new church life: march / april 2014
A Crown and a Garland
To The Editors:
Re: the Rev. Dr. Thane P. Glenn’s article, The Crown of All Churches – What
Does That Mean? (New Church Life November/December 2012):
According to Potts Concordance, “garland,” when mentioned in the New
Word, is a translation of the Latin word “sertum.” There are very few references
to garland in the Concordance: Arcana Coelestia 1629, 2296, Conjugial Love
137, 293, 461 and True Christian Religion 570, 62. They all come from the Latin
“sertum.”
On the other hand, all the “crown” references come from the Latin
“corona” or “coronare.” There can be no doubt that they refer to a true crown,
not a garland.
This is fairly specific and it is extremely doubtful that Swedenborg would
have used “corona” to mean “garland,” given that when he meant a “garland”
he used the word “sertum.”
It seems clear from even basic research that when the Word talks about a
crown it is not talking about a garland.
The many references in the Bible and the New Word make it clear that a
crown is what kings wore, made from gold. It is clearly not a garland. Further,
we need to look at what a crown means spiritually.
Arcana Coelestia 3350 says, “by representation (in the spiritual world)
they formed a golden crown gemmed with diamonds around the Lord’s head.”
Arcana Coelestia 9930 is worth studying in its entirety. It gives the meaning
of, “And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold.” It is specific that a crown is
meant, not a garland. A “plate of pure gold” represents enlightenment from
the Lord’s Divine Good, and enlightenment in the heavens is wisdom and
intelligence from the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord.
This number explains that it is also known as the “plate of the crown of
Holiness,” for a crown represents Divine good. It was also known as the crown
of holiness. A crown representing the Divine good from which is Divine Truth
is evident from the crown of kings, for kings represent the Lord in respect to
Divine Truth.
Arcana Coelestia 9930.10 refers to Revelation 4: 4,10: the golden crowns
on their heads represented wisdom from the Divine, therefore they cast them
before Him that was sitting on the throne. Section 11 says that as the good of
wisdom is acquired by means of temptation combats, crowns were assigned to
those who fought against evils and falsities and overcame. For this reason the
crowns of martyrdom were badges of command from the Lord over evils and
thus denote the goods of wisdom.
There is a spiritual meaning to a true crown which has nothing to do with
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