2 Timothy 4:8, commentary and pictures

A crown of righteousness is reserved and waiting in heaven as a future reward, to be given by Christ the righteous Judge at His appearing and kingdom when He judges the living and the dead. It is not for Paul alone but for every overcomer who has kept the faith and loves His appearing. Loving His appearing means longing, watching and waiting for Him with joyful hope, and living ready in wholehearted love, obedience, self-denial and overcoming of sin. To rightly claim it one must fight the good fight, finish the course and keep the faith, for the cross comes before the crown and sharing His glory requires sharing His suffering through a lifetime of sanctification, perseverance and faithful labor. Spoken as Paul's dying testimony in chains in a Roman dungeon awaiting a criminal's death, it is triumphant hope that sustains believers in temptation, trial, affliction and death.

Paul's Dying Testimony

The words were spoken from confinement in a Roman prison, shut away from light and air and cut off from active labor in the gospel, in chains in a dark dungeon awaiting condemnation and a criminal's death from cruel Nero. He had been brought a second time before Nero to witness with his life to the faith he held, and was left almost alone when he answered. He spoke with his martyr's death in full view and expecting at any moment to be condemned, yet without doubt or despondency and in full assurance of faith.

He was ready to be offered, with the time of his departure at hand at the close of his warfare. He declared that he had fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith. He had turned from wealth, friends, social distinction, public honor and kinsmen to link his destiny with Christ, suffering the loss of all things. He had endured more abundant labors, stripes, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, perils by land and sea, infirmities, weariness, watchings, cold, nakedness, illness, imprisonment and trials from false brethren, yet remained happy, turning attention from himself to Jesus. His eye was fixed on the immortal future that had been the grand inspiring motive of his whole career.

The letter was written to Timothy, the first bishop of the church at Ephesus. His record of trials through men who turned from the faith encourages believers who pass over the same ground with similar trials, when teachers once with them deny the faith and work against the truth they once advocated, not to lose faith and confidence in God. It is his dying testimony of sublime faith and courage, triumphant hope, joy and confidence as a conqueror, upheld by the Holy Spirit, glorifying God and rejoicing as he died. That testimony has inspired the hearts of saints and martyrs in all succeeding ages and encourages Christ's witnesses to remain faithful.

His faith reached to the unseen and grasped eternal things laid up for him. He was just the same man in most afflicting trial and discouraging surroundings as when he addressed the court of the Areopagus in prosperity and light, undaunted by circumstances and steadfast in integrity. Though in chains and facing a criminal's death he stood by God's Word against the power of an evil ruler, showing that faith can stand firm against worldly power. The promise reveals his selflessness as one who lived for others and forgets himself even in death, extending the hope beyond himself to all others.

Crown Given at That Day

A crown of righteousness is laid up and waiting, reserved and stored in heaven as a future reward still to come, with no soul yet seen saved in the kingdom. It is kept for the faithful as a constant incentive to faithfulness, especially for those entrusted with sacred trust, whom the God of heaven will pronounce worthy of eternal life and make overcomers at last. The hope of that laid-up crown sustains even the bereaved, enabling the dying to surrender calmly, cheered by the Saviour's presence, in trust that the promise stands for them. Love for earthly riches tests title to it, for those who let love of the world overcome love for truth lose their heavenly crowns while others take their places, but faithful disciples who sacrifice earthly treasure for the eternal inheritance keep their eyes on the promised reward.

That same crown is also called the crown of life, of glory, of victory, incorruptible, unfading, immortal, and of eternal life and an eternal weight of glory, given when life and immortality are bestowed on the faithful who have not denied the Saviour's name. It is the reward of the saved who enter the joy of their Lord and inherit the kingdom, belonging to those who remain faithful to truth, patiently run the race, follow Christ, and overcome the world. It is for the overcomer to keep in mind morning and daily and to win by running the race, his if he overcomes, bringing rest in the kingdom of God and an eternity of happiness and bliss when believers see Him as He is and are made like Him, so that present sorrows, troubles, pain and sleepless nights are to be endured a little longer with the eye on the crown. If heaven is lost everything is lost, and if heaven is gained everything is gained.

