Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 1:5

"having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also." — 2 Timothy 1:5 (ASV)

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee.—It is for the “unfeigned faith” which he was confident still dwelt in his dearest and best-loved companion, whom he had entrusted with the care of the Ephesian church, that he thanked God. (See 2 Timothy 1:3.)

It is more than probable that some special instance of this unfeigned faith on the part of the chief pastor of Ephesus had come to the Apostle’s knowledge, and cheered his great loving heart while he languished in prison.

Which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice . . .—We know that during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1–3), St. Paul came into contact with this pious family at Lystra. It has been suggested that Lois, Eunice, and Timothy were relatives of St. Paul; hence his intimacy with the family and his knowledge of their faith, and hence, too, perhaps, his devoted and unbroken friendship for Timothy.

We are told (Acts 16:1) that this Eunice was a Jewess, married to a Greek. Lystra is no great distance from Tarsus, from where St. Paul came. This supposition is just possible, but it is only an ingenious thought, as there is no data to support it.

Regarding the names, Lois is the same as the more familiar Lais; Eunice is an equivalent of the Latin Victoria.