The Bible only contains a few simple verses that refer to Timothy’s mother, Eunice. But her legacy far exceeds the mention of her name. For over two thousand years, Eunice’s example has encouraged and instructed Christian mothers to go all out to pass on the tenets of the faith to the next generation.
In the last epistle before his death, the Apostle Paul musters all his strength and passion to address one of his young disciples, whom he had come to love as a son. From a dank Roman prison cell, Paul pens that letter to encourage young Timothy, reminding him to practice, guard, and preach the truths entrusted to him. Paul’s letter opens with a shout-out to the two ladies responsible for laying the groundwork for his protégé’s living faith. Here, we first learn about Eunice by name.
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)
Paul concludes his epistle with a strong warning about the lurking dangers of evil inside and outside the church. He reminds Timothy that “from infancy,” he has known the Holy Scriptures, which can make him wise for salvation through faith in Jesus (2 Timothy 1:14-15).
These short verses paint a vivid portrait of Eunice as a model Christian mother—faithful, wise, and diligently training her child in God’s ways from the earliest moment.
The book of Acts gives us further insight into Eunice, suggesting her efforts to raise her son the way he should go might not always come easy.
“Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1).
Not only was Eunice married to an unbeliever. The city of Lystra was an immoral society filled with people who worshiped foreign gods. Even though Eunice and her mother, Lois, were immersed in a pagan culture, they remained steadfast in their beliefs and raised Timothy to know the Torah and to live an obedient, God-fearing life.
The fact that Timothy was not circumcised as a baby shows that Eunice submitted to her Greek husband as a part of her living faith (Acts 16:3). But biblical scholars believe that Eunice’s husband may have died when his son was young—which may be why his grandmother, Lois, played such a key role in his upbringing, why Paul took the young man under his wing to disciple him.
Although Eunice is not mentioned again in scripture after these brief verses, Timothy’s impact on the world has continued to tell her story of faithfulness throughout the ages.
Using the firm foundation of scripture which Eunice had instilled into her son, Paul carefully and lovingly mentored Timothy. Under his tutelage, the young man grew from a timid new believer into a powerful vessel God used to carry the gospel of Christ to the early church and the world.
Every step of the way during Timothy’s training, Paul provided instruction and guidance that built upon the Godly principles that were already planted in him. Timothy’s understanding of Greek and Roman culture, combined with his godly upbringing, made him an effective ambassador for Christ to the Gentiles and the Jews.
Paul, seeing that his protégé had been given a unique position in the culture to spread the gospel, exhorted Timothy to hold tight to what he had been taught so that in all things, he would be an example of truth and purity to the lost world and the church (1 Timothy 6:20-21).
Following in the footsteps of his mother, Eunice, and the instruction of his God-given mentor, Timothy lived for Christ all his life. He became so essential to Paul’s ministry that the apostle included his name in letters to seven churches. He served as Paul’s representative to the church at Corinth and Philippi and eventually became a pastor in Ephesus.
Timothy was eventually martyred when he stood against idolatry during a pagan festival. Even in his death, his living faith passed on by his mother and grandmother impacted the world around him. Dan Graves gives insights into his legacy.
“The Greeks commemorate his martyrdom on the 22nd of January, the day on which it is supposed he gave up his life in defense of the doctrine he had long labored to propagate; and during which time he had brought over great numbers of people to embrace the truth of the Christian religion.” — “Who Was Timothy in the Bible? How Did He Help Paul?” by Dan Graves, MSL.
An unbeliever spoke the most profound parenting advice I had ever heard during a hurried conversation at a child’s birthday party. The wise older lady said, “The most valuable thing any mom can give to her child is the best she has within her.”
The woman’s simple declaration touched me more deeply than she could ever imagine—because, as a Christian, I know that the “best” thing in me is Jesus.
God gave Eunice His holy word and a new life in Christ Jesus. She diligently passed those treasures on to her son until they took root in his heart and became fertile ground for the Holy Spirit’s regeneration work.
Despite the challenges Eunice faced living in a pagan culture, married to an unbelieving husband, she not only persevered in her faith. She lived that faith out in sincerity. Her example gives moms a roadmap for Godly parenting and a testimony of God’s grace.
When we consider leaving a legacy for our children in worldly terms, passing down money or property comes to mind. Many parents go to great lengths to ensure that after they die, they have something of value to bequeath to those they love.
While monetary gifts undoubtedly benefit our offspring when we leave this earth, the Bible tells us that these things are only temporal, like all worldly possessions. Christian parents are blessed with priceless treasure to impart to our children during our lifetime that will last long after we enter eternity (Matthew 6:19-21). Here are three principles from scripture to guide parents in leaving a spiritual legacy:
Give children the gift of scripture. The word of God is active and alive. It has the power to transform, instruct, mold, and direct. Just like a newborn baby’s body instinctively craves milk for nourishment, every human’s inner being craves the sustenance of God’s word. When we touch a child’s palate with scripture when they’re young, it doesn’t seem like foreign “food” when they’re old enough to discern the whole truth. The Bible goes so far as to tell us that babies and young children have a special connection with God (Psalm 8:2, Matthew 11:25, 21:6), making them the perfect blank upon which to impress God’s word.
Show God’s word to your children. Paul made it a point to comment on Eunice and Lois’ “sincere” faith, which they passed on to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). Sincere faith is displayed in the believer’s life not only in their words but in how they live. When parents teach and preach a message contrary to our everyday interactions, our professed “faith” can hinder rather than build our children.
a building block. If ever in doubt about our faith’s sincerity, we need only check for the fruit of God’s Spirit displayed through our actions. Suppose our words and actions are void of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In that case, we can be sure that we’re missing the mark, need to examine our motives, and surrender afresh to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Celebrate the little and big things that reveal God’s goodness. God instructed the people of Israel to be purposeful in telling their children about the God-sized things He accomplished on their behalf.
“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4).
Israel’s prescribed festivals and special sabbaths all centered around celebrating God’s mighty deeds. When parents openly and purposefully give God the glory for His blessings, answered prayers, His provision, and the miracles that occur in our families, our children learn to recognize God’s goodness in the little and big things in life.
Not every child raised according to God’s principles and ways will become an evangelist or pastor like Timothy. However, when we feed our children early on God’s word and live out our faith sincerely, we can be sure our children will gain a firm foundation upon which the Holy Spirit can build a life lived for God’s glory.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/fizkes
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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