The Lord, the righteous Judge, Christ the Judge of all, will give it at that day, at His appearing and His kingdom when He judges the living and the dead, at the second advent, at His coronation as King of His redeemed, at the last great day when each receives according to deeds, when the Son comes to be admired in all who believe. After a life of conflict and faithfulness Paul looked forward to that appointed day of reward, in the assurance of one who has faithfully used what the Lord entrusted to him and awaits Christ's welcome and the joy of his Lord. The reward is not for Paul alone but for all who love His appearing, for every overcomer who has kept the faith.

It means life beyond this little life, an eternity of happiness with no death, sickness, pain or sorrow, with streets paved with gold and seeing the King in His glory, with glory, honor, immortality, mansions prepared, entrance through the gates into the city of God, the earth made new, the joy of the Lord, glorious rest, standing upon Mount Zion in white robes with palm branches in the spotless righteousness of Christ, standing without spot or wrinkle before the throne of God in His favor forever, and life that runs parallel with the life of God. That lasting glory and immortal honor surpasses the temporary honors of the world and is more valuable than worldly adornment. Its joy includes souls saved through unselfish effort, for stars in the crown shine forever and repay self-denial and sacrifice in God's work.

It is a token of a character formed through fellowship in Christ's sufferings and self-sacrificing love, for nearness to His throne is not gained by favoritism but is associated with overcoming and giving oneself to serve and save others. Paul will receive a crown brilliant with stars, and all who believe the truth and suffer persecution will receive the same crown with him if they stay faithful and obedient to all God's requirements, with salvation on condition of obedience. He Himself is the crown of rejoicing laid up for those who love Him, received through living by faith in the Son of God with deepest thoughts, affections, hopes and expectations centered on Jesus, with the heart reposing in His love and purity. Those who so love Him are created anew unto good works with Christ abiding in the heart and in all thoughts by the daily operation of His Spirit which quickens, revives, strengthens and supports, having no half-way, undecided, indefinite experience, having life because of Christ's righteousness which is eternal life in the Son.

The crown of righteousness is still offered to the overcomer and still open to be gained. While that offer lasts, with Christ present with His workers pleading as Advocate never leaving nor forsaking, there is ground to toil on, pray on and hope on amid discouragement and darkness, to seek thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and come behind in no gift, and to labor in hope with tireless energy and persevering faith, pressing forward with new courage while even one imperiled soul may still be benefited.

Loving Christ's Appearing

Loving his appearing means longing for him, waiting for him, looking for him, and welcoming his coming with joyful expectation and hope. It means placing the affections on him, watching, and earnestly longing for him to come in the clouds of heaven to change vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious body. Those who love him welcome the first news that he is coming with joy, and meet him with joy to receive the reward prepared for the righteous. This promise gives reason to shape character after the divine pattern and to prepare others for his kingdom.

Looking for and loving the Saviour's appearing is no sin but a rightful Christian hope. It is worth holding fast even when others oppose, exclude, or drive believers from the church for believing and speaking of his near coming. Refusing to deny it brings a clear conscience, Christ's approval, joy, and rejoicing in the Advent hope. That hope is precious, and those who cast out its holders will be ashamed when the Lord appears, while some others hid their faith for fear of expulsion and chose human approval over God's favor.

Genuine love is proved by welcoming the first news of his coming with joy rather than responding from fear. It is proved by being saddened by delay and disappointment when he did not come at the expected time, while those who had embraced the message through fear were pleased and mocked the sorrow of true believers. It is proved by continuing to look with faith and hope through the tarrying time, longing intensely to see Jesus and patiently waiting. It must endure delay, affliction, doubt and the world's reproach by renewing faith and hope, for love for his appearing must be proved by enduring faith, not merely professed. The disappointment of 1843 revealed the difference between those who accepted the first angel's message from fear and those who loved the truth and desired an inheritance in God's kingdom, who continued to long for Jesus despite the trial.

