The Doctrine of Crowns


Written and compiled by Gary Kukis


These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God.” (John 3:16–18). “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!” (John 14:6).


Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.


Topics

Introduction

Etymology and Isagogics

Doctrine Plus Momentum Equals Inheritance

Types of Crowns

 

Military and Athletic Analogies to Rewards

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Exegesis of Proverbs 4:9

Francis Taylor: Crowns were given to...

The Doctrine of Crowns

 

Preface:   This Doctrine of Crowns was taken directly from Proverbs 4 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Most of the work was done by others (primarily by R. B. Thieme, Jr., I believe). A small amount of texture and additional material has been added.


She will give to your head a garland of grace; a crown of splendor she will give you.

Proverbs

4:9

She will set a garland of grace on your head and she will give you a crown of splendor.”

She will place a garland of grace upon your head and make for you a crown of splendor.”


Here is how others have translated this verse:


Ancient texts:

 

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        She will give to your head a garland of grace; a crown of splendor she will give you.

Latin Vulgate                          She will give to your head increase of graces, and protect you with a noble crown.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    She shall put upon your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she bestow upon you.

Plain English Aramaic Bible   And she will put the beauty of grace on your head and she will satisfy you with a crown of glory.

Septuagint (Greek)                ...that it may give unto your head a crown of grace, and may cover you with a crown of delight.

 

Significant differences:           Instead of garland, the Latin has increase and the Aramaic appears to have beauty (which might simply be the English translation). The Aramaic also appears to have satisfy instead of give and the Greek has delight instead of noble.


Limited Vocabulary Translations:

 

Bible in Basic English             She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.

Easy English                          Wisdom's gifts are like a beautiful crown.'

Easy-to-Read Version            She (Wisdom) is the greatest thing that can happen to you.

Good News Bible (TEV)         She will be your crowning glory."

The Message                         She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."

Names of God Bible               It will give you a graceful garland for your head.

It will hand you a beautiful crown."



Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

 

Contemporary English V.       It will be like wearing a glorious crown of beautiful flowers.

The Living Bible                     If you exalt wisdom, she will exalt you. Hold her fast, and she will lead you to great honor; she will place a beautiful crown upon your head. V. 8 is included for context.

New Berkeley Version           A fair garland she will place on your head,

bestow upon you a glorious crown.”

New Century Version             It will be like flowers in your hair

and like a beautiful crown on your head."

New Life Version                    She will put on your head a crown of loving-favor and beauty."


Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

 

American English Bible          Build her a fort and she'll lift you. Hold her in esteem and she'll watch over you. she'll place a crown on your head...a luxurious crown that will shield you. V. 8 is included for context.

Today’s NIV                          She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."

Translation for Translators     If you become wise, that will for you be like a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head;

it will be like a king's glorious crown."

That is what my father told me.


Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

 

Ancient Roots Translinear      She will give a garland of grace to your head and a laurel of glory to shield you.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 And honour you, when you salute; Place a beautiful wreath on your head, And give a magnificent crown. A portion of v. 8 is included for context.

Jubilee Bible 2000                  She shall give to thine head an increase of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.


Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

 

Christian Community (1988)  She will crown you with grace and put a diadem of splendor on your head.

The Heritage Bible                 She shall give to your head a garland of grace; she shall shield you with a crown of splendor.

New American Bible (2002)   Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;

She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you." V. 8 is included for context.

New Jerusalem Bible             Hold her close, and she will make you great; embrace her, and she will be your pride;

she will provide a graceful garland for your head, bestow a crown of honour on you.' V. 8 is included for context.

New RSV                               She will place on your head a fair garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.'


Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

 

Complete Jewish Bible           Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will bring you honor; she will give your head a garland of grace, bestow on you a crown of glory." V. 8 is included for context.

exeGeses companion Bible   ...she gives your head a wreath of charism;

with a crown of beauty she shields you.

 

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               She will adorn your head with a graceful wreath;

Crown you with a glorious diadem."

Judaica Press Complete T.    She will give your head a wreath of grace; she will transmit to you a crown of glory.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           She shall give to thine head a garland of chen; an ateret (crown) of tiferet (glory) shall she present to thee.

The Scriptures 1998              “She gives your head a fair wreath, She shields you with an adorning crown.”


Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

 

The Amplified Bible                She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

The Expanded Bible              ·It will be like flowers in your hair [LShe will place on your head a graceful garland;]

·and like a beautiful crown on your head [she will bestow on you a crown of glory]."

Kretzmann’s Commentary    She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace, a graceful or charming wreath, for so wisdom serves to adorn its possessor; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee, a glorious diadem, which bestows dignity.

NET Bible®                             She will place a fair garland on your head;

she will bestow a beautiful crown on you." The personification of wisdom continues with the bestowal of a wreath for the head (e.g., 1:9). The point is that grace will be given to the individual like a wreath about the head.

