The first Christian martyr is named Stephen, and his name means ‘a crown’ (stephanos).
This is no accidental association, for a crown in the New Testament is usually
related to service in the nature of a reward. The great principle that underlies
the teaching of the Scriptures regarding the crown, is discussed in the articles
entitled
HOPE
and
PRIZE. , all that we intend to do
here is to show the connection made by Scripture between the idea of a prize and
that of a crown. ‘Prize’ is equated with ‘crown’ as we may see in the following
passage:
‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the PRIZE? ... Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
CROWN’ (1 Cor. 9:24,25).
In Philippians Paul expressed his willingness ‘to depart’ and to be ‘offered’
upon the sacrifice and service of faith (Phil. 1:23; 2:17). In this epistle he
speaks of the ‘Prize’ of the high calling, and associates it with terms that
take us back to the Greek games and the race-course (Phil. 3:13,14). In 2
Timothy Paul reveals that the time for his ‘departure’ had arrived, and that he
was about to be ‘offered’. Here once more is a reference to the Greek games and
the race-course, here is the holy calling, here is the warning that no man is
crowned except he strive lawfully, and here, the prize of Philippians 3 becomes
‘the crown of righteousness’ (2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1:9; 2:5).
The word ‘prize’ is a genus, the word ‘crown’ is a species. When we use the
word ‘dog’ we use a word that means a genus, but in that genus will be many
species. So is it here. The prize of Philippians 3 is not defined. We discover
that it is a crown by comparing Philippians with 2 Timothy. No competitor in a
sports contest could possibly object when presented with a purse of gold, that
he had expected a ‘prize’. The purse of gold would be the prize, and it is
equally foolish to fail to see that the prize of Philippians 3, when it is
defined is the crown of 2 Timothy 4. With this aspect of truth must be linked
those Scriptures which speak of the believer ‘reigning’ particularly such
passages as 2 Timothy 2:10-13. ‘So run that ye may obtain’. See article
PRIZE.
