2 Timothy 1:5

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, etc.] This caused him to give thanks to God for it, whose gift it is and made him the more desirous of seeing one, who was a true believer, and an Israelite indeed. This is to be understood of the grace of faith, which was implanted in the heart of Timothy by the Spirit of God, and was genuine and sincere; he believed with the heart unto righteousness; his faith worked by love to God, and Christ, and to his people, and was attended with good works; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois: who was his grandmother, not by his father's side, who was a Greek, but by his mother's side; and so the Syriac version renders it, “thy…”

“When I call to remembrance--This increased his "desire to see" Timothy. The oldest manuscripts read, "When I called to remembrance"; implying that some recent incident (perhaps the contrasted cowardice of the hypocrite Demas, who forsook him) had reminded him of the sincerity of Timothy's faith. faith that is in thee--ALFORD translates, "that was in thee." He remembers Timothy's faith in the past as a fact; its present existence in him is only matter of his confident persuasion or hope. which--Greek, "such as." dwelt--"made its dwelling" or abode (Joh 14:23). The past tense implies they were now dead. first--before it dwelt in thee. She was the furthest back of the progenitors of Timothy…”

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee; - notes, 1 Timothy 1:5. On the faith of Timothy, see the notes at 1 Timothy 4:6. Which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois - That is, the same faith dwelt in her; or, she was a sincere believer in Christ. It would seem probable, from this, that she was the first of the family who had been converted. In the Acts of the Apostles Acts 16:1, we have an account of the family of Timothy: - “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra; and behold a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.” In this account no mention is made of the grandmother Lois, but…”

“Which dwelt - A word not applied to a transient guest, but only to a settled inhabitant. First - Probably this was before Timothy was born, yet not beyond St. Paul's memory. 2 Timothy 1:6”

“1:5-14 Paul gently but firmly summons Timothy to Rome (see also 4:9, 21; cp. 1 Tim 1:3-11, 12-17). Suffering seemed certain if Timothy remained faithful, and Paul wanted to strengthen Timothy’s resolve. • The allusions to the Spirit in 2 Tim 1:6-7 and 1:14 form an inclusio (literary bookends) around this section. 1:5 On Timothy’s parentage, see Acts 16:1-3; 1 Tim 1:2. • Faith means Christian faith, but Timothy’s Jewish heritage through his grandmother and mother explains how he was rooted in Old Testament instruction (2 Tim 3:14-15). Their Christian faith was an example for him to follow.”

“I call: Psa 77:6 unfeigned: Psa 17:1, Psa 18:44, Psa 66:3, Psa 81:15 \*marg. Jer 3:10; Joh 1:47; Co2 6:6; Ti1 1:5, Ti1 4:6; Pe1 1:22 thy mother: Psa 22:10, Psa 86:16, Psa 116:16; Act 16:1 I am: Ti2 1:12; Act 26:26; Rom 4:21, Rom 8:38, Rom 14:5, Rom 14:14, Rom 15:14; Heb 6:9, Heb 11:13 2 Timothy 1:6”