Five crowns

{{Short description|Concept in Christian theology}} {{not to be confused with|Five Crowns (card game)}} thumb|upright|The Crown of Life in a stained glass window in memory of the First World War, created {{Circa|1919}} by Joshua Clarke & Sons, Dublin<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gloine.ie/gloine/diocese/window/16082/ |title=Coleraine St Patrick W10 nave; north aisle; north; 2nd from east |access-date=15 March 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316114314/http://gloine.ie/gloine/diocese/window/16082/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The '''Five Crowns''', also known as the '''Five Heavenly Crowns''', is a concept in Christian theology that pertains to various biblical references to the righteous's eventual reception of a crown after the Last Judgment.<ref name="Thiessen1979">{{cite book|last=Thiessen|first=Henry Clarence|title=Lectures in Systematic Theology|url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesinsystem00thie|url-access=registration|year=1979|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=9780802835291|page=[https://archive.org/details/lecturesinsystem00thie/page/389 389]|quote=As we have seen, when the Lord returns, he will judge believers for their works (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:5; 2 Co. 5:10). Everyone will be asked to give an account of the use he has made of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the pounds or minas (Luke 19:11-27), and the opportunities (Matt. 20:1-16) that have been entrusted to him. The day will declare whether a man has built of wood, hay, and straw or of gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12). If of the former, his works will be burnt up, and yet he will be saved so as through fire (v. 15); if of the latter, he will receive a reward (v. 14). Scripture lists several crowns or trophies: the incorruptible or imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25), the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10), the crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4), and the crown of rejoicing or exultation (1 Thess. 2:19; cf. Phil. 4:1).}}</ref> Proponents of this concept interpret these passages as specifying five separate crowns, these being the Crown of Life; the Incorruptible Crown; the Crown of Righteousness; the Crown of Glory; and the Crown of Exultation.<ref name="Thiessen1979"/> In the Greek language, ''stephanos'' (στέφανος) is the word for ''crown'' and is translated as such in the Bible, especially in versions descending from the King James Version.<ref name="HastingsSelbie1909">{{cite book|last1=Hastings|first1=James|last2=Selbie|first2=John Alexander|last3=Lambert|first3=John Chisholm|author4=Shailer Mathews|title=Dictionary of the Bible|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94190|year=1909|publisher=C. Scribner's Sons|page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94190/page/n191 169]|quote=In AV, 'crown' represents two Gr. words: (1) ''stephanos'' (whence ''sephanoō'', 'to crown'), (2) ''diadema''; the former being the badge of merit of victory, the latter (found only in Rev 123 131 1912) the mark of royalty.}}</ref> These five rewards can be earned by believers, according to the New Testament, as "rewards for faithfulness in this life".<ref name="Swindoll2011">{{cite book|last=Swindoll|first=Charles R.|title=Insights on Revelation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MhwimfoKyIC&pg=PT76|accessdate=30 April 2014|date=25 September 2011|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=9780310590835|page=76}}</ref>

The Catholic Church names three special crowns for those who are martyrs, doctors, and virgins.<ref name="Hontheim">{{cite web |last1=Hontheim |first1=Joseph |title=Heaven: A treatment of the doctrine of heaven |url=https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/heaven |publisher=Catholic Answers |access-date=27 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

== Five Crowns == === Crown of Life === [[File:Ignatius of Antioch.jpg|thumb|Martyrdom of Ignatius of Antioch from the Menologion of Basil II]] The Crown of Life, also called the Martyr's Crown, is referred to in {{Bibleverse|James|1:12|KJV}} and {{Bibleverse|Revelation|2:10|KJV}}. Believers in the rewards doctrine claim is bestowed upon "those who persevere under trials."<ref name="Tada2010">{{cite book|last=Tada|first=Joni Eareckson|title=Heaven|date=11 May 2010|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=9780310872566|page=60|quote=There's also the ''crown of life'' in James 1:12, reserved for those who persevere under trials.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Sabbath School Visiter|url=https://archive.org/details/sabbathschoolvi00socigoog|accessdate=30 April 2014|year=1839|publisher=Massachusetts Sabbath School Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/sabbathschoolvi00socigoog/page/n34 27]|quote=And James says, in his epistle, that those who are tried "shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."}}</ref> Jesus, in this theory, refers about this crown when he tells the Church in Smyrna to "not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."<ref name="GarlowWall2009">{{cite book|last1=Garlow|first1=James L.|last2=Wall|first2=Keith|title=Heaven and the Afterlife|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NUuxZJKORoC&pg=PA152|accessdate=30 April 2014|date=1 July 2009|publisher=Bethany House|isbn=9781441204905|page=152|quote=The Crown of Life: This is awarded to those who have endured suffering, those men and women who "gutted it out" through hardship and adversity. Jesus told the church in Smyrna: "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. . . . Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."}}</ref>

