The Circumcision of Timothy in Acts 16
In Acts 16:1-3, Paul encounters Timothy and has him circumcised before taking him along on his missionary journey. The passage states, "Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek" (Acts 16:1-3 ESV).
This event occurs during Paul's second missionary journey, after his separation from Barnabas [5, 7]. Paul had previously visited Lystra and Derbe during his first journey [7]. Timothy's mother, Eunice, was a Jewish believer, and his grandmother was Lois, both of whom are commended for their faith in 2 Timothy 1:5 [1, 3, 10]. Timothy's father, however, was a Greek, meaning a Gentile [3, 10].
Circumcision was an ancient rite instituted by God for Abraham and his descendants, serving as a sign of the covenant [2, 4]. It was a national ordinance for the Israelites [4]. While Paul vehemently argued against the necessity of circumcision for Gentile converts to Christianity (e.g., Galatians 5:6, 6:15), his decision to circumcise Timothy, who was already a disciple, requires careful interpretation [6].
Commentators generally agree that Paul's action was a pragmatic decision rather than a theological one, aimed at facilitating Timothy's ministry among Jewish communities [6, 8]. Because Timothy's father was Greek, he would have been considered uncircumcised by Jewish law, despite having a Jewish mother [8]. This would have created a significant barrier to his acceptance and effectiveness in Jewish circles [6, 8]. Adam Clarke notes that Jews would not have listened to Timothy preach or associated with him if he were uncircumcised, and Paul himself would have faced similar issues by associating with an uncircumcised individual [8].
John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, observed that the question of circumcision for Jews was distinct from that for Gentiles. He noted that Timothy's case was unique because circumcision had been neglected, and Paul decided the matter without consulting others [9]. This contrasts with the earlier Jerusalem Council's decision regarding Gentile converts, which explicitly stated that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised (Acts 15) [9]. Paul's flexibility in this matter demonstrates his principle of becoming "all things to all people" to spread the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:20-21) [6].
Sources
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: 2Tim.1.5 → Acts.16.1 (confidence: 10 votes)”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Circumcision — Instituted by God -- Ge 17:9,10. Described -- Ge 17:11; Ex 4:25. Enforced by the law -- Le 12:3; Joh 7:22. Called the Covenant of circumcision. -- Ac 7:8. Circumcision in the flesh. -- Eph 2:11. Concision. -- Php 3:2. A painful and bloody rite -- Ex 4:26; Jos 5:8. Promises to Abraham previous to -- Ro 4:9,13. A seal of the covenant -- Ge 17:11; Ro 4:11. Introductory Jewish ordinances -- Ga 5:3. Outward sign of -- Ro 2:28. Inward grace -- Ro 2:29. Necessary to enjoying the privileges of the Jewish State -- Ex 12:48; Eze 44:7. Was performed On males home”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Timothy — The disciple thus named was the son of one of those mixed marriages which, though condemned by stricter Jewish opinion were yet not uncommon in the later periods of Jewish history. The father's name is unknown; he was a Greek, i.e. a Gentile, by descent. (Acts 16:1,3) The absence of any personal allusion to the father in the Acts or Epistles suggests the inference that he must have died or disappeared during his son's infancy. The care of the boy thus devolved upon his mother Eunice and her mother Lois. (2 Timothy 1:5) Under their training his education was ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Circumcision — Cutting around. This rite, practised before, as some think, by divers races, was appointed by God to be the special badge of his chosen people, an abiding sign of their consecration to him. It was established as a national ordinance (Gen. 17:10, 11). In compliance with the divine command, Abraham, though ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised on the same day with Ishmael, who was thirteen years old (17:24-27). Slaves, whether home-born or purchased, were circumcised (17:12, 13); and all foreigners must have their males circumcised before they could ”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 16 (introduction): Paul, coming to Derbe and Lystra, meets with Timothy, the son of a Jewess by a Greek father, whom he circumcises and takes with him into his work, Act 16:1-3. As they pass through the different cities, they deliver the apostles' decrees to the Churches; and they are established in the faith, and daily increase in numbers, Act 16:4, Act 16:5. They travel through Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, and to Troas, Act 16:6-8. Where Paul has a vision, relative to his preaching in Macedonia, Act 16:9, Act 16:10. Leaving Troas, he sails to Samothracia and Neapolis, and com”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 16:3: 16:3 Paul had Timothy circumcised to enhance Timothy’s acceptance and effectiveness as a Jew in Jewish circles (contrast Titus, who was a full Gentile, Gal 2:3). Elsewhere Paul clarified that it makes no difference to God whether one is circumcised or not circumcised (Rom 2:25-29; Gal 5:6; 6:15). Paul was prepared to use any legitimate means to communicate the Good News (1 Cor 9:20-21) to various audiences.”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 16 (introduction): It is some rebuke to Barnabas that after he left Paul we hear no more of him, of what he did or suffered for Christ. But Paul, as he was recommended by the brethren to the grace of God, so his services for Christ after this are largely recorded; we are to attend him in this chapter from place to place, wherever he came doing good, either watering or planting, beginning new work or improving what was done. Here is, I. The beginning of his acquaintance with Timothy, and taking him to be his assistant (Act 16:1-3). II. The visit he made to the churches for”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 16:3: Took and circumcised him - For this simple reason, that the Jews would neither have heard him preach, nor would have any connection with him, had he been otherwise. Besides, St. Paul himself could have had no access to the Jews in any place, had they known that he associated with a person who was uncircumcised: they would have considered both to be unclean. The circumcision of Timothy was a merely prudential regulation; one rendered imperiously necessary by the circumstances in which they were then placed; and, as it was done merely in reference to this, Timothy was l”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: at Jerusalem as is shown in the account in ( Acts xv .) And the failure of the effort to have Titus circumcised shows that the account in Gal. ii . has nothing inconsistent with that decree. This as to Gentiles. The question did not concern Jews, who were already circumcised in infancy except in cases like that of Timothy where circumcision had been neglected. His case Paul himself decided without any consultation with others.—G.A.] 51 [“This passage cannot be worse misunderstood than it has been by Baur according to whom there w”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 16:1: A certain disciple - Bishop Pearce would read the latter part of this verse and the beginning of the next thus - A certain disciple named Timotheus, (the son of a certain Jewish woman that believed, but of a father who was a Greek), who was well reported of by the brethren, etc. This Timothy was the same person to whom St. Paul wrote those two noble epistles which are still extant. His mother's name was Eunice, as we learn from Ti2 1:5. What his father's name was we know not; he was either a mere heathen, or, at most, only a proselyte of the gate, who never submitted ”