'Thou . . . hast professed a good profession before
many witnesses. 13. I give thee charge in the
sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession, 14. That thou keep
this commandment. . . .'--1 TIM. vi. 12-14.
You will observe that 'a good confession,' or rather 'the good
confession,' is said here to have been made both by Timothy and by
Christ. But you will observe also that whilst the subject-matter is the
same, the action of Timothy and Jesus respectively is different. The
former professes, or rather confesses, the good confession; the latter
witnesses. There must be some reason for the significant variation of
terms to indicate that the relation of Timothy and Jesus to the good
confession which they both made was, in some way, a different one, and
that though what they said was identical, their actions in saying it
were different.
Then there is another point of parallelism to be noticed. Timothy made
his profession 'before many witnesses,' but the Apostle calls to his
remembrance, and summons up before the eye of his imagination, a more
august tribunal than that before which he had confessed his faith, and
says that he gives him charge 'before God' (for the same word is used in
the original in both verses), 'who quickeneth all things, and before
Christ Jesus.' So the earthly witnesses of the man's confession dwindle
into insignificance when compared with the heavenly ones. And upon these
thoughts is based the practical exhortation, 'Keep the commandment
without spot.' So, then, we have three things: the great Witness and His
confession, the subordinate confessors who echo His witness, and the
practical issue that comes out of both thoughts.