IMO, “the crown of righteousness” is eternal life,
and so is “the crown of life”(easily proven).
I will show errors on both counts.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me, but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
As everyone knows, a "prize" is something EARNED. Unlike a "gift". So the crown of righteousness is EARNED by certain behavior; in this case, those who eagerly look forward to His appearing.
And, therefore, ALL crowns are EARNED, as noted by the context in each case.
These crowns are promised to those who EARN them.
Those who eagerly wait for Jesus’ return have nothing to be ashamed of … because they have remained faithful and have been living righteously!
And this is WHY none of the crowns refer to salvation itself; but to reward EARNED by behavior.
Please note that Ephesians and Colossians were written only to “the faithful”. So really, all of the glowing descriptions, etc. of believers in those 2 epistles are only for "the faithful" followers of Jesus, i.e. those who love Him and who obey (keep) His commandments.
Please note that the same message is to all the other epistles, which don't use the word "faithful" or any other descriptor regarding behavior.
Further, please then, explain to me why Paul was moved to tell these faithful Ephesian believers commanded them to "stop living like the Gentiles, in the futility of their minds" in 4:17 - So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Not only that, but please explain why Paul would write this to them in 5:1-5 -
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
If his epistle was only to "the faithful" in Christ, then why all this? What was his point?
