He circumcised him because of all the Jews who lived in that area. (Acts 16:3)
Timothy had a Jew for a mother and a Gentile for a father. Not raised as a Jew, we know his grandmother and mother both shared faith in Christ (2 Timothy 1:5), and their witness no doubt led Timothy to faith as well. Paul ordained him (2 Timothy 1:6) and perhaps had himself received prophecies regarding Timothy’s future ministry (1 Timothy 1:18).
Paul took Timothy with him as his protégé, but thought it best that he first be circumcised. Without circumcision, Timothy’s credibility would be compromised among those Jews to whom they would be ministering because many of them knew Timothy and were aware his father was Greek.
This may be confusing, following so shortly after Paul’s report to the Jerusalem council regarding that very thing. Paul had argued that demanding Gentiles convert to Judaism before being baptized as Christians was wrong. Would not his decision regarding Timothy be incongruent with his arguments in the previous chapter?
Paul once asked, Why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? (1 Corinthians 10:29) He qualified his own argument just a few verses later: For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved (v. 33). Paul knew there are more important things than a Christian asserting his own rights, and the gospel is one of them.
What would you do to share Christ with your neighbors?
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