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 16:3, ESV
Why Did Paul Circumcise Timothy?
Today's brief passage in Acts contains one of the most unexpected episodes in the ministry of the Apostle Paul: the circumcision of Timothy. Paul would later write to the Galatians: "Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law." (Gal. 5:2-3, ESV) Given Paul's strong language in Galatians, we have to wonder why he would want to have Timothy circumcised.
The answer is simple and yet complex, because it's a question of context and purpose. In Acts 16, Paul is bringing Timothy onto his mission team. Part of their mission is to try to reach Jews in the area with the Gospel. Timothy was half-Greek, his father being a Greek. To gain entrance into the Jewish synagogues in Asia Minor and to have an audience for the Gospel, Paul had Timothy circumcised as a matter of cultural accommodation. Paul never told Timothy that he needed to be circumcised in order to be acceptable to God.
Paul's stance on circumcision helps us understand a whole host of cultural taboo issues. If we can observe a cultural standard in order to open a door and remove a stumbling block for the Gospel, we should do so. In line with this thinking, one of our missionary friends is always careful to wear a head-covering when she is meeting with Muslims to share the Gospel. They appreciate it, and she is wise to do it. But if someone were to come into our church and proclaim that unless women wear a Muslim-style head covering, they are not acceptable to God, I would oppose that teaching vehemently. Removing obstacles and opening doors to the Gospel is great. Adding burdens to God's people as additions to the Gospel is not okay.
In both cases, the priority for Paul was the Gospel, and the Gospel must be the priority for us, too. We put no stumbling block in anyone's way to keep them from hearing the Gospel. We add no burden to believers to take them away from the purity of the Gospel.
Heavenly Father, the Gospel is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. Let us never be ashamed of the Gospel, never place obstacles in the way of the Gospel and never add burdens to the Gospel. Let us treasure Christ and proclaim Him openly for all. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Prayer Based on Proverbs 19:8-15:
Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Heavenly Father, we need Your Spirit to work good sense into our souls,
that we may be able to gain and keep understanding,
and that we may be slow to anger and quick to overlook offenses.
Father, let us love the truth and love wisdom,
that Your light and love may shine in and through us.
A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
Lord, life in this world requires wisdom,
and we need You to grant us the wisdom we need.
You tell us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask of You and You will supply it.
So, give us discernment and prudence and diligence,
for we would be lost in folly and sloth and quarreling without You!
In Jesus' name and for His sake we ask, Amen.
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