=== Incorruptible Crown === The Incorruptible Crown is also known as the Imperishable Crown, a term that appears in {{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|9:25|KJV}}.<ref name="Thiessen1979"/> This epistle, written by Paul of Tarsus, deems this crown "imperishable" in order "to contrast it with the temporal awards Paul's contemporaries pursued".<ref name="Garlow2009">{{cite book|last1=Garlow|first1=James L.|last2=Wall|first2=Keith|title=Heaven and the Afterlife|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NUuxZJKORoC&pg=PA152|accessdate=30 April 2014|date=1 July 2009|publisher=Bethany House|isbn=9781441204905|page=152|quote=This crown is called imperishable to contrast it with the temporal awards Paul's contemporaries pursued. The olive wreath-the "crown" for competitors-was sure to wither away. The ever-enduring "endurance crown" is given for profound examples of self-denial and perseverance.}}</ref> Adherents to the meritous crowns doctrine argue that it would be given to those individuals who demonstrate "self-denial and perseverance".<ref name="Garlow2009"/>

=== Crown of Righteousness === The Crown of Righteousness is mentioned in {{Bibleverse|2 Timothy|4:8|KJV}}.<ref name="Thiessen1979"/> Proponents argue that itis promised to "those who love and anticipate" the Second Coming of Christ,<ref name="LaHayeHindson2004">{{cite book|last1=LaHaye|first1=Tim|last2=Hindson|first2=Edward E.|last3=Brindle|first3=Wayne|title=The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8nC7uqQN6JsC&pg=PA340|accessdate=30 April 2014|year=2004|publisher=Harvest House Publishers|isbn=9780736913522|page=340|quote=This crown is promised to those who love an anticipate our Lord's appearance. These are the ones who live in the light of eternity and the expectation of Christ's imminent return. So motivated, they will not be among those who will experience shame at Christ's coming (1 John 2:28).}}</ref> who would be Christians desiring intimacy with God.<ref name="Wall2009">{{cite book|last1=Garlow|first1=James L.|last2=Wall|first2=Keith|title=Heaven and the Afterlife|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NUuxZJKORoC&pg=PA152|accessdate=30 April 2014|date=1 July 2009|publisher=Bethany House|isbn=9781441204905|page=152|quote=The Crown of Righteousness: This is given to those who crave intimacy with God. It's the special award for those who year for Jesus' coming: "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."}}</ref>

=== Crown of Glory === [[File:Confirmation in the lutheran church.jpg|thumb|upright|A clergyman administers confirmation to a confirmand.]] The Crown of Glory is a term that appears in {{Bibleverse|1 Peter|5:4|KJV}}. For the adherents of the ranked crown doctrine, it would be granted to Christian clergy, who "shepherd the flock in unselfish love being a good example to others" {{Bibleverse|1 Peter|5:2-4|KJV}}.<ref name="Pena2010">{{cite book|last=Pena|first=Raul|title=Father's Revelation of the Son|date=30 November 2010|publisher=Harvest Time Publishing|isbn=9780615417776|page=86|quote=1 Peter 5:4 the Crown of Glory for Pastors and Elders who serve the flock in unselfish love.}}</ref><ref name="Fulke1848">{{cite book|last=Fulke|first=William |title=Stapleton, Martiall and Sanders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JMaeZb-C-XsC&pg=PA116|accessdate=30 April 2014|year=1848|publisher=Parker Society|page=116|quote=But the words of Eusebius put all out of doubt: "O ye friends and Priests of God, which are clothed with the holy long garment, and the heavenly crown of glory, and with the divine unction, and the priestly robe of the Holy Ghost," & c.}}</ref>

=== Crown of Rejoicing === The Crown of Rejoicing is also known as the Crown of Exultation, or Crown of Auxiliary.<ref name="Thiessen1979" /> The term occurs in {{Bibleverse|1 Thessalonians|2:19|KJV}} and {{Bibleverse|Philippians|4:1|KJV}}. Proponents say it is reserved to people who engage in evangelism of those outside the Christian Church.<ref name="Washington2009">{{cite book|last=Washington|first=Sandra Y.|title=Eschatology|date=November 2009|isbn=9781440184079|page=34|publisher=iUniverse |quote=Crown 5: The Crown of Rejoicing - This is for these in the body of Christ who do the work of an evangelist or who operates as an evangelist, the crown is given to anyone who won souls for Christ.}}</ref> They interpret in the New Testament that Paul earned this crown after winning the Thessalonians to faith in Jesus.<ref name="Phillips2005">{{cite book|last=Phillips|first=John|title=Exploring 1 & 2 Thessalonians: An Expository Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccfNVyCRquQC&pg=PA73|accessdate=30 April 2014|date=January 2005|publisher=Kregel Academic|isbn=9780825433986|page=73|quote=So, then, Paul emphasizes the reward. He was confident that he had rewards coming to him. He had earned one crown at least--a crown of rejoicing and exultation; the triumph of his dear Thessalonians had assured him of this fact.}}</ref>

