The labourer is worthy of his wages (Luke 10:7). At his coming the chief Shepherd will pay the wages the (under) shepherds have earned. That wage is a “crown”; we might say, the medallion the winner receives around his neck. The term “unfading” translates the Greek word from which the English word amaranth derives. Amaranth is a family of flowers that hold their colour very well even when dried; hence the translation “unfading.” The point, of course, is that the glory of the crown the elders receive will not fade away (1 Peter 1:4)—as Christ’s glory will never fade (John 17:24; Hebrews 2:9).
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.