Syndein/Thieme                     She {doctrine} shall give to your head an ornament of grace . . . a 'crown of glory' shall she deliver to you. {Note: This is an analogy to a 'status symbol' - a beautiful woman on the arm of a 'great man'. Have doctrine with you and be honored and 'walk with confidence' when she travels with YOU!}

The Voice                               She will provide the finishing touch to your character-grace;

she will give you an elegant confidence.


Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

 

Concordant Literal Version    She shall bestow a wreath of grace on your head; A crown of beauty shall she award to you.

Context Group Version          She will give to your head a chaplet of favor; A crown of beauty she will deliver to you.

English Standard Version      She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

Green’s Literal Translation    She shall give a wreath of grace to your head; she shall shield you with a crown of glory.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           She shall make you a gracious head, and garnish you with a crown of glory.

NASB                                     "She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty."

New King James Version       She will place on your head an ornament of grace;

A crown of glory she will deliver to you."

Stuart Wolf’s literal trans.      She will give to your head a wreath of grace, a crown of beauty/beautiful crown she will present to you.

Webster’s Bible Translation  She shall give to thy head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

World English Bible                She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."

Young’s Updated LT             She gives to your head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she will give you freely.

 

The gist of this verse:          Wisdom will give you a crown of glory.


Proverbs 4:9a

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

nâthan (נָתַן) [pronounced naw-THAHN]

to give, to grant, to place, to put, to set; to make

3rd person feminine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong's #5414 BDB #678

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced le]

to, for, towards, in regards to

directional/relational preposition

No Strong’s # BDB #510

rôʾsh (רֹאש or רֹאֶש) [pronounced rohsh]

head [of a man, city, state, nation, place, family, priest], top [of a mountain]; chief, prince, officer; front, choicest, best; height [of stars]; sum

masculine singular noun with the 2nd person masculine singular suffix

Strong's #7218 BDB #910

liveyâh (לִוְיָה) [pronounced lihv-YAW]

 a wreath, a garland

feminine singular construct

Strong’s #3880 BDB #531

chên (חֵן) [pronounced khayn]

grace, favor, blessing

masculine singular noun

Strong’s #2580 BDB #336


Translation: She will set a garland of grace on your head... At this point, I believe that we are talking about rewards. This does not mean that this is how Solomon understands this. He may or may not realize that he is talking about eternal rewards here—he may be speaking figuratively—but God the Holy Spirit is speaking of eternal rewards.


In eternity, we will be rewarded for performing divine good. Divine good requires that we understand who we are, what this world is, Who God is and what His plan is. All of that requires wisdom. When we have wisdom, we are then able to perform divine good. We are rewarded for the divine good, which here is called a garland of grace.


Our rewards are a matter of grace because there is nothing of ourselves which contributes to them. God places the situation before us and gives us whatever we need in order to function in that situation. God gives us the opportunity and the ability to respond to the opportunity.


Proverbs 4:9b

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

ʿăţârâh (עֲטָרָה) [pronounced ģut-aw-RAW]

crown, a diadem, a wreath; an ornament of dignity

feminine singular construct

Strong’s #5850 BDB #742

Stuart Wolfe: The reward of the wreath is escalated to a beautiful crown, using the general term ʿăţârâh (עֲטָרָה) [pronounced ģut-aw-RAW] as opposed to the royal and priestly crown; it enhances the beauty of its wearer (Ezek. 16:12), and is associated with the honor, dignity, authority, and dominion of a ruler (1Chr 20:2). Footnote

tîphe’ârâh (תִּפְאָרָה) [pronounced tif-aw-RAW]

splendor, beauty, ornament; glory, glorying

feminine singular noun with the 2nd person masculine singular suffix

Strong’s #8597 BDB #802

mâgan (מָגַן) [pronounced maw-GAHN]

to deliver [up, over]; to give; to make [anyone anything]

3rd person feminine singular, Piel imperfect with the 2nd person masculine singular suffix

Strong’s #4042 BDB #171

The NET Bible: The verb מָגַן (magan) is a Piel (denominative) verb from the noun “shield.” Here it means “to bestow” (BDB 171 s.v.). Footnote

The NET Bible: This verse uses wedding imagery: The wife (wisdom) who is embraced by her husband (the disciple) will place the wedding crown on the head of her new bridegroom. Wisdom, like a virtuous wife, will crown the individual with honor and grace. Footnote


Translation: ...and she will give you a crown of splendor.” This appears to be a parallel thought, but adding that this is a crown of splendor. In heaven, we will be recognized for our work here on earth. A crown indicates that, this will be recognized by others in eternity.


Application: Most of us would like some kind of recognition; some of us would even like some fame (this is known as approbation lust). There is an ideal amount of recognition and there can be far too much. Most movie stars who have been in more than 1 hit movie cannot walk down the street without being pestered by fans or by photographers. This is far too much fame. There is no off-switch; and many times a celebrity would love to return to normal life where they can go to the store or the movies or to wherever without it being a big deal. They like the fame, but it would be nice to be able to turn it off now and again. There is no off-button.


