This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day and one of the best examples of Godly mothers in the Bible is found in 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV): I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Paul uses the phrase “sincere faith” only twice in his writings, here, and in in 1 Timothy 1:5.
The words sincere and faith in both of of these verses come from the Greek words anypokritos [537] (sincere) and pistis [4411] (faith). Let’s take a moment to see what these words really mean. Anypokritos (537) means sincere, genuine, without hypocrisy; of good character, lacking pretense and prideful show. Pistis (4411) means trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust will follow. So what kind of faith was Timothy being commended for? What type of faith had been instilled in him by his mother and grandmother?
Timothy’s mother and grandmother had instilled in Timothy a genuine, without hypocrisy, pretense, and pride, trust in God and Timothy was living according to that trust. This is sincere faith and this is the type of faith that is pleasing and acceptable to God. Let us all strive for a sincere faith and seek to instill this type of faith in all who we have an opportunity to teach.