Paul mentions Timothy as co-sender of six of his letters. He also spoke highly of Timothy in his letter to the Philippians. He called Timothy “my true son in the faith.” In Paul’s final letter to Timothy, written near the end of his life, he speaks without reserve, calling Timothy “my beloved child,” for Timothy was truly part of Paul’s lineage, wealth and crown.
We know Timothy’s real father was a Greek, and his mother a Jewish Christian. But Paul, who seems never to have married, found in Timothy a “descendant,” someone who would carry on the “family name,” someone so identical in faith that the force of his work for Christ would always complement that of his mentor, teacher and surrogate father, Paul.
Paul said, “Timothy, I know your grandmother, and her faith is authentic. It is the same faith I have observed in your mother, and after having watched you all this time, I am convinced of your faith also.” To describe that faith, Paul used a word which literally means “without hypocrisy.” Lois and Eunice showed Timothy by word and example what it means to live an authentic faith; a faith from which hypocrisy is totally absent; the real thing, genuine, sincere (1 Tim. 1:5). What greater gift could be given by any mother, grandmother or parent?
Timothy’s every day was molded by his grandmother and mother. Paul reminds Timothy that he has within him a gift, a spirit of power, love and self-control. Where do children learn of the Spirit’s power, or the power of love, or the power of self-control if not from their mothers? Think for a moment what we learned from our own mothers. Was it not they who taught what it means to be a loving person, or what it means to be loved?
How did Eunice and Lois prepare Timothy to exercise self-control? Paul reminds Timothy that they did it by making known to him the holy scriptures from the time of his infancy (2 Tim. 3:15). How powerful is the teaching of Scripture in the lives of our children and grandchildren? Note again what Paul said to Timothy, “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it…” (We tend to believe the values our parents give us, don’t we? “…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:12-15). What are we doing to make sure our children have a knowledge of the truth and the gift of faith?