Application: Whatever the circumstance is with our recognition in eternity, we can be assured that it will be the perfect amount. I have, at one time, experienced that perfect amount of recognition. I was in Austin, about a 3 or 4 hour drive from where I live, and with a young lady that I was taking to go see a play; and it is nice to, when you are out with a woman, to impress her, but not in a way that she thinks that you are trying to impress her. So we are walking down 6th street, and a car filled with half-drunk teens or young adults drives by, and one of them screams out my name and waves. This was the perfect amount of recognition. It was quick, it was a little funny, and it gave the impression that I had some sort of a reputation all across Texas (which I certainly did not). Now, obviously, I could not turn to the young lady and say, “Impressed?” But, I like to think that she was.


Crowns were anciently given to many sorts of persons as tokens of general favour and esteem.

Francis Taylor: Crowns were given to...

1.      To wise men and learned; to those who excelled in the arts and sciences. Godly-wise men deserve them much better.

2.      To men famous for justice and other moral virtues; to good lawmakers and judges. Godly-wise men excel in theological virtues, which are far more excellent.

3.      To conquerors. A wise man is a conqueror over his passions and affections, which make other men, and great ones too, very slaves.

4.      To bridegrooms when they were married. A wise man is married to Wisdom, the fairest bride in the world.

5.      To kings on their coronation day. So shall godly men be crowned when they die. They know how to rule their own souls here, and to direct others, and to get an eternal crown in Heaven. A beggar being once asked what he was, answered: "I am a king!" "Where is thy kingdom?" "It is in my soul. I can so rule my external and internal senses that all the faculties of my soul are subject to me." And who doubts that this kingdom is better than all the kingdoms of the world?

From http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/phc/view.cgi?bk=19&ch=4 accessed March 5, 2015.

Chapter Outline

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines


In eternity, for whatever we do here on earth that is divine good and rewardable, there will be the perfect amount of recognition in heaven. We know this because we are promised that wisdom (Bible doctrine) will give us crowns. Now, since I don’t own any crowns now, logically, that would be a crown that I will get in eternity.


In the alternative, you may want to purchase your own crown, and wear it around your house when you feel the need to be adored. It might give you a rough idea of what to expect.


In our daily lives, we all enjoy being appreciated. When someone recognizes the hard work that you have done, or the brilliant solution or strategy that you came up with, that is gratifying. God lets us know that, in eternity, we will enjoy this as well.


All of these rewards glorify God. It is arrogant to say, “I don’t want anything.” Rewards are a part of God’s plan. God’s plan includes us glorifying Him. We are rewarded for glorifying Him—this is what God wants us to do. Any other approach is arrogance.

 

James Rickard: "A graceful wreath" is a crown and "ornaments about your neck" is a beautiful necklace of gems. "Crown" is ATARAH and is different from NEZER that means royal and priestly crown. This "crown" signifies the victor's crown of power and life, while the "necklace" signifies guidance and protection. So here we have the crown of grace alluding to power and life that comes from wisdom in your soul, tying in with Prov 4:4. As they say, "Knowledge is power." and God's Word is the greatest of both. Footnote


This is probably ultimately attributable to R. B. Thieme, Jr. The Bible has far more to say about crowns, than you might imagine.

The Doctrine of Crowns

I.       The order of events which leads to the time and place of rewards:

         A.      1Thess. 4:13–18, the Rapture of the Church. To talk of being the Rapture generation is a distraction to our proper function of living one day at a time. Every believer who dies before the raptures has the interim body in the interlude of blessing prior to the Rapture. During this period, there is no distinction between losers and winners. This is as close as we ever get to equality. The body sleeps, but the soul is in a new interim body face to face with the Lord. People who die and are in heaven before us have no advantage by being there ahead of us. In verse 16, the voice command is for the resurrection of those who are alive; the trumpet command is for those who have died. The clouds here refer to stellar space.

         B.      The big genuflex. Rom 14:11–12 "every knee shall bow to Me." Phil 2:9–11 "that in the presence of Christ every knee shall bow; . and every tongue shall acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord." At this point there are still no distinctions among believers. This is the only time when all of us have no distinctions and the same resurrection body.

         C.     The Judgment Seat of Christ in 2Cor 5:10. Only two categories of believers exist at this point: winners and losers. Which one you are all depends on your use of logistical grace from salvation until death to fulfill the plan of God.

                  1.      Potential rewards include decorations, knighthood, a uniform of glory, a coat of arms, a place in the eternal chivalry, and other rewards.

                  2.      Losers have nothing and winners have everything. There never has been nor will there ever be equality. There is no excuse for being a loser. All losers are losers by choice and by priorities. Losers are arrogant and self–made.

                  3.      The judgment seat of Christ is where all distinctions begin and continue for eternity. Crowns are distributed at the judgment seat of Christ.

                  4.      Losers have limited happiness. Winners have privileges the losers do not have. Rom. 5:5 assigns ashamedness to the loser at the judgment seat of Christ, cf 2Tim.. 2:15 Phil. 1:20 1John 2:28.