== Relation to meritorious works == Historic traditions of Christianity, such as Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Lutheranism, teach that God rewards the good works of the faithful in heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace".<ref name="Vatican2026">{{cite web |title=III. Merit |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_three/article_2/iii_merit.html |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=27 March 2026}}</ref> In the Evangelical-Lutheran Churches, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession teaches: "We also affirm what we have often said, that although justification and eternal life go along with faith, nevertheless, good works merit other bodily and spiritual rewards and degrees of reward. According to 1 Corinthians 3:8, ‘Each will receive his wages according to his labor.’"<ref name="Preus2025">{{cite web |last1=Preus |first1=James |title=Rewards for Good Works |url=https://christforus.org/NewSite/index.php/2025/01/02/rewards-for-good-works/ |publisher=Christ for Us |access-date=14 May 2025 |date=2 January 2025}}</ref>

Critics of the idea that the faithful can receive Five Crowns criticize the concept that good works are meritorious. According to the thesis by Emma Griffith ''An Exegetical Evaluation: Believers’ Differential, Works-Based Heavenly Rewards in the New Testament'' (2024),<ref>Griffith, Emma. "An Exegetical Evaluation: Believers’ Differential, Works-Based Heavenly Rewards in the New Testament." (2024). Thesis for the Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies (MA). Liberty University. <nowiki>https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1168</nowiki> </ref> the article by Craig Blomberg ''Degrees of Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven?'' (1992),<ref>Blomberg, Craig L. "Degrees of Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35, no. 2 (June 1992): 159–72. <nowiki>https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/35/35-2/JETS_35-2_159-172_Blomberg.pdf</nowiki>.</ref> and the book by Jake Keller ''No'' ''Trophies in Heaven: Grace's Equal Crowns and Rewards for the Faithful'' (2025),<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Keller |first=James |title=No Trophies in Heaven: Grace's Equal Crowns and Rewards for the Faithful |date= |publisher=Sozo |year=2025 |isbn=9798264062285 |edition=1st |location=Bristol, Wisconsin |pages=72-75 |language=EN}}</ref> biblical data do not support the idea of a differentiated, ranked, meritous, work-based crowns and rewards. In common, those authors demonstrate the confusion of such idea stems from lacking knowledge of biblical context, eisegesis, and mistaken interpretation. Keller traces the roots that the Five Crowns can be merited by the faithful to J. N. Darby and its further development by a lay theologian, William Evan, who articulated it in 1912.<ref name=":0" /> Keller's work presents a foundational critique that reframes the entire debate on heavenly rewards. ''No'' ''Trophies in Heaven'' systematically challenges the framework of stratified celestial rewards by retrieving the historic, orthodox position that salvation itself is the singular and equal inheritance for all the faithful. Keller’s analysis contends that the New Testament’s varied crown metaphors describe one unified reality—eternal life in Christ—rather than a hierarchy of merits.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Aron |first=Tim |date=November 30, 2025 |title=No Trophies in Heaven: How holding onto an Orthodox perspective dissolves an entire American controversy |url=https://medium.com/@theologicalreview/no-trophies-in-heaven-how-holding-onto-an-orthodox-perspective-dissolves-an-entire-american-8a58b8c474aa |access-date=December 12, 2025 |website=Medium: Theological Review}}</ref> By arguing that grace logically precludes an eternal meritocracy, Keller's exegesis critiques the common premise underlying contemporary theological controversies like Lordship versus Free Grace salvation. As a work of theological retrieval rather than innovation, the works by Griffith (2024), Blomberg (1992), and Keller (2025) establish a benchmark for the discussion; any serious engagement with the subject of eschatological rewards must now address their critique and scriptural exegetical analysis.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

==See also== {{portal|Christianity}} *Crown of Immortality *Aureolae *Hades in Christianity

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links==

Category:5 (number) Category:Judgment in Christianity Category:Christian soteriology Category:Christian terminology