Answer: A crown of righteousness was in store for Paul,
(verse 8).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
This is the victor's crown! God's faithful
children will receive it from the Lord, the righteous Judge.
As Adam Clarke says in his Commentary on the New Testament,
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown--This I can
claim as my due; but the crown I expect is not one of fading
leaves, but a crown of righteousness; the reward which God, in His
kindness, has promised to them who are faithful to the grace He has
bestowed upon them."
1 Corinthians 9:25: "Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get
a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will
last forever."
