The Gift of Godly Mothers

The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 is a prime example of a godly mother. And while her accomplishments are daunting, what ties them together is basic to every believer: she fears the Lord (Prov. 31:30).

It is this overarching trait of “sincere faith” that Paul honors in Eunice, the mother of his young colleague Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). The faith of godly mothers isn’t perfect. It may be weak and hidden behind anxiety, disappointment, anger, fear, and life’s other perplexities. Eunice was a sinner. But she loved and trusted Jesus. Timothy knew it. Insincere faith may trick many people, but it won’t trick your kids. Godly mothers raise children out of a real relationship with their Savior.

Eunice was likely one of young Timothy’s few spiritual role models. Luke seems to contrast the faith of Timothy’s mother and the unbelief of Timothy’s father (Acts 16:1). There is no mention in Scripture of a synagogue or place of prayer in Timothy’s hometown. Yet by the time Paul met Timothy, he was already a “disciple” (v. 1); he was “well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium” (v. 2). Although Timothy was naturally given to fear (2 Tim. 1:7), his mother had trained him to live up to his name: “One who fears God.” Even after Timothy became a man, Paul could encourage him to press on in the faith by remembering the faith of his mother. Timothy was Paul’s “beloved child” (v. 2), but he was first nurtured “by the tender spiritual activity of a pious, faithful, and praying mother,” as Abraham Kuyper put it.

Central to Eunice’s activity was the prayerful teaching of Scripture. With no local synagogue or Scripture school, Eunice was responsible for ensuring that “from childhood” Timothy was “acquainted with the sacred writings” that are able to make one “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (3:15). As she taught Scripture, she modeled good character. By faith, she possessed that “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). So Paul could urge Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Tim. 3:14; see 1 Tim. 4:6). With God’s help, Christian mothers inspire their children to walk with God and teach them how to do it.

Eunice did not know that she was raising an Apostolic associate. She was simply nurturing a covenant child, one who was not unclean but holy because of her sincere faith (1 Cor. 7:14). By God’s blessing, she reared a “man of God” (1 Tim. 6:11) and “a good servant of Christ Jesus” (4:6). God can do the same thing in our homes today. Technically, parents don’t pass along faith to their children. Only the Spirit can do that (Eph. 2:8). But He is pleased to grant faith within the covenant of grace through the earnest efforts of mothers who fear God and trust Jesus.