Dislike of the news of his coming proves lack of true love and desire for his second coming. Those driven only by fear were pleased when he did not come, mocked the sorrow of true believers, hid faith for fear of expulsion choosing human approval, and clung to the world. Those who claimed to love him but resisted the preaching of his coming did not truly desire to meet him: they were unfaithful and feared his judgment because their works would not bear inspection, and their opposition to the time-setting message revealed their lack of love. Loving his appearing is denied by works when the heart loves this world and the things of this world and gives affection to treasures of earth. Such denial shows unfaithfulness, spurious consecration from a corrupt source, and profession without fruit matching profession.

Loving his appearing means living faithfully in readiness: giving God and others wholehearted love, resisting temptation through Christ's grace, and doing good each day rather than being absorbed in earthly concerns. It means professing to be pilgrims and strangers upon the earth seeking a better country, even a heavenly, with a life filled with self-denial and good works, weaned from the world. It requires fruit that matches professed faith in the near coming of the Lord, honoring God as a spectacle unto the world, to angels, and to men, overcoming self and practicing self-control in order to have God's Spirit. It means striving against sin, believing and waiting and watching for Christ to come, loving the Lord Jesus, representing Christ in character instead of striving for one's own way, and meeting him in peace. For the youth it includes obedience in the home life through obeying parents in the Lord in helpful submission to parental authority, with lovely characters formed, speech guarded from falsehood, and actions guarded from doing any evil thing; it also includes being zealous and repentant, awaking, obtaining heart-culture, and teaching children by word and life to prepare for the mansions before it is too late.

Those who love him wait and work for his appearing, in contrast to people deceived into accepting humanity as God. They turn attention from worldly gain, pleasure and fame toward heaven. It is the character of his saints to long and wait for his return as the completion of redemption and the final conquest of death at the resurrection. He will come to bring salvation, take to himself those who love and wait for him, take his people to the heavenly mansions, and be glorified in them as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Conqueror. The righteous who have died rest until Jesus calls them from their graves to glorious, immortal life.

That day comes cruel with wrath and fierce anger to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners out of it. The mountains shake and tremble before the tread of the Lord's hosts and bow before the glory of him who is to reign, and the rocks are moved out of their place, for the Lord shakes not the earth only but the heavens also. The scattered ones who fled for their lives to the rocks, the dens, and the caverns of the earth because of the fury of the oppressor will be made glad at the voice of God.

Love for earthly riches tests love for his coming: whether people cling to earthly riches or sacrifice them to help God's work and save others. Those who let love of the world overcome their love for the truth lose their heavenly crowns, while others take their places. Faithful disciples look to the promised reward and are willing to give up earthly treasure for the eternal inheritance. The timing of life is beyond human control, while Christ's return is eagerly desired.

Charge to Preach Word

The promise stands within the solemn charge laid before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, and that charge rests upon every minister of the gospel who opens the Scriptures to others. It is Paul's charge of great importance to Timothy, given as he was ready to be offered with the time of his departure at hand, having fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith, with the crown of righteousness laid up to be given by the Lord the righteous Judge at that day, not to him only but to all who love His appearing. To be read against the corrupt morals of the last days, it sets forth faithful service of God as the opposite course.

The charge itself is to preach the word, to be instant and urgent in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering, patience and doctrine, to watch in all things, to endure afflictions, to do the work of an evangelist and to make full proof of the ministry. It is given because the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and will turn away their ears from the truth to be turned unto fables. Ministers in Southern California are called by it to wake up, for the morning cometh, and also the night.

The work is most solemn and requires men of prayer who do pastoral work, preaching the Word without partiality, reproving and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine to show wherein there is deficiency. Those who bear it are to deal with human minds as the purchase of the blood of Christ without lording over God's heritage, abiding in Christ and carrying the Word into daily life as living examples of practical godliness. It requires studying Scripture with prayerful diligence and showing consecration to God's Word, presenting obedience, virtue, prudence and piety from the Scriptures as the obligation of every human being, because each person's accountability to God must be urged upon the conscience.

The charge binds ministers and also physicians who labor for the sick as evangelists. It must be heeded to pass safely through the perils of the last days without self-sufficiency, when false plans unsettle minds and false theories are taught as truth. Commandment-keeping people facing falsehood and Sabbath error are directed by it to convince and not condemn, by uplifting Christ, exalting the law of God, and loving the souls for whom Christ died.

