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The Flourishing Family: Lois, Eunice, and Timothy

Timothy, a disciple and mentee of the Apostle Paul, served as a community leader and pastor and coauthored the letter to the Christians at Thessalonica. Timothy became a disciple of Jesus in the town of Lystra, where the good news reached. He joined Paul in his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-5).

Paul entrusted Timothy with leadership and engaged him in producing letters to the church while mentoring him as a developer of leaders. Paul discipled Timothy and taught him how to disciple others. Where did Timothy come from? What kind of family produces this kind of leader?

Paul speaks of Timothy as his spiritually adopted son in the Lord. Timothy’s biological father wasn’t a believer and wasn’t influential in the development of his faith.

Timothy’s faith in Jesus Christ began with Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice. The family is the transmitter of faith. In Judaism, the family was and is the primary locus for passing on the tradition of faith from generation to generation. The names of Lois and Eunice can be added to those of generations of Christians who have effectively instructed and prayed for children and grandchildren, and these two women highlight the importance of Christian nurture in one’s family.

Prayer is a foundational activity for parents who want to see their children follow and serve Jesus long after leaving home.

Paul didn’t lay the responsibility of forming the next generation's faith on the local church. Rather, the primary responsibility of socializing faith was to be conducted in households and families. Grandparents and parents are the most formative influences in a child’s life and in the transmission of faith.

The teachings of Jesus imitated by Paul, then learned and lived by Timothy, and taught by his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice, demonstrate how families can flourish in faith and contribute to the flourishing of human societies.

Questions for Reflection:

- Who formed the Christian faith in you?

- What is the story of your family's faith heritage?