2 Timothy 1:5
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. 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.
Genuine and sincere faith first lived in Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and then lived in Timothy himself. That faith came through faithful training at home in childhood, where they taught him the truths of Scripture and guided his life by God's word, keeping his speech pure and his character unsullied and guarded from evil. Such instruction laid the foundation of his devotion, and faithful parents who first learn from God themselves and make His word their lesson book with their children can leave an influence that endures and draws their children to Christ. Paul was persuaded that the same faith was in Timothy, a believing reliance on God and His promises that was counted as his righteousness, and that faith and godly upbringing prepared him for faithful service and made him a power for good in the world.
Faith Learned at Home
The unfeigned faith in Timothy was genuine, sincere faith that dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and then in Timothy himself. That faith came through faithful home training in childhood, in which Lois and Eunice taught him the knowledge and truths of Scripture from his early life. Their own faith in the Scriptures shaped their home life, for they used God's word to guide him.
The lessons they taught kept his speech pure and kept his character unsullied and protected from evil influences. Their godly example reminded him that doing God's will brings blessing, so their faith was revealed in him through godly childhood training. That instruction was the foundation of his piety, and faithful Christian parents can leave an influence that endures and leads their children toward Christ. Parents who would lay the same foundation must first learn from God themselves, make the Word of God their lesson book, and study with their children. Paul as his father in the gospel built on that home foundation by taking responsibility for his spiritual welfare beyond mere head knowledge, praying with him, leading him to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, and charging him not only to read and teach the Word but to become a diligent student of the Scriptures.
Faith Proved in Life
Paul was persuaded that the same sincere faith that had first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice was also in Timothy. Their faith in the Scriptures shaped the home life in which he was trained, for they used God's word to guide him and their godly example reminded him that doing God's will brings blessing. The lessons they taught helped keep him pure in speech and kept his character unsullied and protected from evil influences. That faith and godly instruction prepared him for faithful service and for bearing burdens. He stands as a model of early and lasting devotion to God, who feared God from his youth.
His unfeigned faith meant that he believed in God and relied on Him and His promises, and this believing reliance was his righteousness. Without the help that comes only from God he would have been in constant danger of falling into the snares prepared for his feet. Because he obeyed God and was not satisfied unless he had the divine presence with him, God in His great mercy strengthened him with power for service. So strengthened, he became a power for good in the world.
Like Timothy, a physician should keep Christ as a constant companion and depend on God rather than on human influence. Work for souls is to be done with faith unfeigned, meaning genuine, sincere faith put into action. That action is to reach the class in the highways, especially those known as moderate drinkers, because they can be reached and convicted and converted as truth is proclaimed to the ends of the earth to men of all trades.