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 [1 Timothy 6:12]. 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. - Bill Scofield, The Good Confession