         D.     Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I am coming suddenly and My reward is with Me to decorate each believer on the basis of his accomplishments.” Rev. 22:7 “Behold, I am coming suddenly. Happy is he who keeps the doctrines of the prophecy of this book."

II.      Etymology and Isagogics.

         A.      The Bible must be interpreted in the time in which it was written. The crowns of the Roman Empire are the pattern.

                  1.      The Greek word stephanos (στέφανος) [pronounced STEHF-ahn-oss] means crown.

                            a.      The Thayer definitions are: 1) a crown; 1a) a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank; 1a1) the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games; 1b) metaphorically the eternal blessedness which will be given as aprize to the genuine servants of God and Christ: the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteousness; 1c) that which is an ornament and honour to one. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #4735.

                            b.      it is the reward for winning in battle and in athletics. Believers will wear these rewards in eternity.

                  2.      The Greek word diadêma (διάδημα) [pronounced dee-AD-ay-mah] means a crown for a king, used for the second highest decoration in the Roman army. Diadêma is not used because very few believers will rule with Christ during the Millennium. The Lord Jesus Christ is described as wearing many diadêma.

                            a.      The adjective "royal" means kingly or pertaining to a crown. It is used to describe a king as a sovereign ruler of people. Basileus (βασιλεύς) [pronounced bahs-ee-loose] is the Greek word used for royalty.

                            b.      Our Lord wears three crowns. By virtue of His eternal and infinite being as God, He wears the diadem of the royalty of His deity. By virtue of the virgin birth, He wears a second crown as the royalty of true humanity. By virtue of His strategic victory of the first Advent, He wears a third crown as the royalty of His hypostatic union.

                                     (1)     His divine royalty is based on the fact that He is eternal and infinite God, possessing all the attributes of divine essence. As the manifest person of the Trinity, our Lord wears the crown of divine royalty, John 1:18, 6:46 1Tim. 6:16 1John 4:12.

                                     (2)     The Jewish royalty of Christ or the royalty of His human nature in hypostatic union. The virgin birth introduces the humanity of Christ to the world. At the point of the virgin birth, Jesus Christ became Jewish royalty as the direct descendent of King David. David had four sons by Bathsheba, but only Solomon's and Nathan's lines came down to Joseph and Mary. Solomon's line is given in Matthew and is the line of Joseph. Nathan's line is given in Luke and is the line of the virgin Mary. As Jewish royalty, our Lord fulfills the Davidic covenant. Mary became pregnant because God the Holy Spirit provided the necessary chromosomes for her pregnancy.

                                     (3)     Our Lord's battlefield royalty is based upon His strategic victory during the first Advent, when He defeated Satan during His thirty-three years of executing the prototype spiritual life for the Church Age.

                            c.      The titles of our Lord's royalty are:

                                     (1)     Son of God for His divine royalty, Rom 1:4;

                                     (2)     Son of David is the title of His Jewish royalty, Rom 1:3;

                                     (3)     and the title of His battlefield royalty is King of kings and Lord of lords, the Bright Morning Star, Rev 19:16.

                            d.      There are three royal families of Christ:

                                     (1)     the royal family of His divine royalty includes God the Father and God the Holy Spirit;

                                     (2)     the royal family of His Jewish royalty includes all the ancestors of the royal line of David;

                                     (3)     and the royal family of His battlefield royalty is the royal family of God-all Church Age believers.

                            e.      Royalty is also applied to the name of Jesus Christ. Each part of His name refers to one of His royal crowns.

                                     (1)     Lord refers to His deity.

                                     (2)     Jesus means savior and refers to His battlefield royalty.

                                     (3)     Christ means Messiah and refers to His Jewish royalty.

                            f.       The royalty of Christ is related to the Second Advent. Each category of our Lord's royalty performs a different function at the Second Advent.

                                     (1)     The divine royalty of Christ changes creation for the Millennium, judges ecumenical religion and removes it, destroys the armies of the world, removes all unbelievers under the baptism of fire, and establishes perfect environment for the Millennium.

                                     (2)     The Jewish royalty regathers Israel, terminates the fifth cycle of discipline, establishes Israel as the last client nation to God in history, fulfills the unconditional covenants to Israel, and causes Israel to become a great source of blessing during the Millennium.

                                     (3)     Battlefield royalty makes Christ the strategic victor of the angelic conflict and replaces Satan as the ruler of the world, imprisons Satan for one thousand years, removes all demons from the world, and rules the earth for one thousand years.

                            g.      The unknown royal title of Christ, Rev 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a royal title written on Him which no one understood except Himself.

                  3.      The Latin corona was the highest decoration in the army, and is the exact equivalent of the Greek stephanos (στέφανος) [pronounced STEHF-ahn-oss].

         B.      The Romans had many different crowns as decorations in the military; they also gave crowns to the winners of athletic contests.

                  1.      The corona obsidionalis or grammania—a wreath of golden strands—was the highest decoration. This was given for breaking a blockade or raising a siege.

                  2.      The corona civica was a crown made of golden oak leaves. This was awarded to a soldier who saved the life of another citizen in battle and held the ground where this deed occurred for the rest of the day.

