Who Are Lois and Eunice?

Who Are Lois and Eunice?

These two ladies are only mentioned once in the Bible but they play an important role in Timothy’s life. Lois is the grandmother of Timothy and the mother of Eunice. Eunice is the mother of Timothy as you can see in 2 Timothy 1:5.

2Timothy 1:5:

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Lois and Eunice raised Timothy in the Lord. Because of this, Paul was able to call him brother as you can see in

2 Corinthians 1:1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

and

Philemon 1:1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Paul could address Timothy as a brother when addressing the church of Corinth and when he wrote to Philemon a wealthy Christian of Colossae.

Hebrews 13:23

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you

2 Timothy 1:2

2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here Paul is addressing Timothy as his dearly beloved son. Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son, not his physical son. It was Eunice and Lois who raised Timothy and taught him spiritually. Because of them, Timothy would be one of the men to lead the church after Paul died. Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy to encourage him to keep the faith in the Lord after he is gone.

In the following verses, it is believed that Timothy’s mom was a Jewess while his dad was a Greek (meaning Gentile). His mom raised him to know the Jewish customs. Eunice and Lois may have become Christians in Lystra during Paul’s ministry. Because of his upbringing and his close relationship with Paul, Timothy would be able to face what would happen and keep his faith in Jesus.

Acts 16:1–3

16 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

In conclusion, we may not know much about these Christian women, but we do know that they raised Timothy to be a good Christian man who would be a follower of Jesus and be able to lead others also. What wonderful Christian women Lois and Eunice were!