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Acts 14:8–10). In light of the fact that Lois, Eunice’s
mother, appears to have been Jewish as well, it is not
likely that Eunice was a convert to Judaism. In Judaism a
child took the religion of its mother; therefore Timothy
should have been circumcised and raised as a Jew. 12 But
in Greek society, the father’s religion was the religion
of the children. So, while Timothy was uncircumcised,
like his father, this did not keep his mother and grandmother
from teaching him the Scriptures.
Paul states in the opening lines of 2 Timothy the
importance of a godly heritage for both he and Timothy.
Paul recognizes the great influence one’s family can have
on a child for good or ill. Second Timothy 1:5 speaks of
the sincere faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and of
his mother Eunice. Although Timothy was the child of
a mixed marriage, God used the godly influence of his
mother and grandmother and the truth they taught him
to draw him to faith in Christ despite an unconverted
father. This example should bring great encouragement
to parents in a mixed marriage who have serious concerns
for the spiritual well-being of their children. The
power of a godly life, fervent prayer, and instruction in
the sacred writings (2 Tim. 3:15) are powerful instruments
in the Holy Spirit’s arsenal in bringing children
(and adults!) to faith in Christ.
Throughout history the influence of a godly mother
has been demonstrated time and time again. Two outstanding
examples are Monica, the mother of Augustine,
and Susannah, the mother of John and Charles
Wesley. Augustine’s father, Patricius, was a pagan, and
his mother, Monica, was a Christian. Augustine wrote a
great deal concerning the influence of his godly mother
in his Confessions. Much the same is true of Susannah
Wesley, whose husband Samuel was a terrible husband
and father. While neither Monica nor Susannah married
men who loved the Lord, these women lived in submission
to the Lordship of Christ and God used them
to influence their children to faith in Christ. These are
two of most famous examples of Christian wives and
mothers married to inept husbands and fathers; there
will be, however, an innumerable number of saints who
will rise up on the last day and proclaim that they were
blessed by a godly mother that loved them more than
they loved themselves. They will affirm from a human
perspective that the life and prayers of their mother
were instrumental in their coming to faith in Christ.
ENDNOTES
1
It must not be forgotten that Paul places much greater
responsibility on Christian husbands than he does
upon Christian wives in Ephesians 5:22–33.
2
There is debate as to whether “the day of visitation” is
a reference to salvation, judgment, or the second coming.
3
I do not intend to argue here for this understanding
but direct the reader to the helpful discussions
from a complementarian perspective: John Piper and
Wayne Grudem, eds., Recovering Biblical Manhood
and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1991); A. J. Kostenberger
and T. R. Schreiner, and H. S. Baldwin, eds., Women
in the Church: A Fresh Analysis of 1 Timothy 2:9–15
(Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995); and James Hurley, Man
and Woman in Biblical Perspective (IVP, 1981). For a
discussion of the issues from an egalitarian perspective
see Gilbert Bilezikian, Beyond Sex Roles: A Guide
for the Study of Female Roles in the Bible (Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1985); Ben Witherington, Women and
the Genesis of Christianity (Cambridge University
Press, 1990). For books that present the arguments
and responses from the various positions see: Craig
Blomberg and James Beck, eds., Two Views on Women
in Ministry (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) and B.
Clouse and R. Clouse eds , Women in Ministry: Four
Views (IVP, 1989).
4
It is helpful to note that Peter does not use the stronger
term kathos, meaning “even as” or “in the same
way.”
5
J. R. Michaels, 1 Peter, Word Biblical Commentary
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988), 156.
6
Walter Baur, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich,
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature, 2d ed., rev. F.
Wilbur Gingrich and Frederick W. Danker (University
of Chicago Press, 1973), 82.
7
The word translated “respectful” is literally “in fear”
(en phobo). I understand the behavior to be directed
toward the husband and the thought to be that of
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