The crown of righteousness to be received at Christ's coming is the reward for the ministry of the gospel of His grace. Even though that pathway leads through sacrifice and martyrdom, those who share the fellowship of His sufferings share the communion of His joy and would not exchange that ministry for the glory of an earthly throne. He who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought grants with that suffering the joy of bringing many sons unto glory, joy unspeakable, an eternal weight of glory to which momentary light affliction is not worthy to be compared.

Faithful service in God's work is a spiritual warfare that ends in welcome and reward from the Lord. Active efforts to do good and save others awaken spiritual energy and strengthen Christians in their own pursuit of salvation, as they strive for the Saviour's approval and the crown. Young people who use their abilities to lead sinners to Christ may, when the warfare is over, share the joy of their Lord.

Winning Overcomer's Crown

To speak these words rightly one must have fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith, run the race and overcome, enduring suffering, self-denial and service without abandoning faith. The crown is laid up to encourage believers in trial to lift the eyes and press on, anchored in trust through discouragement, sickness and death, relying fully on Christ's merits and overcoming discouragement. Those who remain faithful through suffering and death are secured to Christ and counted as conquerors, and the promise gives hope for faithful believers who have died.

The victor's crown is attained only by advancement in the divine life through continual effort and constant activity. Sanctification leading to it is the work not of a day or a year but of a lifetime, a lifelong struggle for conquest over self, for holiness and heaven, requiring perseverance, discipline and overcoming temptation as Christ overcame. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations in character made by a few feeble intermittent efforts, and self-confidence and reliance on one's own judgment are unsafe in the work leading to judgment.

The cross comes before the crown, and bearing the cross of the Man of Calvary is the pledge of the crown. Sharing Christ's glory requires first sharing His suffering and service, suffering with Him now to be crowned with Him and receive glory, honor, immortality and eternal life. The cross that seems so heavy lifts those who lift it and sustains those who sustain it unto the crown, when eyes are fixed on eternal unseen realities instead of temporal seen trials. The crown is linked with the cross and grave through repeated conflict with the enemy and severe trials that develop Christian graces, and it is laid up only for those who comply with God's conditions, not received merely for asking, but won by running a race, fighting a battle, wearing Christ's yoke and bearing His burdens.

Winning requires a changed, transformed character conformed to Christ's image, with the mind fixed on things above, living the truth before the world, bearing reproach, going out to win souls, learning the songs of redemption here and taking no sins along. It belongs to those transformed by truth who can look forward with confidence, to the sincerely repentant with confessed and pardoned sins whom Jesus cleanses, who follow Him in self-denial and work in His Spirit. It is won through patient faith, humble trust and sanctified effort, with meekness and the sweetness of Christ's character maintained through trials and misjudgment, through faith in the merits of His blood with clean hands and a pure heart, receiving with the crown the white robe and life that runs parallel with the life of God. Loving His appearing means striving against sin, believing and waiting and watching, representing Christ in character instead of striving for one's own way, forming lovely characters, guarding speech from falsehood and actions from evil, including obedience in home life through helpful submission to parental authority, growing in grace and knowledge by beholding Christ to be changed into His image, with human effort combined with heavenly agencies and each worker tested in doing the Word.

Winning requires firm self-control, especially denial of perverted appetite, because indulged appetite deadens perception of sacred things and caused Adam's fall and loss of Eden. Regaining Eden is possible only through overcoming as Christ overcame in His fast of nearly six weeks in the wilderness, by help of the divine power that withstood the fiercest temptations Satan could invent. Those seeking a prize of lasting worth should be earnest and temperate, giving conduct and practice of health reform attention proportionate to the value of the reward.

It requires faithful completion of entrusted work and perseverance in beneficent labor, with life reviewed before the heavenly records whether work is well done and whether there will be a crown and souls won. Paul's confidence is the assurance of one who faithfully used what was entrusted and awaits Christ's welcome and the joy of his Lord, and leaving no part of work incomplete while time is short, especially by returning entrusted means to advance missionary work, brings a share in the reward of those in the closing work. Gaining the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness of Christ must be made the first business, worth every sacrifice, requiring breaking Satan's bands, listening to Jesus now inviting, taking a higher stand, gaining spiritual knowledge and continually advancing rather than going back, prizing integrity, holding steadily to duty, and succeeding through persevering patient determined effort with strength Jesus provides to those who trust, believe, love and make Him first. Steady discipline improves character, faith, zeal, love and appreciation of Christ's sacrifice crowned with success, living for others rather than self, and the hope of heaven should lead seekers also to do all they can to help others be saved and share the reward.

