 1) To those the one who disciplines his body to make it his slave – who practices self control with regards to his fleshly appetites and 2) To the elders who are faithful in pasturing the flock of God under their charge. In both instances the crown is given to the one who is victorious – who has accomplished the task that has been set before them.

·        … a crown of life.

But more is said about this crown. In the epistle of James, for example, the brethren are taught about God’s purpose for allowing trials to fall upon them. In chapter one, verses two through four James reveals that trials, contrary to what Satan would have us believe, are for our good. As we pass through various trials we learn about the quality of our faith – about its strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, with each trial that we successfully encounter we gain endurance – the strength to go through even greater trials.

Some resist God’s work in them through trials and they give up the struggle to remain faithful Christian. But to those who hang in there and who remain true to their calling, James says …

(James 1:12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Those who persevere under trials, who “keep on keeping on,” who never give up “will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.” This same promise was made in Rev 2:10 to the saints in Smyrna who were about to undergo severe trials. The Lord tells them …

(Rev 2:10) 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The “life” under consideration is eternal life. Those who come to Jesus through faith – who believe that he is the Messiah, who believer that he died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, who believe that he has been raised from the dead on the third day after his death and who believe that he is presently seated at the right hand of God – these are the one’s who are saved, who are forgiven of sins, who have eternal life when they repent (Luke 13:1-3) and are baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:26-38). But here is something that many fail to understand even though it is brought out both by the Lord Jesus and the prophet James: Those who have been given life eternal must continue to believe and stand, they must endure in the gospel to maintain that relationship with Jesus, those who believer must also endure, persevere, never give up in order to receive the victor’s crown on that final day.

(James 1:12) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

(Rev 2:10) 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

·        … a crown of righteousness.

Before closing let consider the final description of the victor’s crown that will be given to every faithful believer on that final day. In 2 Tim 4:8 Paul calls it the “crown of righteousness.”

(2 Tim 4:8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

It is the crown of righteousness because those who receive it have been declared righteous through Jesus Christ. From the first to the last, He is our means of righteousness. For it is through his blood that the baptized believer is forgiven of his sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and it is through his blood that the Christian is forgiven whenever he confesses his sin to the Father (1 John 1:9). Jesus is the means by which we obtain righteousness before God.

·        Conclusion & Invitation

There is great day coming when the Lord Jesus will descend and reward his servants who have finished the course with a victor’s crown – a crown of unfading glory, which is also called crown a life and a crown of righteousness. But the interesting thing to me is what shall we do with that crown after we receive it? It is my conviction that we will do with it what the elders did with theirs in Rev. 4:10? And what was that? Look and see.

(Rev 4:4, 9-11) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. … And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, {10} the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, {11} “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” [And] … (Rev 5:9 ) … “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

To Christ be the glory and honor forever and ever. For he was slain, and purchased for God with his blood US – “men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” I say again: TO CHRIST BE THE GLORY AND HONOR FOREVER AND EVER1 AMEN! AND AMEN.

“In the gospel song, "Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It," Fanny J. Crosby wrote, "I know there's a crown that is waiting In yonder bright mansion for me." Do you want to receive this crown? You cannot earn it solely by doing good works, because all of us have sinned and no amount of good works can atone for even one sin. Rather, it is a gift of God. But what did James say? The Lord has promised this crown to those who love Him. How do we show our love for God? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Therefore, to meet the Lord's conditions for receiving this crown, we must keep His commandments or obey Him, being faithful until death. As long as we live, may we ever press on toward that crown” (Wayne S. Walker, Expository Files, The Crown, 8:4).