[Character Study] The Ordinary Extraordinary Life of Eunice and Lois

As we continue to study, WOMEN IN THE BIBLE- today I have the good pleasure of talking about Lois and Eunice.

But here is the surprising fact - we know very little about them. They are only indirectly mentioned in a grand total of eight verses.

Yet their names are worthy of mention on this single account - they raised Timothy.

While Lois and Eunice are not everyday names, Timothy on the other hand is one of the most well-known converts in the New Testament.

————————————————-

Timothy beginning in Acts 16 becomes the right hand of Paul.

Timothy is described by Paul’s as:

• “Fellow worker” (Rom 16:21; 1 Thess 3:2)

• “Brother” (2 Cor 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Thess 3:2)

• “Bond-servant” (Phil 1:1)

• “Beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Cor 4:17)

• “Son” (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2)

• Coequal in the Lord’s work (1 Cor 16:10; 1 Thess 3:2)

1 Cliff Kvidahl, “Timothy,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

>Timothy is the receipent of none less than two of our New Testament books - 1 and 2 Timothy.

>He is mentioned in Acts, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2nd Thessalonians, Philemon, Hebrews, and of course 1 and 2 Timothy.

Timothy was one of the most influential converts in the Early Church

————————————————-

BUT WE ARE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT TIMOTHY, BUT HIS GRANDMOTHER AND MOM - LOIS AND EUNICE.

And it should be mentioned, today we are not talking about Lois and Eunice because of the grand miracles or incredible acts of faith they did.

<<<<They didn’t part the Red Sea, raise people from the dead.>>>>>

What are they known for? The everyday faith that they poured into Timothy.

- It is their Godly influence that we remember.

- Their everyday faith poured into Timothy, is what we remember.

FOCUS:

This morning we are we are going to center our study on three passages - Acts 16:1-3, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, and 2 Timothy 3:14-16.

PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT:

In these three passages, we will observe 4 facts that I believe were key ingredients to God blessing Timothy and ultimately Lois, and Eunice.

Whether you are interested in helping build up someone like Timothy, or you are Lois and Eunice and want to know what God blesses, I believe these 4 facts will challenge you to hold fast to these 4 ingredients of the faith.

What 4 ingredients does Paul and Luke mention about Lois and Eunice?

—————————————————————————————————————————

**********************************PRAY**********************************

—————————————————————————————————————————-

So, The First Ingredient

(1) They were not perfect. (2 Timothy 1:5, Acts 16:1-3)

Can I say that again - They were not perfect!

Many times we believe we have to be already perfect for God to use us.

Yet Jesus choose disciples that were far from extraordinary.

Peter, Andrew, James, and john were fisherman - Uneducated, commoners.

Peter was a Zealot - a rebel.

And Matthew was a Tax collector.

Lois and and Eunice match their background with their own controversy.

>>> They own imperfections.

In fact, Eunice’s would have been quite scandalous in her day.

Acts 16:1–3 (ESV)

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Timothy was never circumcised, a requirement of the Law. (According to Acts 3)

Timothy’s dad was a well known Greek.

Eunice’s husband was not a Jew, but a Greek.

And Lois’s son in law was not a Jew, but a Greek.

Now on the first read this may not sound that bad.

Afterall it is not like his Dad was a murder.

>>>>> He was a Greek.

But let’s explore this a little.

The Greeks of Lystra were known for worshiping two false gods - Zeus and Hermes.

Acts 14:11–13 ESV

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

HERMES:

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Hermes)

(Hermes was the) god of fertility, the patron of music, the guardian of travelers, and the god of eloquent speech.

ZEUS:

Zeus was considered the head of the Gods.

ILLUSTRATION:

Recently my family had the opportunity to visit Athens - where the remains of a massive temple of Zeus remains. We visited Olympia, where there was a temple, and the fines for cheating in the Olympic games were used to build statues of Zeus.

> Lystra was a town a that worshiped Zeus.

> Acts 14 describes one of the many processions that sacrificed bulls and brought garlands to the temple of Zeus.

What is the signifagince of Eunice’s husband being a Greek?

It is almost certain he would have been a typical Lystra Greek who participated in these processions, and the fact that Timothy was not circumcised adds weight to that reality. The fact that his father is not mentioned, probably means his Father did not believe in Jesus.

As a Greek, Eunice’s husband would not have been a worshiper of God.

>>>>>Instead, he would be a worshiper of false Greek idols.

Quite controversial.

Further - Timothy was not circumcised.

Circumcision was the outward indentification that he was a Jew, who followed the Law, and worshiped Yahweh - not the Greek Gods.

The commitment level of Timothy, and Eunice’s parenting of Timothy, was nominal at best.

Far from the calling of Deuteronomy which says

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

And yet, Eunice is going against the command to not intermarry with Gentiles.

And she does not give Timothy circumcision, the outward sign of the their faith.

I say all this, really, to make this point - THEY WERE NOT PERFECT.

LOIS and EUNICE were in fact probably nominal at best when they heard the Gospel for the first time.

The common thinking for most of us - is that I must be perfect to be used by God,

- may I remind us that we ought to strive to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all your soul, and with all your might.

But in the end of the day, I need to strive to rest in the mercy of my Savior, Just as much as I strive to please my Savior.

The first ingredient - Lois and Eunice were not perfect.

The Second Ingredient - They

(2) Believed in Christ as their Savior. (2 Timothy 1:5)

Before they heard Christ, their life appears to be very nominal at best.