The crown is for one who makes straight paths for the feet and stands fast in God, firm, tried and true, upheld by counsel and help of fellow helpers instead of aloofness, censure and condemnation. It is placed on everyone who conforms life to Christ's life and reads the Bible and conforms to conditions laid down in the Word, giving self to Jesus and letting Him work and give strength while heaven watches the decision. It is given when after temptations and trials the overcomer mounts up and enters through the gates into the city of God with triumph and praise that life's battles are over.

The crown is a privilege every person may obtain but can lose; it is his if he overcomes but lost if Satan overcomes him, when another gets it, for if heaven is lost everything is lost and if heaven is gained everything is gained. Satan works with masterly power to lead away from the right way and cause loss of the obtainable crown. It is lost by trusting own wisdom, indulging self-sufficiency, letting self live instead of dying to self and letting Christ live within, forsaking the right way once known and coming under Satan's jurisdiction to be used against the truth. Having a name on church books, being chosen as Judas was chosen, and even having power to heal and cure diseases does not secure it, but only doing the Word, being converted daily and sanctified for the Master's use, and giving whole undivided interest secures it, while knowledge of truth without sanctification works out wrong character, departs from faith and betrays sacred trusts.

The Lord gives to every man according to his work on the great day, not because of human merit but in proportion to work done in Christ's name, because works testify to character developed through purified unselfish holy ambition to be a faithful co-worker with heaven. The crown of immortal life was purchased by Jesus' self-denial and self-sacrifice and is pointed to by Him with a foretaste given now to direct ambition toward His glory. It is obtained by accepting Christ's grace and the gift of His righteousness, living a consistent life in which every power belongs to Him, running to obtain, fighting the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life and wrestling for power for highest spiritual attainments, with destiny determined by the spirit manifested in little earthly things, keeping the mind on the Lord and faithfully doing duty. The clean heart and right spirit required, with white robes and exceeding eternal weight of glory for those who love God and keep His commandments, is the gift of Jesus Christ obtained where divine and human effort unite, with all pride and self-sufficiency laid at His feet and, approached with lowly childlike trust, grace and treasures of eternal life given as a free everlasting gift by Him who is faithful that promised.

The same reward is called the crown of life in James 1:12 for those who endure trials and remain faithful. Looking to the risen Jesus gives hope amid affliction and helps believers endure. Victory is laying off the armor at the Redeemer's feet, finishing the pilgrimage in the way of commandments to the end, with warfare ended and victory won through having run the race and reached the prize. The faithful are welcomed from labor into the Lord's joy and glorious rest prepared for those who conquer through the cross of Calvary, rejoicing in victory through Jesus. Their triumph is shown by a palm branch in hand and Christ's spotless righteousness made theirs shown by white robes before the throne and before the Lamb, belonging to martyrs of all ages, to those who perfected Christian character amid falsehood and honored God's law, and to the great multitude of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues. Even the humblest worker can share in the reward Christ will give at His coronation when He becomes King of His redeemed people.

Strength for Trial and Death

The promise strengthens those harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary to hold a determination to conquer. It encourages believers in trials to lift up the eyes and press on, for a crown of righteousness is laid up and waiting. Believers are called to keep the eyes fixed on the promised reward and to remain firm and cheerful through trials. That hope of immortality and a sure reward strengthens endurance, patience, fighting the good fight, and running through great tribulation.

It describes the result of sanctification after a life of conflict and faithfulness, after fighting a good fight, finishing the course, and keeping the faith. It was spoken while confined in a Roman prison, shut away from light and air, cut off from active labor, and expecting at any moment to be condemned to death, yet without doubt or despondency. The triumphant hope of future immortal life sustained Paul through persecution, illness, imprisonment, suffering, conflict, trial, and the prospect of death. His confidence in the promised crown remained firm as he faced death, showing the result of a sanctified life, and as a dying testimony of sublime faith and courage it has inspired the hearts of saints and martyrs in all succeeding ages.

