Crowns

[in_servitude]

My protestant friend was asking about my thoughts on “crowns.” His thought is that all of those that enter Heaven will receive a crown (and then toss them before the throne?). I’m not sure about the tossing. I have done some poking around, and I don’t see much in the way of this.

My friend points to 2Timothy and Revelation to indicate his thoughts on this.

2 Timothy 4:7-9

7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

Revelation 4:9-12

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: 11 “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”

Of course, Jesus gets a crown before the Crucifixion. And, Mary gets her crown in Heaven (Rev 12).

Are we supposed to seek our own crown of thorns while we try to walk as Jesus teaches us? Or, can we just look forward to our own crown if we successfully pass into Heaven?

 

[Lord_Simpson]

I want one with emeralds and big spikey gold things on it!

 

[COPLAND_3]

St. John Chrysostom seems to think that the crown are specifically glory and honor, in his comments on 2 Tim 4:8

This crown is without end. This is not of olive leaves. It has not a human umpire. It has not men for spectators. The theater is crowded with Angels. There men labor many days, and suffer hardships, and for one hour they receive the crown, and immediately all the pleasure passes away. But here far otherwise, it continues for ever in brightness, glory, and honor.

As for casting them as we see in Revelation 4:10 here is the footnote from the Aquinas Study Bible

4:10 cast their crowns: they are ascribing to God whatever they posses of virtue and dignity. For whatever good we seek and acquire by right is attributed to Him from whom He who conquers receives assistance. (Primasius)

 

[thistle]

My protestant friend was asking about my thoughts on “crowns.” His thought is that all of those that enter Heaven will receive a crown (and then toss them before the throne?). I’m not sure about the tossing. I have done some poking around, and I don’t see much in the way of this.

My friend points to 2Timothy and Revelation to indicate his thoughts on this.

2 Timothy 4:7-9

Revelation 4:9-12

Of course, Jesus gets a crown before the Crucifixion. And, Mary gets her crown in Heaven (Rev 12).

Are we supposed to seek our own crown of thorns while we try to walk as Jesus teaches us? Or, can we just look forward to our own crown if we successfully pass into Heaven?

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

2 Tim:4

Ver. 8. A crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me. These words confirm the Catholic doctrine, that good works performed with the assistance of God’s grace, deserve and are meritorious of a reward in heaven: it is what is signified, 1. by a crown of justice, 2. from a just judge, 3. which he will render or give as a reward. Yet we own with St. Augustine that we have no merit, but what is also a gift of God from his grace and mercy, and grounded on his promises. (Witham) — “A crown of justice,” which the Protestants translate, of righteousness; but let us see how the learned St. Augustine, 1400 years ago, expounds the apostle’s meaning: “How should he repay as a just judge, unless he had first given as a merciful Father?” (De grat. et lib. arb. chap. vi.) See Hebrews vi. 10. God is not unjust, that he should forget your works; this the Protestants change into, God is not unrighteous.

Rev 4:

Ver. 10. Nothing is so well adapted to give us an idea of the infinite majesty of God, and of the sovereign respect which is due to him, as this description. How ought Christians to appear in the presence of the God of armies, if what is most august and most elevated in heaven acknowledges its lowness and nothing before this tremendous Majesty? (Calmet)

 

[Mintaka]

Early Christian male martyrs carrying their laurel crowns of victory and martyrdom.

Early Christian virgin martyrs wearing a jewelled crown/diadem over their hairdo and carrying their laurel crowns also.

These are from Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, in the old Gothic/Imperial city of Ravenna. The idea is that the saints are processing along the side walls up to Christ on His throne, up front. Presumably the casting of crowns will then begin. It’s the offertory section of the celestial Mass. [Insert plug for the Lamb’s Supper book about Revelation here.]

The Apostles holding their crowns, around a center picture of Jesus’ Baptism. Don’t know the church.

We don’t normally see crowned saints, because Christian art mostly uses halos instead.