The Circumcision of Timothy

2024-11-09

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3)

After having attended the Jerusalem Council, where it was made clear that people did not need to be circumcised to be saved, why did Paul circumcise Timothy? Were they compromising because of fear of persecution?

Such hypocrisy would be unlikely in this case. In the very next verse, we read, “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem” (Acts 16:4). They were delivering the letter sent from Jerusalem on this very matter! Rather, Paul circumcised Timothy because he was half-Jewish, which means that if it came abroad that he was not circumcised, it may discredit him to Jews that were unsaved. It would be a stumbling block and a barrier for them being saved. They likely did this to remove inhibitions of the Gospel to Jewish people that would otherwise be saved.