Acts 16:1-5

Note: This one got a little long. There’s a summary if you only want to read that.

 

  And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees, which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

 

To be or not to be… circumcised?

 

I thought the question was already decided. Circumcision was Christian requirement for Gentiles. Gentiles did not need to be culturally Jewish to follow Jesus.

 

But when Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, met Timothy, heard good reports about him, and decided to bring him along on the journey, he circumcised Timothy. Why? The apostles and elders in Jerusalem had specifically decided not to require circumcision, saying that it was “a yoke neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10) and that “we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God” (Acts 15:19). Being circumcised anytime is not a pleasant thing, but being circumcised as an adult takes a lot of motivation and commitment to something! So the apostles had decided that circumcision was not necessary. Why was Paul having Timothy circumcised?

 

The text says Paul circumcised Timothy “because of the Jews who in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek” (16:3). Again, this seems odd. In Galatians, Paul warns the Gentiles, “If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all” (Gal. 5:2). He is specifically fighting to keep the Jews from having too much influence over Gentile Christians. But here he circumcised Timothy because of the Jews. Was it a mistake?

 

I don’t think so. Here’s why. Timothy’s mother was a Jew. It was his father who was a Greek, a Gentile. Because Timothy was part Jew, part Gentile, the Jews in the area were probably watching Timothy closely as he grew up to see whether he would be committed to the Jewish God or not – whether he would identify with the Jewish God or with the pagans’ gods. He was well-spoken of and a disciple of Jesus Christ. If he had been pure Greek, Paul probably would not have circumcised. But Timothy, being part-Greek, part-Jew, was in a unique category, and it was important that he live in a way that plainly told the Jews that he was committed to the Jewish God. To the Greeks, it may have already been obvious. But to the Jews, even if Greeks got to avoid circumcision, it was important that Jews demonstrate their Jewish identity. If they did not, their commitment to God was in question.

 

Ironically, after being circumcised Timothy went with Paul, “delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem for them to observe.” These decrees did not include circumcision. But I think Timothy’s circumcision was probably a good thing for both Jews and Gentiles, even as he told Gentiles they didn’t need to be circumcised. Jews would hear Timothy speaking about freedom from circumcision alongside of Paul, but would know that both these men were circumcised. So Jews would be challenged to be as openhearted toward the Gentiles as their Jewish brothers were being. And Gentiles would hear the message from two committed Jews, men who were both circumcised. So Gentiles would know that the Jewish church as a whole had actually agreed to their freedom from circumcision (If Timothy had not been circumcised, the Gentiles and Jews might have been tempted to think that the Jewish Paul had simply been influenced by his affection for Gentiles because he left a part-Jew, Timothy, uncircumcised. To Jewish Christians, it made no sense not to be circumcised because they were still Jews.).

 

Summary:

There is, in a sense, freedom for Jews, too. Jews do not have to feel bad about circumcision or about following the law of Moses once they become Christians. It is a part of their cultural heritage and a part of their heritage that comes from God. Jews are allowed to maintain their identity as Jews so long as they understand that a relationship with God comes not by being Jewish and not by keeping the Mosaic law perfectly, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Jews are still free to be Jews, and need to see that being Jewish is not rejected by Paul or any of the other apostles – so Timothy was circumcised even while Gentiles were being told that they did not have to become Jews to be Christians.

 

Father, thank You. Thank You for not putting anyone – Jew or Gentile – to shame for being raised in a certain culture. Thank You that I can enjoy being American, for instance. At the same time, You make it clear that no one comes to You because of nationality. Each nation and culture is full of people, sinful people, and rather than rejecting culture, you reject sins. So help us all to recognize that we cannot earn our way into Your presence by being perfectly Jewish, Greek, American, or any other nationality. Being the ideal patriot while disobeying You is still death. But all of us can come to You through faith in Jesus Christ and be accepted. We do not have to reject our whole way of life – only our sins. Thank You for being so gracious to all of us, Jews and Gentiles.