                  3.      The corona navalis was the highest decoration in the navy for destroying an enemy fleet or the first marine to board an enemy ship.

                  4.      The corona muralis was awarded to the first soldier who scaled the wall of a besieged city.

                  5.      The corona vallaris was awarded to the first soldier to reach the enemy lines in battle.

                  6.      The corona aurea was a golden crown for gallantry in battle or any heroic act in battle.

                  7.      The corona triumphalis was awarded to a victorious commander.

         C.     Each crown included monetary reward, freedom from taxes, children educated at public expense, a statue of the person erected in the public square, and a home wherever you wanted it built. The crown is used by analogy for the greatest honors God can give to believers.

         D.     There were also decorations worn around the neck, decorations on a baldric worn over the chest, and various spears as rewards.

III.     Doctrine Plus Momentum Equals Inheritance.

         A.      Mass (metabolized doctrine in the stream of consciousness) plus motion (advance in the spiritual life) equals your crowns, rewards, decorations, and inheritance.

         B.      In Acts 20:32 Paul gave his farewell address to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus and said, "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all of those who are sanctified." This is saying that experiential sanctification is the place where the spiritual life is lived, and the inheritance is fulfilled by Bible doctrine plus momentum in the spiritual life.

         C.     Paul described the inheritance to the Galatians in Gal 5:21 as "the kingdom of God." This is not a reference to your salvation, but to your eternal rewards.

         D.     When you have the crown of righteousness and/or the crown of life, you have your inheritance. You have inherited the kingdom of God.

         E.      In PLEROMA status you are a winner believer and have acquired both the crown of righteousness and the crown of life. As a winner believer you have the capacity related to the crown of righteousness.

         F.      The crown of righteousness and the crown of life actually go together. If you have one, you will have the other.

         G.     As a result of the fulfillment of the unique spiritual life of the Church Age two crowns are available to every believer-the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8) and the crown of life (Jam 1:12).

         H.     The crown of capacity righteousness is produced by the filling of the Spirit plus maximum metabolized doctrine circulating in the stream of consciousness.

         I.       This capacity for virtue-righteousness sustained the human nature of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The sequence for His staying power is His righteousness, His spiritual life, His doctrine, and His

                  1.      Jesus Christ on the Cross was the virtue factor in His love for all of us. Jesus Christ accepted the sentence of judgment of all sins because He had the capacity righteousness of dikaiosune. Because He had this capacity righteousness, He also had the love to accept the sentence and judgment of every sin because of personal love for God the Father and impersonal love for all mankind. Righteousness plus love gave Him the staying power to remain on the Cross. No sin was able to challenge His capacity righteousness or virtue-love.

                  2.      There are some interesting words in the middle of 1 Tim 6:11, "But you, oh man of God, flee [rebound] these things [greed and fear in the previous context], and keep on pursuing capacity righteousness (dikaiosune), the spiritual life (eusebeia), doctrine (pistis), virtue-love (agape), perseverance (hupomone) and thoughtfulness for others (praupathia)." To attain the crown of righteousness inevitably leads to attaining the crown of life.

                  3.      Capacity righteousness resulted in the love that sustained our Lord on the Cross.

                  4.      Capacity righteousness is the capacity for true love in the soul. Our spiritual life must have a love based on a righteousness that has capacity from the word of God.

                  5.      True love is always the result of true righteousness in the soul. All capacity for true love is soul capacity righteousness, not legalism. Legalism is the enemy of love. No one has love if he is legalistic.

                  6.      1Tim. 6:12-16 Fight the good fight of doctrine; take an interest in eternal life to which you were called and you made a good witness in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified a good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time, He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality [the humanity of our Lord in resurrection body] and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him honor and eternal sovereignty! Amen.

         J.      The second crown (the crown of life) results from the virtue, capacity righteousness in the soul, as illustrated in 1Tim. 6:11. Between righteousness and love you have two things: the spiritual life and

         K.      The second crown emphasizes virtue-love in the soul, which derives its capacity from

         L.      No believer attains the second crown without the first. The two decorations go together. You cannot have one without the other, which means that capacity righteousness must precede virtue-love in the soul.

IV.     A crown implies a coronation and sometimes authority. Earlier I used the illustration of having some crown that I picked up and I wander around the house wearing it. That is not the situation here. A crown is not simply a very cool hat that you can use to impress someone who knocks at your door. A crown has to come with coronation, which means that the crown is bestowed upon us in a ceremony. Secondly, a crown signifies authority. Those with crowns have authority over something. It is clear that we, as rewarded believers, will be rulers in heaven. 2Tim. 2:12a ...if we endure, we will also reign with Him;... (ESV; capitalized) See also Luke 22:29–30 Rom. 8:17 Rev. 3:21.

V.      The Crown of Spiritual Capacity Righteousness.

         A.      In 2Tim. 4:7-8 and 2Peter 3:13 this crown is used to describe the capacity for the greater blessings in resurrection body that the winner believer receives. God has given special capacity to winner believers to enjoy special blessings forever and ever.

