2 Timothy 1:5 5because I am reminded of your sincere faith, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it is in you also.
Verse 5 continues the sentence begun and verse 3 and connects Paul’s thanksgiving with Timothy’s faith. As Paul prayed for Timothy, he was reminded of Timothy’s faith, and this caused him to give further thanks. Paul’s thanks comes because of Timothy’s sincere faith. Sincere (anypokritou) means unhypocritical and authentic. There was nothing fake about it. In spite of the many challenges Timothy faced, including the opposition in Ephesus, his faith in Christ was real and genuine, with no room for compromise.
Paul reminds Timothy of the heritage of faith received from his grandmother and mother. We find out information about Timothy’s family and upbringing in Acts 16:1 and his mother was Jewish and his father a Greek. His grandmother Lois and mother Eunice became believers at some point but when is not known. As women, their authority was limited in the home, so Timothy was not circumcised when he met Paul. Their spiritual influence, however, was significant in Timothy’s upbringing. As Jews, they would have known and believed in God and taught Timothy the Scriptures. The evidence of the faith passed down through the generations was clear in Timothy’s life.
The power of spiritual influence stands behind this letter and Timothy’s life. The effects of the teachings of Lois and Eunice were powerful in young Timothy’s development. He had to make his own faith decision and was responsible for continuing and growing in this faith, but these women laid a firm foundation by their examples and nurturing. This short verse reminds us of the importance of raising our children knowing the Bible and the truth of the gospel.
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