The Heavenly Five Crowns in the Bible Verses

There are five crowns in the Bible verses that highlight the rewards Christian believer can receive for their faithfulness to God while they serve Him on Earth. A crown itself is a symbol of honor, even a badge of royalty, a special reward to faithful servants of God. Just as an employee can be recognized for good service while doing their job, so, too, will God both recognize and reward faithful service to Him.

5 Crowns in the Bible Verses for Believers to Earn

After a person gets saved, they have both the privilege and responsibility to serve the One who has saved them. Eternal life in heaven is guaranteed to all saved persons, as it is a gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (KJV).

But heavenly rewards are earned by serving God according to His commands given in His holy Word. Crowns are a part of these rewards.

But unlike the gift of heaven, crowns, and other heavenly and eternal rewards will be given only to those who have earned them. Every believer will be judged by God for how they lived for Him according (or not!) to the Word of God, the Bible.

This grave judgment by God of His children, and how they lived during their time on Earth, is called the judgment seat of Christ, and is referred to in

2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (KJV)

At this judgment, a believer’s life and good works after salvation will be reviewed by God, at which time they will receive or be denied rewards, including the five different types of crowns specifically mentioned in the Bible.

In New Testament times, athletes would train and compete in Olympic-type public games. The winners of these ancient Greek games would be crowned with a garland of leaves. The Apostle Paul alludes to this perishable crown as he points to heavenly crowns. A heavenly crown is an imperishable crown, and any crown earned is an eternal reward and is available to those who strive to serve God faithfully.

Eternal rewards are earned, they are not automatically given. Therefore, knowing that one must work for these rewards, it should not come as a surprise that faithful service to God is not always, if ever, easy. Salvation, receiving the saving grace of God is easy since it is a free gift. Service after salvation to the God Who saved us is work. With faithful service, even with the associated sufferings, there will be a payday. The pay, the heavenly reward, will vastly overcompensate for any of the sufferings that we may have to endure, according to

Romans 8:18

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (KJV)

Here are the five crowns in the order they appear in God’s Word.

Five Crowns in the Bible Verses — The Victor’s Crown

The first crown, and how to obtain it, is what Bible scholars refer to as the “victor’s crown.”

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

“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.” (KJV)

The Apostle Paul says that to obtain this incorruptible crown, a person must be “temperate in all things.” The word Greek word egkrateuomai, translated “temperate,” means to exercise self-restraint. Obedience to God requires self-restraint. Living a holy, obedient life to God and His Word is the way to earn this crown. This crown can be forfeited if the individual does not bring their body into subjection, and lives according to what their flesh desires, instead of what God has told to do according to His Word.

Paul knew that if he did not strive daily to keep his body under subjection, he was in danger of losing his heavenly rewards, particularly this crown. He would “be a castaway.” Paul set the example for us of living the Christian life in expectation of heavenly and eternal rewards.

Five Crowns in the Bible Verses — The Crown of Rejoicing

This crown is also called “the soul-winner’s crown.” Christians are saved from eternal punishment in hell; they know they are on their way to heaven, and they know exactly how that happened. Every Christian should strive to spiritually reproduce, to witness, pray, and seek for others to receive Christ as Savior and get saved from hell also. This crown of rejoicing will be given by God to those who have worked, prayed, and witnessed so that others will get saved.

1 Thessalonians 2:19

“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?” (KJV).

This verse is similar to

Philippians 4:1

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (KJV)

While the word “crown” is not mentioned, the same idea of eternal rewards to Christians who desire, work, and pray for souls to get saved is conveyed in this Old Testament verse:

Daniel 12:3

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (KJV)

It is wise decision for a Christian to serve God in the capacity of working toward bringing others to salvation through Christ Jesus. Those who are our unsaved friends today may be a part of one of our eternal heavenly crowns in the future.

A Christian who knows they are on their way to heaven should desire to lead many others to Christ. Faithful witnessing will result not only in souls being saved for eternity, but those who labor in this area will also be rewarded with joy of seeing their loved ones in heaven, and also with an eternal crown.

Five Crowns in the Bible Verses — The Crown of Righteousness

Many Christians seem to desire Christ’s return. The everlasting crown of righteousness is related to them meeting God.

2 Timothy 4:7&8

“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.” (KJV)

All Christians will get to heaven, but meeting God is a fearful thing, according to Hebrews 10:31. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (KJV) God will reward His servants with a crown of righteousness for those who strive to consistently live a holy, righteous life. No believer knows when Christ will appear, either in the rapture or to heaven by way of death. Either way, we will meet God and be judged by Him for our deeds, both good ones in order to get rewards, or unrighteousness ones, that will result in loss of rewards.

Five Crowns in the Bible Verses — The Crown of Life

The crown of life is also called “the martyr’s crown.” God has promised this special reward to those of His children who have proved their love for Him in enduring temptation, rather than yielding to it.

James 1:12

“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.” (KJV)

The exact nature of the temptation that is endured, according to the Apostle James, is not specific. God may give this crown to those who die a natural death, yet in life have endured temptation at the point of death for His sake.

Revelation 2:10

“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.” (KJV)

The first person to have received this crown was a man by the name Stephen as recorded in Acts 7:59&60.

This verse promises the crown of life to those who refuse to deny Jesus Christ, even to where they may be killed for the cause of Christ.

Five Crowns in the Bible Verses — The Crown of Glory

The last crown mentioned in the Bible is also called “the pastor’s crown.” This particular unfading crown of glory is described by the apostle Peter; he describes himself as a fellow elder as he writes his epistle to other elders.

1 Peter 5:1-4

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (KJV)

God promises this crown to believers who spiritually feed God’s people with His Word. God expects pastors, and even Sunday school teachers, to willingly teach His Word to His people. In the position of authority, they are to be examples, not masters, over God’s people. They are to lead the flock of God by their own humble, but holy, example.

What To Do with the Crowns

The twenty-four elders mentioned in the Book of Revelation took their crowns and threw them at the feet of the glorified Jesus Christ in heaven.

 Revelation 4:10-11

“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.” (KJV)

It may seem futile to attempt put in the hard work to try to earn these crowns, only to throw them at Jesus’ feet. But how would it feel if you had nothing to offer Him? Especially when everyone else has crowns to cast before His throne. It would be like showing up at a wedding without a wedding gift!

Those who have received crowns to cast at the feet of Jesus know that it was only with His help that they received them, and only because of Him that they are in heaven to begin with! In ourselves, we can do no good thing, much less earn heavenly rewards. So it will be the right thing, the most natural act, to give back just a bit of what Christ gave to us.

But the crowns that will be cast (Hopefully, by some or all who are reading this article) will not be wasted. We will pick them up again, just as Jesus laid down His life for us and then He took it up again, so, too, will we do with the crowns that He has helped us earn.

A single Bible verse refers to “7 crowns”. Learn about this and more crowns in the Bible in the article 7 Crowns in the Bible Verses.

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