Yet, when Paul came preaching Christ - Lois and Eunice were some of the first to believe.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul records, that Lois and Eunice both came to Christ.

> Perhaps by Paul.

OR

> Perhaps by the disciples he left behind.

By the time of writing 1 Timothy, Lois and Eunice, appear to be sincere and faithful Christians.

The knowledge of their Savior had so transformed their faith,

>>>>that at some point they went from nominal Jewish Women to faithful Christians.

Today - perhaps you relate Lois and Eunice.

- You feel like your faith is nominal at best.

- Perhaps - you have made some mistakes, like Eunice.

And you wondering how God could ever bless you?

EXHORTATION:

I love to read about the people in the Bible

because, often their brokeness and mistakes shine through the Scriptures.

We read of their sin … and come to remember that all of us are sinners.

Just as Paul said in Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Or as Solomon said it,

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

I am thankful - that I am not alone in my struggle.

But even more I am encouraged, to watch how Christ transforms these peoples lives.

I love the Hymn, Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore, Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love, and pow’r.

I will arise and go to Jesus; He will embrace me in His arms. In the arms of my dear Savior, Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Are you broken over your sin, your failures, or your Past?

Then come to the comfort of our Lord.

It is as George W. Bush said in the 1999 Republican Presidential debate, Jesus Christ who transformed my life.

Back to the ingredients -

(1) They were not perfect.

(2) They Believed in Christ as their Savior.

The Third Ingredient

(3) Trusted in the Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:14-16)

2 Ti 3:14-16 is one of the most important verses for doctrine in our Bible.

Because it teaches us that the Word of God is sufficent.

This verse reminds me that the average Christians carries a wisdom that is beyond their station in life.

It is amazing how an ordinary Christian, who knows their Bible, can tackle human issues better than highly-educated PHD.

Why?

And it is because 2 Timothy 3:14-16.

2 Timothy 3:14–16 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

But did you notice the biographical reference there in our text.

Oh yes - he talked about the scriptures.

But what did he say about Timothy’s childhood.

He has known the Scriptures since childhood.

Who would have taught him the Scriptures since childhood?

Lois and Eunice might not have got everything right, but they got one thing right. They knew the Scriptures and they taught them to Timothy.

We all will make many mistakes in our lifetime.

Yet a person who knows the Scripture will live a wiser, holier, and more productive

- simply because they know the Scriptures.

ILLUSTRATION:

Just as a flashlight guides us through the darkness, the Scriptures illuminate our path, showing us the way to abundant life and eternal hope. (AI Generated)

So lets recall The ingredients of Lois and Eunice’s life -

(1) They were not perfect.

(2) They Believed in Christ as their Savior.

(3) Trusted in the Scriptures.

The Fourth ingredient

(4) Passed their faith on to others. (2 Ti 1:5-7, 3:14-15)

- “Common etiquette says that discussing religion or politics in polite conversation is taboo”

(https://www.rabbideb.com/alwayslearning/2019/8/27/dont-talk-about-religion-or-politics-or-the-weather)

- I have meet Christians who refuse to talk about faith in public - because they believe faith only leads to arguments.

- I have meet Parents who give their children no parental teaching on Faith, simply because they want their children to make their own decision.

ILLUSTRATION:

Funny - they don’t do that with Reading.

“I will let them decide if they want to read and write.”

Nobody does that with Reading, so why should we do that with faith.

But imagine this,

What if Lois and Eunice had refused to share their faith with Timothy?

> They refused to read the Scriptures to Timothy.

> They refused to teach Timothy about Christ.

> They wanted him to decide on his own.

> They didn’t want to create in conflict with his Greek Father.

What would have happened to Timothy?

> Most likely - he would be carried away by the common belief’s of his day into Zeus worship.

> To decide not to share, was to make the decision for Timothy, to abandon the true God for the false God everyone believed in.

And at the same time, the second order effect, one of the most important converts in the New Testament would have never came to be.

Remember why we remember Lois and Eunice?

> It was not because they parted the Red Sea, or raised people from the dead.

> It is because they poured their everyday, ordinary faith into Timothy.

A key ingredient of God’s blessing in their life - was because they poured their faith into their son and Grandson Timothy.

I challenge you to take time to share your Faith. Don’t hide it under bushel basket.

CAVEAT:

Obviously in the military context, and simply wisdom, would teach you not to force your believes on others.

On the other hand -

> There are so many people searching for help, hope, meaning, and wisdom.

> There are so many people trapped in their sin, and in their past, and in their identity - and you have the power to set them free.

All you have to do is to kindly, and respectfully, share the good news of Jesus, and the Scriptures that make you wise.

The fourth ingredient of Lois and Eunice’s life - They passed their faith on to others.

CONCLUSION:

So,

What do we take from these passages about Lois and Eunice?

God blesses the ordinary, everyday basics of the faith. We do not have to be perfect, we simply need to trust our Savior, trust the Scriptures, and pass our Faith on to others.

I would like us to challenge us that, we should prioritize the ordinary, everyday habits of faith in our lives

>>>> Because these habits are the ingredients that God uses to bless his people.

If You want to be blessed - then stop trying to pretend your perfect. Rest in your savior’s mercy.

If You want to be blessed - Then hold onto your Faith in Christ. If you understand the Gospel, then you understand that it can transform your life.

If You want to be blessed - Then look to the Scriptures that make you wise.

And if you want to be blessed - Then share the good news with others.

I hope you consider these 4 ingredients that Luke and Paul teach us about Lois and Eunice - 4 ingredients that changed their life.