A Crown in Heaven
an arrangement of verses to encourage women
The following is an arrangement of verses from the ESV Bible about how God has equipped women for His kingdom work. In order for these verses to fit together smoothly, I’ve had to add words and alter pronouns. Except for verb changes, additions are in brackets; deletions are indicated by ellipses. References are footnoted throughout.
I give thanks to my God always for [faith-filled women like you] because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way [women are] enriched in [Christ] in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that [women] are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom [women] were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.1
. . . no one takes this honor for [herself] but only when called by God, just as Aaron was [called to be a priest.] In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”2 [Likewise Jesus called his disciples, saying,] “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”3
[Similarly, women] did not choose [Christ], but [Christ] chose [women] and appointed [them] that [they] should go and bear fruit and that [their] fruit should abide, so that whatever [they] ask the Father in [Jesus’s] name, he may give it to [them]. 4
. . . [You women of faith] are [members of this] chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that [both men and women] may declare the praises of him who called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once [women] were not [even allowed to serve in the temple], but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.5
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by [the religious authorities] but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [with faith-filled men] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6
Such is the confidence that [women] have through Christ toward God. Not that [women] are sufficient in [themselves] to claim any . . . [authority or power] as coming from [themselves], but [their] sufficiency is from God, who has made [women] sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant.7
No longer [does Christ] call you [mere housewives] for the [housewife] does not [join in] what [her husband] is doing; but [Christ has] called [women his] friends, for all that [Jesus] had heard from [his] Father [he] . . . made known to [women].8 And [said that women] would bear witness, because [they] had been with [Jesus] from the beginning.9
[That is why Jesus told Mary to] go to [the] brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”10 [And Jesus called women too to] go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing [men and women] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching [both men and women] to observe all that [Jesus had] commanded [because Jesus] would be with [them] always, to the end of the age.11
[This was so because Jesus] asked the Father, [to] give [women as well as men] another Helper, to be with [them] forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. [Women of faith] know him, for he dwells with [them] and is in [them].12
When the Spirit of truth came, he [guided women just like men] into all the truth, for [the Spirit] did not speak on his own authority, but whatever he heard he spoke, and he declared to [women and men] the things that are to come. He glorified [Jesus], for he took what was [Jesus’s] and declared it to [both men and women]. 13
Now [women] have received not the spirit of the world [with its human laws and authorities], but the Spirit who is from God, that [women] might understand the things freely given [them] by God. And [women understand] in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting [for men and women] spiritual truths to those who are spiritual[ly minded].14
[So that we] might not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [our] minds, that by testing, [both men and women] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect [both for themselves and if need be for others].15
[Knowing this,] see to it that no one takes you [women] captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition [of rules and regulations of the priesthood], according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you [including women] have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.16
Now we know that the [do’s and don’ts in the Bible are] good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient,17 [For] the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 . . . everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.19 For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.20
[But] one person esteems [one gender] as [chosen to oversee church over] another, while another esteems all [genders with equal authority]. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding—[men building up women and women building up men].21
[Do this not out of] selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility counting [others] more significant than [yourselves]. Let each [woman] look not only to [her] own [eternal growth], but also to the [growth of others]. Having this mind among [women], which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though was in the form of God, did not count equality with God [that is, God as head] a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself [of his right to rule earthly institutes], by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.22
In [Christ] also [women like men] were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh [including the need to have man-made titles], by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism . . . And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh [pursuing man’s recognition], God made alive together with [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities [of temporary power] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.23
So [women] do not lose heart. Though our outer self, [just like these earthly institutes], is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction [of brothers in the faith not receiving you] is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen [man’s acknowledgment of your power and authority] but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.24
For we [women] do not wrestle against flesh and blood [inequalities] but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.25
[Therefore, we women are] poured out as a drink offering, [until] the time of [our] departure comes. [So that we may say we] have fought the good fight, [we] have finished the race, [we] have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for [us] the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to [us] on that day, and not only to [women] but also to [men] who have loved his appearing. 26
To the [women as well as men] who conquer and . . . keep Christ’s works until the end, to [them] Jesus will give authority over the nations, and [they together] will rule [the nations] with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as [Christ himself] received authority from [his] Father.27
[Christ is] coming soon. Hold fast to what you [women] have, so that no one may seize your crown,28 [which is] . . . not laid up for yourselves . . . on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but laid up . . . in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your [crown] is, there your heart will be also.29
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Hebrews 5:4-5
Matthew 5:18
John 15:16
1 Peter 2:9-10
1 Peter 2:4-5
2 Corinthians 3:4-6a
John 15:15
John 15:27
John 20:17
Matthew 28:19-20
John 14:16-17
John 16:13-14
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
Romans 12:2
Colossians 2:8-10
1 Timothy 1:8-9
2 Corinthians 3:17
1 Timothy 4:4-5
Romans 13:1
Romans 14:5, 19
Philippians 2:3-8
Colossians 2:8-12
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Ephesians 6:12
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Revelation 2:26-27
Revelation 3:11
Matthew 6:19-21
Very nicely done!