THE GOOD CONFESSION
Paul writing to Timothy, the young man that he found in his travels to Lystra,[1] urged him to ‘fight the good fight of faith’, to ‘lay hold of eternal life’.[2] He reminds him about ‘the good confession’ that he had made before many witnesses—which was apparently related to the response that Jesus gave to Pontius Pilate in the Gospel accounts of His arrest and trial.
As a reminder, let’s look briefly at the interaction between Jesus and Pilate. After a brief examination by Caiphas, the high priest, Jesus now stood before the Roman governor who would authorize his crucifixion. Pilate questioned Jesus based on the accusations brought by the leaders of Israel:
‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
Jesus replied, giving the ‘good confession’:
‘It is as you say.’[3]
To sum up, the good confession that Jesus made and that Timothy later made was that Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews.
This echoes another familiar story from Matthew’s Gospel account. In what appears to mark a transition in Matthew’s narrative, Jesus asks His disciples a question:
‘Who do you say that I am?’[4]
Peter, answering for the others, affirms their conviction that Jesus was ‘the Christ’—that is, the Messiah, or the coming King of the Jews. This affirmation became the bedrock[5] upon which the Jesus movement was formed. This story, like the ‘good confession’, served to highlight the central conviction that bound Jesus’s earliest followers together: Jesus of Nazareth was the coming King of Israel.
We know of course that these terms would later lose their apocalyptic edge. Following the extended delay of the apocalyptic scenario proclaimed by the Apostles, many of the terms used in the New Testament texts would be repurposed to represent the evolving values of the growing Christian community. ‘Christ’ came to reference, not the long-awaited king of the Jews, but Jesus’s identity generally. The ‘good confession’, later used as a general public affirmation of one’s allegiance to Jesus, lost its concrete meaning and, with it, the ability to inspire hope and perseverance that Paul attempts to stimulate in his letter to Timothy. This isn’t intended to demonize these later Christian leaders. It’s simply how history has unfolded and how the early hope of the Apostles was displaced.
Perhaps we shouldn’t marvel too much at this later development. Already in the lifetime of the Apostles some were teaching disciples in the region of Macedonia that the Day of the Lord had already come.[6] The Day of the Lord was not a random point on their eschatological chart in the first century. It was the trigger for the redemption. It indicated the holy day when the King of the Jews would be enthroned. Some of Paul’s opponents in Corinth likewise taught Corinthian disciples that they were ‘kings already’.[7] Like in the reference above, the suggestion that they had begun to reign already was about the Messianic role. To suggest that it had begun not only suggests some ghastly things about the quality of the Master’s reign, it further suggests that hope of the prophets and the apostles has been realized and strips the disciple of vital components of perseverance.
Writing a bit later, but likely in reference to the same opponents, Paul appears to be very concerned that this community was easily ‘seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ’[8] This was evident because someone proclaiming ‘another Jesus’[9] was warmly welcomed into their community. What could be implied by ‘another Jesus’? Note that the preceding verse hints at their vulnerability to deviate from a simple devotion to Christ. Christ is, remember, not Jesus’ last name. It is an honorific title in anticipation of the coming King of Israel and his Kingdom. Their loyalty to the King of the Jews was vulnerable, and this was seen in their willingness to accept ‘another Jesus’.
Again, during the first century, but toward the end of the Apostolic period, John wrote about a similar concern: “Who”, he asks, ”is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist.”[10] Within this particular vision of the ‘antichrist’ (Apparently one of many?[11]), John sees this denial that Jesus of Nazareth is the coming King of Israel as a clear tip-off to his identity. While this may seem a bit dramatic, perhaps it is helpful to remember John’s presence with Jesus and Peter in the account recorded by Matthew in chapter 16. Peter’s affirmation of Jesus’s identity as the coming King of the Jews was acknowledged by the Master as being the foundation stone (‘the rock’) upon which the movement would be built. John’s statement in this epistle seems to carry this same conviction that fellowship with the Jesus must begin with the acknowledgement that he is the Christ—the coming King of the Jews.
Returning to Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, I hope to have filled this ‘good confession’ with more substance than a mere initiation rite. The good confession echoes the Master’s public affirmation that He was the King of the Jews. Paul’s message to Timothy was an encouragement to ‘fight the good fight of faith’, ‘to take hold of eternal life’, and to be mindful of the ‘good confession’ that Timothy had made in the presence of many witnesses.[12]The good confession that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel, and not another type of leader or special figure, is the bedrock upon which faith and perseverance are built. The tension created by maintaining this confession is not accidental. Any other spiritualized vision of Jesus can be currently functioning in his role. The only Jesus that leaves us with tension, is the one affirmed in the good confession. If He is the King of Israel, then we are still in the tension of waiting for Him. This tension is the place that the Spirit meets us and grants strength, encouragement, and perseverance to those who long for the promised redemption. Remember, Jesus is the Christ—the coming King of the Jews.
As we wait, let’s draw strength to obey Him, to pour out our lives for Him, and to boldly announce His appearing.
Remember the good confession.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What does the good confession mean for your life?
Is it difficult for you to acknowledge Jesus as the coming King of the Jews? Why or why not?
How can you renew your hope in these days of waiting? How can you remember the good confession?
[1] Acts 16:1
[2] 1 Timothy 6:12
[3] Luke 23:3
[4] Matthew 16:15
[5] ‘upon this rock’, see v. 18
[6] 2 Thessalonians 2:2
[7] 1 Corinthians 4:8
[8] 2 Corinthians 11:3
[9] 2 Corinthians 11:4
[10] 1 John 2:22
[11] 1 John 2:18
[12] 1 Timothy 6:12
Bill is married to Charis and they 7 children. Bill is one of the hosts of the Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast, a pastor, and disciple-maker living in Northern, CA.