         B.      The crown of righteousness represents the perfect righteousness that follows grace, but is free from any legalism of any kind. You do not get involved in legalistic activities of any kind. As a parent you should impose right standards on your children, because you are trying to teach standards. But you do not do this to other people.

         C.     This crown is available to all believers who become winners. This is given to mature believers with emphasis on the attainment of spiritual maturity. This crown emphasizes capacity for enjoyment of eternal rewards and decorations of the invisible hero, the spiritual winner.

         D.     The believer who wears the invisible uniform of honor will receive the crown of righteousness. Ephesians chapter 6 describes the uniform of honor. The function of impersonal love is the manifestation of the invisible uniform of honor. The crown of righteousness is given for your virtue, honor, integrity, passing momentum tests, and fulfillment of the royal family honor code.

         E.      2Tim. 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the doctrine. 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 to me only, but to all [winners] who love His appearing."

                  1.      Every believer has the opportunity for this reward. This is our eternal inheritance. It is the greatest possible thing given to the ordinary believer in eternity, but many believers do not seem to be interested in this reward.

                  2.      "To love His appearing" has a very special meaning.

                  3.      Paul's life was compatible with the righteousness of God. As a mature believer, the perpetuation of spiritual maturity means to continue the daily intake of the Word of God. The mass of Bible doctrine in the soul plus the momentum of the spiritual life equals the crown of

         F.      This reward has a relationship to the justice of God related to his love and His grace. What the righteousness of God commends the justice of God blesses as an expression of the love of God in the conveyance of the inheritance of the winner believer as a manifestation of the grace of God. This righteousness is far greater than any morality.

         G.     Capacity righteousness is the only way you build true love in the soul. Capacity righteousness plus soul love in two categories equals being an invisible hero. Capacity righteousness must come before love for God comes. Only then will capacity for love come in marriage.

VI.     The Crown of Life.

         A.      This decoration is awarded to invisible heroes for maximum production of divine good through the execution of the protocol plan of God. This includes all the impacts a Jeshurun believer can have-personal, historical, international, angelic, and heritage impact.

         B.      Therefore, the crown of life is related to the invisible hero's production from his spiritual gift, his ambassadorship, and his royal priesthood. The crown of life is awarded for consistent filling of the Holy Spirit, consistent perception of doctrine, and consistent use of the problem solving devices.

         C.     Rev 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Note that the devil is about to cast some of you in prison that you may be tested, and you will have special persecution ten times. Keep on being faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

         D.     James 1:12 Happy is that person who perseveres under testing, for once he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.

         E.      The crown of life is awarded because of consistent use of the spiritual skills and advance to maturity, John 15.

VII.    The Crown of Glory.

         A.      This crown is awarded to pastors who faithfully study and communicate Bible doctrine to their congregation. The size of the congregation never has anything to do with the evaluation of the pastor. There are four categories of pastors in the Church Age.

                  1.      The cosmic pastor who lives in cosmic one and cosmic two and is distracted by social action, crusader arrogance, and is totally disoriented to reality. He is very arrogant, self–righteous, and ignorant of Bible doctrine.

                  2.      The baby pastor emphasizes his own personality while de-emphasizing the Word of God. All he does is evangelize and give little moral lectures.

                  3.      The adolescent pastor teaches some truth but is distracted by various forms of high profile. He is selling his own personality (rather than teaching doctrine) by visiting the sick, calling on the congregation, and conducting programs. He can be a pseudo–intellectual, a crusader, a bleeding heart, self–righteous, a pleasing personality, or arrogant. He appeals to those with negative volition toward Bible doctrine. He doesn't have the time to study.

                  4.      The mature pastor through personal study and teaching advances to maturity and is leading his congregation there. He has received the crown of life and the crown of righteousness as well, Heb 6:10. He emphasizes doctrine and is a prepared person academically, knowing where he stands theologically. He focuses on the message, not his personality.

         B.      The motivation for the pastor is occupation with the Lord. 1Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God with you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily on the basis of the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with a ready mentality; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears [Rapture], you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

         C.     Phil 4:1 personalizes this concept. Therefore, my brethren, loved ones [congregation who is respected for their faithfulness], deeply desired ones, my happiness and my crown, keep on being stabilized [winners of the crown of righteousness].

         D.     1Thess. 2:19–20 For who is our hope or happiness or crown of boasting [glory]? Is it not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and our happiness. At the judgment seat of Christ, those who have attained spiritual maturity are the crown of glory for the pastor.

         E.      The pastor's boasting or crown of glory is received because certain members of his congregation do two things by listening to the teaching of the Word.

                  1.      They take the giant step to spiritual self-esteem.

                  2.      They take the victory step to spiritual maturity.

         F.      So the happiness of the pastor comes from the positive response of those faithful to the teaching of the Word of God. The pastor's happiness is different from that of anyone else.

