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2 Timothy 1:1–5 “The Passing Down of Faith”

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5–7 minutes

2 Timothy 1:1-5 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

Second Timothy is Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, whom he regarded as a son (v. 2). At the time of writing this letter, Paul was imprisoned.

Following the typical letter-writing style of that era, Paul first introduces himself as the sender. Just as he did in First Timothy, he describes himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (v. 1). This shows that he is writing with apostolic authority. When he says that he became an apostle “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,” he is pointing to the purpose of his calling. His apostleship was to proclaim the gospel that leads to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul calls Timothy his “beloved son” (v. 2). In First Timothy, he called him “my true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2). After naming the sender and the recipient, Paul offers a greeting, just as he did in First Timothy.

Verses 3–5 contain Paul’s thanksgiving. Before moving into the main body of the letter, he expresses gratitude and prayer for Timothy. Paul reveals how deeply he treasures Timothy when he says, “I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (v. 3). The statement “I serve God, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience” means that he has followed in the tradition of his forefathers by praying regularly. It emphasizes that his continual prayers for Timothy are genuine.

When Paul writes, “Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy” (v. 4), we can infer that Timothy had been present when Paul was arrested and taken away. Timothy wept with sorrow as Paul was seized. Remembering that love, Paul longed to be reunited with him soon and experienced the joy of their fellowship once more. Paul also reminds Timothy that he remembers his “sincere faith” (v. 5), a faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice and now lives in Timothy as well.

Meditation:

The Apostle Paul praises Timothy’s faith, noting that the same faith had first lived in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice. According to Acts 16:1–3, Timothy lived in Lystra, and when Paul met him there, Timothy was already a devoted disciple. Based on Paul’s words, it seems likely that Timothy’s grandmother and mother had first accepted the gospel, and that Timothy later came to faith under their influence. Since Paul visited Lystra in the late 40s A.D., the history of the gospel there was not very long, probably less than ten years. Within that short span of time, Timothy came to faith through the influence of his grandmother and mother, and he became “well spoken of by the believers” in the region (Acts 16:2). Such a rapid passing down of faith and transformation of life was a remarkable event.

There is a saying, “God has no grandchildren.” This means that even if parents are faithful believers, their children do not automatically become faithful Christians. Each person must establish their own relationship with God. What parents can do is create an environment and provide opportunities for their children to encounter God. Yet, even with the best efforts, there is no guarantee. On the other hand, sometimes parents live without faith, yet their children become deeply devoted believers. Just as no one can fully control another person’s personality, no one can fully control another person’s faith. The Apostle Paul knew this reality well, which is why he praised Timothy for carrying on the faith of his grandmother and mother. Yes, Lois, Eunice, and Timothy all played their part, but behind it all was the mysterious providence and work of God that no human effort alone could explain.

This is the deep longing of all faithful parents—that their children might carry on the faith. Yet there is no method to guarantee it. That is why parents often pray with heavy hearts when they see their children drifting from God. Sometimes they plead, sometimes they put pressure on them, but often the more they push, the more their children resist. In those moments, parents must comfort themselves with this truth: God loves my child even more deeply than I do. The best we can do is to live out our faith authentically, show our children what it means to trust God, and continually lift them up in prayer.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for giving us faith. No matter how much we think about it, the very fact that we believe is a miracle. Please let this same miracle take place in the lives of our beloved children. Help us first to show the true power of faith through our own lives and keep us from ceasing in prayer until our children return to You. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Faith is not inherited automatically — it is a miracle from God. Parents can guide and pray, but each child must meet God personally. Our role is to live out our faith sincerely and pray continually for the next generation.

  • For Preschool-Elementary
    • Who helped Timothy learn about God? (His grandmother Lois and mother Eunice)
    • Do you remember someone who first told you about Jesus? How did you feel?
    • Why do you think it’s important for us to pray for our families and friends?
  • Youth
    • Paul said Timothy’s faith came through his mother and grandmother, but Timothy still had to believe in himself. What does that tell us about our own faith?
    • Have you ever felt that your parents’ or grandparents’ faith influenced your view of God — in a good or challenging way?
    • How can we support each other as friends and church family so that our faith grows strong, even when it’s hard to believe on our own?

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