The Crown of the Disciple

One of the glorious treasures awaiting each of us in heaven as faithful disciples of Christ is a crown. Let's open the Word together and see what it has to say about this glorious reward reserved for the faithful.

A Singular Crown
Many people teach that there are five different crowns and go into detail about each one as if they were all completely separate. But there is no such declaration in the Bible that says the disciple will be crowned with many crowns. 

Our Lord Jesus alone is the only one described in Scripture as being crowned with many crowns. It says:

"His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself." (Rev 19:12)

Therefore, as we study about the crown of the disciple in Scripture, we should not read into the text something that isn't there, so as to assume there are multiple crowns for the disciple, and instead understand that it is a single crown. No doubt, the crowns of some disciples will be more glorious than the crowns of others, and will have certain distinguishing features, such as more or different jewels, in order to signify the honor bestowed upon them for their service to the King during their earthly lifetime. However, the Scripture actually speaks of the crown of the disciple as being singular.

The apostle Paul said, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1Co 9:25)

Here we see that it is a single crown, not multiple crowns, which we receive. The apostle is here contrasting the crown that athletes receive with the crown that disciples receive. Consider how strictly those athletes train for the games in order to win such a crown. They rise early, put their bodies through enormous strain, experiencing pain and tears, pushing themselves beyond the normal limits, all in order to win a crown that will not even last. In his day it was a wreath that faded and whose leaves eventually crumbled into dust. Today the crown is replaced with a medal of gold, bronze, or silver, or even a trophy to put on display. But even these metal ones are no less temporary, because one day the fire of God will melt them all with fervent heat. However, the crown that the disciple receives in heaven will last forever. That is one way in which our Lord rewards us for all our sacrifice, suffering and tears that we endure for His sake and for the gospel.

The Lord Himself affirms that it is a singular crown, when He says: "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Rev 3:11)

He also implies that it can be taken away from you, if you are not careful. Therefore, some disciples will not receive one, since they failed to ensure that no one would take it. His admonition to hold onto what you have is followed by the expression "so that", indicating that this is the cause that produces the effect whereby no one will take your crown. There is a responsibility on your part in order to keep your crown.

Since the Scriptures refer to the crown as singular, then we understand that any adjectives used in conjunction with the word "crown" are simply describing its attributes. The fact that different adjectives are used in different passages does not mean these are different crowns, but different characteristics of the crown.

Crown of Righteousness

One expression used for the crown of the disciple is "the crown of righteousness." Paul said: 

"Now there is in store 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 longed for His appearing." (2Ti 4:8).

Notice that this crown is not only for Paul but for all who long for the Lord's appearing.

Crown of Life

Another expression used for the crown of the disciple is "the crown of life." James said:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because, when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (Jas 1:12)

How happy is the one who endures all things, for he will receive the crown of life that never fades. This crown of life is what Jesus promised the Church of Smyrna and all who would be faithful to Him, even to the point of death. He said:

"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." (Rev 2:10 NASB)

He was letting them know in advance what the devil planned to do to them, which included temporary imprisonment, and that they may even have to die for Christ, but that they should always remember that it is just a test, and that if they would be faithful unto death, He would give them a crown up in glory.

Crown of Glory

The apostle Peter used the expression "crown of glory" for this same crown saying:

"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."(1Pe 5:4).

Truly it is a glorious crown, and how unworthy we are to receive it, especially when we consider that our Lord who is truly worthy wore a painful crown of thorns for us.

Crown of Gold

We do not know from Scripture what each and every disciple's crown will look like, but we do know a little bit about what the crowns of the elders around the throne in heaven look like, because the Bible tells us that they are golden.

"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." (Rev 4:4 NASB)

And what's so beautiful is how the elders all cast their crowns before the throne at the Lord's feet when they worship Him, humbly signifying that only He is worthy of all honor (Rev 4:10). I think this practice is probably observed by all disciples in heaven who have crowns.

Soul Winning Crown
The Scripture says that he who wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30). And since our Lord commanded us to go and preach the gospel to all nations, making disciples of all nations, teaching them to do all that He commanded (Mat 28:19-20; Mk 16:15), then this is something we should all be involved in doing. Surely there is a great reward in store for all who do so, and Paul knew this when he referred to his disciples as his crown. He saw the importance of these souls, whom God loved so dearly, as Paul himself did also. He said to the Philippians:

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!" (Php 4:1)

These people who were so dear to him, in whom he had invested himself, were his joy and his crown. They would be an eternal joy and crown for him in heaven to have brought them to the Lord, so that they could be with Him forever. He says the same to the Thessalonians:

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" (1Th 2:19)

Winning a Crown the Lord's Way
Once again Paul compares the disciple's crown to an athlete's crown saying:

"Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules." (2Ti 2:5)

In saying this, Paul indicates that if you want to receive the crown that the Lord has in store for you in heaven, you have to live according to His ways, just as the athlete who competes for a crown receives one only if he does so according to the rules of the game.

Putting it All Together
As we have just read in Scripture, the crown of the disciple is referred to interchangeably as a crown of glory, a crown of life, and a crown of righteousness, but it is a singular crown. And let us not forget that is given only to those who believe in Jesus, follow Him, and live according to His Word, doing the will of the Father who is in heaven (Mat 7:21). I hope this has encouraged you to put your faith in Christ, follow Him, put His words into practice, hold onto what you have, persevere under trial, and be faithful to the end, even unto death. If you do, then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you too will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Where noted other Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright The Lockman Foundation, used by permission. "Thou Art Worthy" artwork is by my daughter Charity Lacroix, and is a depiction of me holding my crown before the Lord in worship.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.