Lois and Eunice
We would be remiss not to recognize the women who discipled Timothy, the Apostle Paul’s protégé and companion. Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, are introduced to us by Paul: “I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you” (2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught him the faith and discipled Timothy, not only with their teaching, but with their example. In her book The Lost Apostle: Searching for the Truth About Junia, Rena Pederson points out the irony that Paul’s Letter to Timothy, whose faith was nurtured by women, is often used to prohibit women teaching men, “I do not allow a woman to teach” (1 Tim. 2:12).[1] Lois and Eunice gave witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ so effectively their son and grandson is spoken of highly by the Apostle Paul and specially selected as a co-labourer in his work granting the church with two books of the Bible written to letters to Timothy. This brings us to a number of other women witnesses and disciples who served alongside Paul as well.
[1] Pederson, Rena. 2006. The Lost Apostle, Kindle Locations 2368-2370. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Kindle.