The Time of My Departure Has Come – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Paul mentions the crown of righteousness that he will receive on judgment day, and that crown is available for all who love Jesus’ appearing.  Four other crowns are mentioned in the New Testament, the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of life (Revelation 2:10), the imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:24,25), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).  A case can be made that these are different rewards given to different people. 

I think a better case can be made that these are all, with some exception, the same reward, eternal life.  The crown of rejoicing is not actually a literal crown.  Paul says the believers he led to Christ are his crown of rejoicing.  The believers are his reward.  The crown of life is for all who are faithful in persecution unto death, which Paul has already told Timothy in 2:8-13, is true of all believers, and of whom John says they will not be hurt by the second death, which again is true of all believers.  The crown of life is therefore eternal life.  The imperishable crown is likely not a literal crown either, as Paul is using a metaphor of the crown received in the games.  But if it is literal, it is something given to every believer, eternal or imperishable life.  Though the crown of glory is specifically mentioned for the elders who serve well, all believers will receive glory or praise according to Jesus in his parable about the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

There are different rewards given in the kingdom for exemplary service and faithfulness (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Matthew 25:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10).  But the crowns are not likely those rewards.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.  (2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV)

For Paul, the only “sport” worth giving one’s life to was the “race” the Christian runs to fulfill Jesus’ demand on one’s life.  Paul was at the conclusion of his race, the finishing line in sight.  As he reflected on it he saw that he had done what Jesus asked him to do.  He had fought to the finish and he had kept the faith, the gospel, not allowing the message to become tainted with any error.

As with all participants in the Greek games, Paul was near to receiving his award, a laurel wreath (called a crown) that was the reward for his righteousness.  This crown is available to all who love the appearing of Jesus.  It is this coming of Christ that keeps us running the race, that motivates us to reach for the finish line where our righteous judge awaits us.

For Paul, dying in a Roman prison was like being God’s drink offering which the Lord was pouring out as a sweet sacrifice.  Paul was ready for his departure from this life, from his body, as his spirit would pass into the presence of the Lord Jesus upon death.