It gives hope for faithful believers who have died, who rest until Jesus calls them from their graves to glorious immortal life. Martyrs who fought the good fight are secured to Christ and counted by Him as conquerors, conquering by defeat though imprisoned and slain. Those who remain faithful through suffering and death will receive a crown when Christ comes, and will be raised from the dead to come out of their hidden graves. The disciples' hope of receiving it made hardships and even martyrdom in gospel ministry preferable to earthly glory, when sorrowful waiting ends in glory and wedding joy.

That same hope belongs to the deceased mother, to Mary in faithful life and approaching death, and to aged and afflicted sisters nearing the end of their course. It belongs to very old believers past ninety, feeble yet loved by God, bearing the seal of God with gray hairs honored by Him, who can speak Paul's words as their own after fighting a good fight, finishing the course, and keeping the faith. It belongs to those advanced in age with full hope till quiet rest in Jesus with angels round about, and to believers grown old keeping faith and finishing appointed work who can lay down the life-work with sanctified dignity even dying before seeing Him come. It belongs to Edwin in earnest devoted labor, to a faithful woman whose affectionate work lays up a crown of life, to Hannah praying to be an overcomer, to a dying youth enabled to surrender calmly cheered by the Saviour's presence with family trusting the crown laid up, and to saints who suffered with self-denial and self-sacrifice under the third angel's message without failing or being discouraged, whose faithful work and influence continue after death, dear to Christ, one with Him, with names written in the Lamb's book of life, having overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

A sick believer near the end may lay off the armor at the feet of the Redeemer and say these words with Paul after fighting, finishing, and keeping. Leaving no part of the work incomplete while time for work is short, especially by returning entrusted means to advance missionary work, brings a share in the reward of those who take part in the closing work. A long pioneer warfare to near eighty years of age is described as laying off the armor, wanting to finish knowing one has done one's best to advance God's work, to establish sanitariums in various places to reach people, and to plead and advance the Word in distant fields such as Europe and Australia through years of poverty and battle sustained by God even without a husband fellow-laborer beside one.

Those who remain faithful and overcome will be crowned in God's city, prizing heaven and persevering through toil as pilgrims and strangers. The hope is of receiving the crown of immortality and seeing Jesus, with joy in sharing that reward with other faithful people, and bringing souls to Christ adds to the joy of that day. The hope of heaven should therefore lead seekers also to do all they can to help others be saved and share in that reward. The heavenly crown is a lasting treasure unlike earthly riches, which never satisfy and leave seekers unhappy, so God's faithful people press forward with zeal toward it.

The heavenly crown is worth seeking instead of an earthly crown, and turning away from those pursuing earthly reward to seek it earnestly brings a change from gloom to cheerfulness and holy joy. It is immortal, received when victory is gained and entrance is given through the gates into the city of God, with victory gained by living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace and growing up in nurture and admonition. It is an eternal life insurance policy provided by God Himself in giving His only, beloved Son, obtained through belief in Him and acceptance of His great sacrifice unto everlasting life. The Lord does not forsake His faithful workmen but keeps them on pilgrimage toward heaven as home, keeping faith and wearing spiritual armor till the end, enlisted to serve till the close of the battle without deserting or dishonoring God, with release to lay the armor at His feet coming only when the Lord Himself gives release.

While that crown is still offered to the overcomer and still open to be gained, with Christ present with His workers pleading as Advocate never leaving nor forsaking, ministers must toil on, pray on and hope on amid discouragement and darkness. They are to seek thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and come behind in no gift, and press forward with new courage at every effort while even one imperiled soul for whom Christ died may still be benefited, laboring with hopeful, tireless energy and persevering faith. Hope of immortal life and meeting the Lord in peace is connected with faithfully carrying responsibilities for the young and training children in Christ's example by God's Word so they may be ready for heaven. Neglecting those responsibilities leaves parents and guardians unable to meet the Lord in peace.