| The Scripture record of Dorcas is limited to a few verses in the ninth chapter of Acts, but her name to this day stands for the benevolent use of the needle. Her example has been an inspiration to women throughout church history. |
Dorcas
The Queen of the Needle
by Patricia Chadwick
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The Scripture record of Dorcas is limited to a few verses in the ninth chapter of Acts, but her name to this day stands for the benevolent use of the needle. Her example has been an inspiration to women throughout church history. The Bible is silent concerning the genealogy of Dorcas. What is know is that her home was at Joppa and she was associated with a little band of Christians, most of whom were poor. She, however, apparently was a woman of means to serve humanity as freely as she did. The words of Jesus had no doubt been the moving power in her soul: “For I was hungered and you gave me meat, I was thirsty and you game me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked an you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me....in as much as you have done it unto the least of my brothers, you have done it for me”. The Scriptures give us only glimpses of her witness and work for Christ in Acts chapter nine, yet she has influence many by her good works. She is evidently a Christian, being called “a certain disciple. It was through the ministry of Phillip the evangelist that a Christian church was established in Joppa at an early date. From the its very beginning, the church in Joppa was known as a center of fervent evangelism and a well-organized social service provider. Possibly Dorcas came to Christ in this church and there caught the vision of service. Dorcas was well know for her good works and charitable deeds which she did. What is significant about the account of her life is that Dorcas not only thought up ways of relieving the needy, but she also carried out her plans! She knew what she could do and she DID it. She was a true “doer” of the Word. Among her good works was that of making clothes for widows and the need of her church and community with her own loving hands. The clothes that Dorcas cut out and sewed represented Christian faith in action. She was not only willing to give financially, but she was willing to invest herself in the work of charity. When Dorcas died, she left the church at Joppa grief -stricken. The church called for the Apostle Peter, who was in a neighboring city, to come to them. They obviously had heard of Peter’s supernatural power and doubtless hoped that he might return their greatly-love patron to them. When he got there he found that the widows Dorcas had helped had laid her out and prepared an eloquent eulogy on the life and character of Dorcas by showing some of the many coats and garments which she made for them. Here were aged widows whose hands were too feeble to hold the needle and too poor to pay other for their work. They showed the warm garments Dorcas had made them to protect them from the cold winds which often swept in from the Mediterranean. And here were younger widows with little children who had been clothed by Dorcas. How could they ever find another friend like her? But Dorcas was given back to them by a great miracle. Apparently this scene touched Peter’s emotions. He sent them all out and kneeled down and prayed. When he felt his request had been received by God, Peter spoke the word of power and authority and raised Dorcas from the dead, thus presenting her alive to the saints and widows at Joppa. What a moving scene that must have been! What joy to receive this blessed woman back from the dead. The mourners tear’s were wiped away and the work of the Lord grew mightily. While Dorcas was greatly loved and respected among the people of Joppa, it seems that she wasn’t conscious of the magnificent work she was doing and of its far-reaching consequences. Dorcas did not strive to be a leader, but was content to stay in her own home and try to do all she could to serve the Lord in her sphere of influence. But because of her faithful service, she indeed became a leader in an almost universal philanthropic cause. Many women throughout history have sought to emulate the life of Dorcas by establishing “Dorcas Societies” that hold humanitarian ideals, engage in various relief activities, and whose sole purpose in existing is to do good. We can hold Dorcas as an example to all of us to look after the welfare of others. After all, James 1:27 tells us that: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” We can find no finer model of this pure religion than Dorcas. |
| Patricia Chadwick is a freelance writer and has been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. She is currently a columnist in several online publications as well as editor of two newsletters. Parents & Teens is a twice monthly newsletter geared to help parents connect with their teens. Subscribe at www.parentsandteens.com . |
| There is not a lot of information in Scripture regarding Lois and Eunice, but what we do know is an encouragement to all mothers who want to raise their children to love God. |
Passing Down a Godly Heritage
by Patricia Chadwick
There is not a lot of information in Scripture regarding Lois and Eunice, but what we do know is an encouragement to all mothers who want to raise their children to love God. Lois and Eunice were a mother/daughter team that raised up a man of God, Timothy, who was the Apostle Paul’s most trusted companion and disciple. It is only in Acts 1:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5 that we find record of these women, but what a strong commendation the Apostle Paul gives to them. In 2 Timothy 1:5, the Paul writes: “ I have been 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.” These women were responsible for passing their faith on to the next generation.
First, lets look at Lois. The name Lois means “agreeable” or “desirable”. And she appears to have lived up to her name! The Apostle Paul praises her in his second letter to Timothy as one who passed on the mantle of faith to both her daughter and her grandson. While their are numerous grandmothers mentioned in the Bible, 2 Timothy is the only place where the term “grandmother” is actually used.
Lois was a devout Jewess who had obviously instructed her daughter and grandson in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Scripture is silent about Lois’ husband, yet we do know that she gave her daughter a Greek name, which might indicate that he himself was Greek. The family lived in Lystra, among a people who worshipped the gods of Greece, yet she faithfully raised a daughter who loved God and helped raised a grandson who shared that love.
As we can tell, Eunice was also a devout Jewess before coming to Christ. She has a Greek name that is derived from the name Nike, which was the Greek goddess of victory. Her name actually means “conquering well” and was a name expressive of a good or happy victory. Eunice, too, lived up to her name. She had victory over the immoral society in which she lived by raising a devout son. We learn from Scripture, in Acts 16:1 that Eunice had married a Greek man, a gentile, therefore an unbeliever. To them was born a son, whom they named Timothy. Nothing else is said about him, so many assume that he was dead by the time Eunice met the Apostle Paul.
The family lived at Lystra, and it is likely that during Paul’s first visit to that city that Lois, Eunice, and Timothy were all converted to the Christian faith. There is no doubt that their devout Jewish faith and knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures prepared their hearts to hear the words of Paul regarding eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Coming to Lystra on his second missionary tour, Paul found the young man highly spoken of by the little group of Christians in that city. He was of such evident ability and promise that Paul made him a missionary helper. When years later, Paul lay in the prison at Rome awaiting trial and likely execution, he writes his second letter to his beloved helper, calling to remembrance the faith Timothy had shown, and reminding him that this same faith was first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Again, he says, to Timothy, “From a child, you have know the holy Scriptures”.
The compelling feature of the Scriptural record of Eunice and Lois is their religious influence on Timothy. Since his father is not mentioned in connection with Timothy’s faith, it is apparent that these two godly women trained him up so that he both knew and loved God’s word. The name Timothy means “one who fears God”, a name obviously picked by his faithful mother. Grandmother and mother had no doubt been the teachers of his youth. His fitness to be the companion and co-worker of Paul’s finds its explanation largely in the home training and pious example given him by these two noble women. It was from them also that the young Timothy derived his first impressions of Christian truth; for Paul calls to remembrance the earnest faith which first dwelt in them.
The record of Timothy demonstrates the value of positive Christian training in the home. Lois and Eunice took the responsibility to pass on their faith very seriously and as a result they raised up a young man to become a servant of Christ. For this, they have gone down in history as outstanding mothers and great women of faith.
Patricia Chadwick is a freelance writer and has been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. She is currently a columnist in several online publications as well as editor of two newsletters. Parents & Teens is a twice monthly newsletter geared to help parents connect with their teens. Subscribe at www.parentsandteens.com .