In brief
Lois is the grandmother of Timothy, the disciple of Paul. She appears only once in the Bible, in the second letter to Timothy, where Paul remembers the sincere faith that lived first in her, then in her daughter Eunice, then in Timothy. No account tells her life, but this single mention is enough to make her famous. She is remembered as the start of a chain of faith, and as an example of quiet transmission that crosses generations.
What does the name Lois mean?
The origin of the name Lois is uncertain: it is a rare Greek name, sometimes linked to an adjective suggesting what is better or preferable. The Bible gives no explanation of this name and says nothing of her origins.
The story of Lois
A grandmother named by Paul
2 Timothy 1:5Paul writes to Timothy, his beloved child, from captivity. He remembers the sincere faith that is in him, which lived first in his grandmother Lois. The word first places her at the beginning of the chain. According to the text, she is the first in the line to believe, though we do not know how she came to faith.
A faith passed on to Eunice
2 Timothy 1:5The same faith then lived in Eunice, daughter of Lois and mother of Timothy. Acts describes her as a faithful Jewish woman. This passing from mother to daughter is the heart of the verse: Lois lived a faith so real that it became that of the next generation.
Timothy in Lystra
Acts 16:1-2In Lystra, Paul meets Timothy, the son of a faithful Jewish woman and a Greek father. The believers in Lystra and Iconium speak well of him. The text does not mention Lois here, but her influence can be sensed in this young man whom his family shaped before Paul took him along.
A faith that goes on
2 Timothy 1:6-7Paul urges Timothy to rekindle the gift of God and reminds him that God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. What Lois and Eunice placed in him must keep growing. The faith received calls for a personal response.
What Lois teaches us
- Grandparents have a precious role: Lois is the first of three generations who believed.
- A sincere faith does not need to be spectacular to bear fruit over the long term.
- God records in his Word people whose story is little known, because their faithfulness matters.
- Each generation must make the received faith its own: Timothy is called to rekindle what he has received.
- We can pray with confidence for our grandchildren, because the faith of a grandmother keeps working.
Key verses
Paul recalls the sincere faith that lived first in Lois, then in Eunice, and that also lives in Timothy. It is the only verse in the Bible where Lois is named.
Paul urges Timothy to rekindle the gift of God received through the laying on of hands. The faith inherited from Lois and Eunice must become a faith lived personally.
Sermons about Lois
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lois in the Bible?
Lois was the grandmother of Timothy. Paul mentions her in 2 Timothy 1:5, recalling that sincere faith lived first in her, then in her daughter Eunice, then in Timothy. The Bible says nothing else about her life.
What does the name Lois mean?
The meaning of Lois is uncertain. It is a rare Greek name, sometimes linked to an adjective suggesting what is better. Since the Bible does not explain it, it is wise to stay cautious and remember mostly what Paul says about her faith.
Where can I find the story of Lois in the Bible?
Lois is named only once, in the second letter to Timothy, chapter 1, verse 5. The immediate context runs from verses 1 to 7, where Paul encourages Timothy. Acts 16:1-3 then introduces Timothy and his family.