         G.     Protocol believers are the basis for the pastor receiving the crown of glory.

VIII.   The Warning Regarding Crowns.

         A.      Rev. 3:11 "I will be coming suddenly; attain [hold on to, become the master of] what you have, so that no one may take away your crowns."

         B.      The durative present active imperative of the verb krateô (κρατέω) [pronounced krat-EH-oh] tells you what you should be doing if the Rapture occurs. The word means: to seize, to grasp, to get possession of, to become the master of something, to attain something. You should be learning and becoming master of your spiritual life. You should be attaining your spiritual life through consistently learning and applying Bible doctrine in preparation for the Rapture. You are to carry on in the execution of the spiritual life as your only preparation for the Rapture.

         C.     You do not pray for the Rapture, but prepare for the Rapture by the execution of the spiritual life. This is also how you keep other people from distracting you from attaining your escrow blessings for eternity. Losers participate in the resurrection of the Church but lose their escrow blessings for

                  1.      People cannot bless you; only God can. People cannot make you happy; only God can.

                  2.      Crowns are decorations that accompany the various escrow blessings in the eternal state.

         D.     Compare 2John 8. You already have these crowns deposited in escrow for you in eternity past by God the Father. These crowns are not distributed unless you execute the protocol plan of God. There are people who can distract you from Bible doctrine, and so keep you from receiving these

IX.     The Ultimate Decoration-the Order of the Morning Star.

         A.      This is the highest decoration awarded to any Church Age believer in Jeshurun status. Rev. 2:26 "Furthermore, the winner, even he who keeps My assignments [fulfillment of the protocol plan of God] until the end [of his life], to him I will give authority over the nations." Rev 2:28 "Furthermore I will give to him the order of the Morning Star."

         B.      This award is part of a new and eternal order of chivalry, and will be born by invisible heroes for their ultimate in advance in the spiritual life. It is for maintenance of spiritual maturity in what may be classified as ultra-supergrace status. Receiving this reward is the highest manifestation of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church Age.

         C.     With this decoration all winners will wear a special uniform of glory mentioned in Rev 3:4.

         D.     This mature believer will be a king over a Gentile nation during the Millennium. The "Bright Morning Star" as part of our Lord's third royal title is mentioned specifically in Rev 22:16 and 2Peter 1:19.

         E.      This title was given to our Lord at His ascension and session, and is related to both the strategic and tactical victory of the angelic conflict. Rev. 22:16, "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to declare these things to you for the churches; I am the root [Jesus Christ as eternal God], and the descendent of David [Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union], the bright morning star [His title for the first and Second

         F.      In Num. 24:17, this title is related to our Lord's strategic victory. "I see Him, but not now, I behold Him, but not near. Behold, a star [Christ as the morning star] shall come forth from Jacob [First Advent], and a scepter shall rise from Israel [Second Advent]."

         G.     Matt 2:2 is a reference to the morning star related to the First Advent.

         H.     Bible doctrine is related to Christ as the Morning Star in 2Peter 1:19, keep on having a more reliable prophetic doctrine, with reference to which doctrine you perform honorably by habitually concentrating in your right lobes on a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns, until the Morning Star comes [Second Advent].

         I.       The Order of the Morning Star is named after our Lord's royal title and is given to believers for their historical impact in the Church Age. It authorizes the recipient to reign with Christ in the Millennium and hold the highest privileges for all eternity. Such a believer can eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God, located in the New Jerusalem.

         J.      There are certain privileges that accompany the order of the morning star.

                  1.      The uniform of honor, being invisible and worn in the soul, is exchanged at the judgment seat of Christ for the uniform of glory. It was first modeled by Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matt. 17:2 and His clothes became white as light. The uniform of glory is a monument to right decisions. The uniform of glory is given as a translucent light which covers the resurrection body. Rev. 3:4–5 "in fact they will walk with Me in whites." The uniform of glory distinguishes the winner believer from the loser believer.

                  2.      The Order of the Morning Star includes presentation in the court of heaven during the Tribulation. Only those on the honors list are presented to God the Father. The honors list is made up of those believers who make Bible doctrine their highest priority daily. Rev. 3:5, "Thus the winner shall be clothed in white garments and I will never blot out his title [the winner is knighted at the judgment seat of Christ] out of the book of life. In fact, I will acknowledge his title in the presence of My Father and before His angels [a formal

                  3.      A new knighthood and eternal order of chivalry belongs to the believer winning this award, Rev. 2:17 cf. Col. 3:4,6. A new order of chivalry includes a new title after your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. The new knighthood is given to the winner. Rev. 2:17 "To the winner, I will give him blessing [escrow blessings] from the hidden manna [Bible doctrine in the soul]; also I will give him a white pebble [the resurrection body, God's final vote of justification-they voted with colored pebbles in the ancient world] and on that white pebble has been inscribed a new title [your royal patent in the eternal heraldry] which no one knows [you are an anonymous hero during the Church Age] except the one who receives it."

                  4.      The winner will rule with Christ during the Millennium. There are six different approaches with regard to ruling with Christ.

