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1 Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversightthereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 2:25
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Psalm 23:1
A Psalm of David. The LORDis my shepherd; I shall not want.

appear.

Matthew 25:31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Colossians 3:3,4
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God…

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, …

a crown.

1 Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

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.

1 Corinthians 9:25
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now theydo it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

you will receive the crown of glory
The "crown of glory" symbolizes the eternal reward for faithful service and perseverance in the Christian life. In the Greco-Roman world, crowns were awarded to victors in athletic contests, signifying honor and achievement. This metaphor is used throughout the New Testament, such as in2 Timothy 4:8 andJames 1:12, to describe the rewards awaiting believers. The crown represents not only honor but also the believer's participation in Christ's glory, as seen inRomans 8:17.

that will never fade away
This phrase emphasizes the eternal nature of the reward, contrasting it with earthly crowns made of perishable materials like laurel leaves. The imperishable nature of this crown is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in1 Corinthians 9:25, where Paul speaks of an "imperishable wreath." This reflects the eternal life and glory promised to believers, underscoring the transient nature of worldly achievements compared to the everlasting rewards in God's kingdom.

• Peter points to the sure, future event of Christ’s visible return. The title “Chief Shepherd” highlights Jesus’ supreme authority over every under-shepherd (John 10:11, 14;Hebrews 13:20;1 Peter 2:25).

• His appearing is personal and unmistakable—“the Lord Himself will descend from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

• Because Scripture records Jesus’ promise “I will come again” (John 14:3), believers live and serve with watchful expectancy (Acts 1:11).

• The promise is directed first to faithful elders who “shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2-3), yet it reflects a broader New Testament pattern of rewards for every obedient believer (Matthew 25:21;Colossians 3:24).

• “Receive” underscores grace: the reward is granted, not grabbed. Paul uses the same idea—“each will receive his reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14).

• God never forgets labor done in love (Hebrews 6:10), so service offered quietly today is noticed by heaven.

• In Roman culture a wreath honored victors; Scripture adopts the image for spiritual triumph. Here the crown is marked by “glory,” linking it to Christ’s own exaltation (Romans 8:18;2 Corinthians 4:17).

• Other passages mention a “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8) and a “crown of life” (James 1:12). Each emphasizes a facet of eternal reward; Peter’s focus is the radiant honor shared with Christ (John 17:22).

• For pastors, the crown answers any sacrifice endured for the flock. For all believers, it reminds us that true recognition comes from the Lord, not the crowd.

• Unlike earthbound honors that wilt, this reward is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).

• The word picture recalls the withering laurel wreaths of athletic games; Paul contrasts those with an “imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

• Because the reward is eternal, investing in heavenly treasure makes sense (Matthew 6:19-20). Nothing—time, rust, or enemy—can diminish what Christ bestows.

Peter sets before weary servants a vivid hope: the Chief Shepherd is coming. When He appears, faithful believers will be handed a glorious, everlasting crown—honor from Christ Himself that can never be tarnished or taken. In light of that certain future, present-day shepherding, serving, and steadfastness gain eternal significance.

"A crown of glory that fadeth not away.--It might perhaps be more closely, though less beautifully, represented bythe glorious crown of amaranth,orthe amaranthine crown of glory. Amaranth is the name of a flower which, like our immortelles, does not lose its colour or form. St. Peter immediately adds "of glory," lest we should think too literally of the wreath of immortelles.