Crowns in the New Testament

2023-07-29

Crown of Thorns

The first occurrence of a crown in the New Testament is Jesus’ crown of thorns.

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19:2-5)

The first crown given to Jesus was here, together with a purple robe. This was His first “honor” as king, one of shame and pain. Thenceforth, a crown was a symbol of honor for the Christian.

Stephen

The name of Stephen, one of the seven, means “crown.” He was the first recorded Christian martyr. He preached the Gospel faithfully, was full of the Holy Spirit, faith, and power, and did wonders and miracles. When he was confronted by enemies, he faithfully preached until the mob killed him. By his death he became a symbol of Christian honor. Even the Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, stood to receive Stephen.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord (Acts 7:55-57)

The Crown as a Prize

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:5)

The word for crown in most of the references in the New Testament is like the prizes received in the Olympics (στέφανος). It is not until Revelation that we see a different word used. However, the prize we pursue is incorruptible, or one that will never decay with time. For Paul, he kept a very disciplined life to stay on his task of world evangelization. If he did not, he would be ineffective. To receive the prize, we must do likewise.

Churches as Crowns

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. (Philippians 4:1)

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? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

These churches in Macedonia were Paul’s crown. Paul’s reward was when they would be presented before the Lord on the Day of Christ.

A Crown of Righteousness

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 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. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

At the end of Paul’s life, he had confidence that he had done what God commanded Him to do until the end. He knew that he would receive this crown of righteousness on the Day of Christ. Everyone who looks in faith for Jesus’ coming will receive this crown. In this life, we look for the day when the Lord will come and make us fully experientially righteous.

A Crown of Life

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. (James 1:12)

Here, we see that the one who perseveres through this life’s temptations will receive a crown of life. This is for anyone who loves the Lord. Loving the Lord implies perseverance through the trials or anything that try to take him away from seeking the Lord. The same offer was extended to the church in Smyrna, who was persevering through trials:

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. (Revelation 2:10)

In Philadelphia, a similar admonition is given:

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

A Crown of Glory

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4)

Addressing elders, those who directed God’s people without lording over them will receive this crown of glory. Like the one mentioned as prize previously, this crown will not decay or fade away.

The Twenty-Four Elders

The 24 elders around the throne of God received golden crowns.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4)

However, in the glory of the presence of God, they acknowledge that He is the only One worthy of honor:

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

The Antichrist

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2)

The Antichrist that goes forth to conquer the world also has a crown, associated with his successful conquering. This crown and ability to conquer was given to him. Later we see this of him:

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)

This Antichrist has 10 crowns, this time meaning authority (διάδημα), which represent the 10 kings he is allied with.

The Nation of Israel

The nation of Israel is also crowned with 12 stars. However, Satan is also crowned (a different word, διάδημα, symbolizing authority and less a prize).

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:1-3)

The contrast is that Satan rules over the world system, but Israel is recognized as God’s people who brought forth Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Father Crowned the Son

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:7-9)

Crowning Jesus with honor and glory was to put Him in the highest position of authority. He was the utmost example of perseverance, who submitted Himself to death to redeem humankind from death.

The Lord Jesus is also seen with a golden crown (στέφανος) at the time of the rapture:

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:14)

Finally, we see the Lord coming to conquer the earth, wearing many crowns (διάδημα):

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:11-13)

Jesus is both the one who persevered to receive the highest prize as well as the one who is crowned with the highest authority.