                            a.      The a fortiori approach is found in Rom 5:17 For if by the transgression of one, spiritual death ruled by that one, much more, they who receive in life this surplus from grace [escrow blessing] and the gift of righteousness, much more, they shall rule through that One, Jesus Christ.

                            b.      The sarcastic approach is found in 1Cor. 4:8 You are already filled [with private sins]; you have already become rich [but not from escrow blessing]; you have become kings without us. How I wish you really had become kings, so that we might also rule with Him.

                            c.      The eternal security approach is taught in 2Tim. 2:12 If we endure [perpetuation of the execution of the spiritual life], we shall also rule.

                            d.      The parable approach is found in Luke 19:12ff, especially verses 17 and 19. To "take charge over ten cities" means rulership.

                            e.      The direct approach is taught in Rev. 3:21 "The winner, I will give to him the reward of sitting with Me on my throne, as I have won and sat down with My Father on His throne." Rev. 20:4, "And they ruled with Christ for a thousand years."

                            f.       The Morning Star approach is found in Rev. 2:26–28.

                  5.      Your name is recorded in the permanent historical record section of the heavenly Temple because of your invisible impact on history during the Church Age, Rev. 3:12a.

                            a.      The impact of the winner is anonymous as far as the records of history are concerned, but not as far as God is concerned.

                            b.      The mature believer's historical record will be recorded forever in the heavenly temple. Each pillar will have the record of his life as a winner.

                            c.      Rev. 3:12 "The winner, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God." The temple of God is the eternal record center in the future. "Furthermore, he will never again [go outside] vanish from history. Also, I will emblazon on him the title of My God, and the name of the city of My God, [this will be his pass to enter the eternal city, the New Jerusalem, a satellite city suspended above the earth in the atmosphere or in space] the new Jerusalem, which shall descend from heaven from My God; also My new title [King of kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star]."

                            d.      As an example, the temple at Ephesus had the great deeds of people inscribed on the pillars. So this temple of God will be the historical textbook of the true heroes of history. The mature believer as a part of the pivot is the true impact on history.

                            e.      In Gal. 2:9 the mature believer is currently called a pillar of the church.

                  6.      You are the recipient of a coat of arms of glory, Rev. 3:12b.

                  7.      The winner has membership in the Paradise Club forever. Membership includes three special privileges: the privilege related to the tree of life, the privilege related to the gazebo in the garden, and the privilege related to access to the paradise of God itself. You are a member of a special club with special parties to which only you are invited. Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21 ".To the winner, I will give to him the privilege of eating from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God." "Blessed are they [winners] who have washed their robes [rebound], that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city [the New Jerusalem]." The tree of life is the ultimate in eternal reward and blessing.

X.      Military and Athletic Analogies to Rewards.

         A.      2Tim. 2:4-5 No soldier on active duty entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life [a person on active duty does not live a normal life], so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Furthermore, if anyone competes in the athletic games, he does not receive a winner's crown unless he trains according to the rules.

         B.      Every athlete went through identical training no matter what his event. This is analogous to every believer having the identical divine dynasphere as the place in which we train and compete. We must fulfill the training rules of the protocol plan of God. Only the protocol Christian is living the Christian way of life, and therefore is qualified to compete in the angelic conflict.

         C.     The agonistai were people who just worked out to stay in shape, which is just sheer agony. This is analogous to the believer in the cosmic system and to arrogance in the cosmic system which is just sheer agony.

         D.     The athletai were the ones who trained under the rules of the national gymnasium for ten months. You were not allowed to leave the large walled area of the gymnasium for ten months, and you had to exercise under the authority of the gumnasiarch, the ruler of the gym (analogous to the pastor). The rules were very strict.

                  1.      You could not leave for any reason.

                  2.      You were on a strict diet which everyone ate (other foods being analogous to distractions of the cosmic system).

                  3.      Everyone participated in group exercise naked outdoors, regardless of the weather (analogous to everyone getting the same doctrinal teaching).

                  4.      Daily trumpet calls had to be met each day at various times; if you missed one you were

                  5.      Everyone had equal privilege and opportunity to compete.

         E.      1Cor. 9:24–27 illustrates how we compete to reach a reward which is imperishable. Each winner in the national games received many rewards and privileges.

                  1.      He received a crown of ivy leaves, which represented the rewards he would receive when he returned home. This is analogous to us receiving eternal escrow blessings when we go home to heaven.

                  2.      He had a special entrance cut into the wall of his hometown city which he passed through when he returned home. Then a plaque was put up after the wall was sealed up again.

                  3.      He rode in the best chariot through the city in a parade.

                  4.      He received a lifetime pass to all future games.

                  5.      He received a great amount of money.

                  6.      An ode was written to him by a poet.

                  7.      A statue of him was put up in the public square.

                  8.      His children were fed and educated at public expense.

                  9.      He was exempt from all income taxes for life.

         F.      1Cor. 9:24 Run in such a way that you may win. Verse 27 but I discipline my body and keep it in training, lest possibly, having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified."

Taken from http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=1123 and edited. No doubt this came right from R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s notes.

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