Paul and Timothy - Acts 16:1-15

Going the Extra Mile: Understanding Paul’s Decision to Circumcise Timothy

Bible Passage: Acts 16:1-15

Summary: In Acts 16:1-15, Paul circumcises Timothy to facilitate their ministry among the Jews, emphasizing adaptability in sharing the Gospel while maintaining theological integrity.

Application: This passage illustrates how we can approach our ministry with flexibility and sensitivity to cultural contexts without compromising our core beliefs. Recognizing when to adjust our methods can help us reach others more effectively, especially in a diverse society.

Teaching: The sermon teaches the importance of cultural contextualization in evangelism. Paul's actions demonstrate balance in preserving the truth of the Gospel while being open to practices that aid in reaching different audiences.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this context, Jesus is seen as fulfilling the Law yet liberating believers from its strict observance for salvation. Christ's ultimate sacrifice allows for the inclusion of all people into the family of God, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds.

Big Idea: We adapt our approach but remain steadfast in the Gospel to bridge gaps and reach others for Christ.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider diving into the cultural implications of circumcision in the First Century Jewish context using your Logos library. Explore exegesis on the term 'circumcise' in various translations and analyze any text-critical issues related to the early church's stance on Gentile converts. Understanding the historical tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers can enhance your application and teaching.

A woman runs a bakery in a multicultural neighborhood. Every holiday, she learns about different cultural traditions related to food and celebrates by creating special treats for each occasion. Through this act of love and respect for her neighbors’ customs, she builds relationships that transcend cultural barriers. This personal story reflects how understanding and adapting to cultural differences can foster community and enhance the witness of Christ's love in our interactions.

Circumcision as Cultural Strategy

Acts 16:1-3

The first few verses may come as a shock to the reader, for here we see that Paul has chosen a new apprentice, Timothy. This part may not be a big surprise, but what happens next likely is.

We are introduced to Timothy who is described as half-Jew and half-Greek. His father was either an unbeliever or absent, because we are only told about his mother, who was a devout Jewess. Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren around them because of his character and commitment to the Lord. But there was a large problem that loomed over him as Paul desired to take Timothy with him on this journey:

Because Timothy’s father was a Greek and not a proselyte, Timothy had never been circumcised. And that would be a major problem amongst the Jews as they traveled. Timothy would not have been allowed to enter, let alone preach in, the synagogues around the world.

But how would they have even known whether or not he was circumcised? Although physical examination was not completely out of the question, they may have simply stopped them at the entrance and asked, “Have you/has he been circumcised?” Not only would it have been a sin to lie about this, but it would have been detrimental to the Gospel. So Paul and Timothy could not lie.

Because his father was Greek, it is very likely Timothy would have been lighter-skinned than his Hebrew cousins, so this would have made him an obvious candidate for scrutiny by the synagogue leaders.

So Paul decided to circumcise Timothy “because of the Jews.” The implication is so that Timothy will be accepted and not be a hinderance to the Gospel in front of the Jews.

What about the Jerusalem Council’s decision?

Perhaps you’re thinking the same thing I did. What about the Jerusalem Council? What about Paul so fiercely disputing with the Judaizers in both Antioch and Jerusalem who came to insist that the Gentiles be circumcised? Did he so easily bend to the will of the Jews after all of his fighting against them for the sake of the Gospel?

There are two things to consider here:

Paul, Silas, and Timothy were going to the Jewish synagogues to preach to Jewish people (and proselytes) and bring them the Gospel.

if they were barred from entering at all, they would not be able to carry out their mission

although their ministry also included preaching to the Gentiles - and it was among the Gentiles were they saw the most success - they did not give up on the Jews.

Paul and Timothy alike were willing to do whatever it would take in order to get an audience with such people

Consider this example: Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) was an Irish Christian missionary to India, best known for her work rescuing children from temple prostitution.

When she first arrived in India in the late 1800s, she realized that her light skin and Western appearance made it difficult to build trust with locals and to protect the vulnerable children she was trying to help. In particular, she ministered to children who had been dedicated to Hindu temples, and she needed to blend in so she could reach them safely.

To overcome this, Amy dyed her skin with coffee or dark herbs (some accounts say a mixture of coffee, tea, or even walnut juice) to make her complexion look more like that of the Tamil people. She also wore traditional Indian clothing and adopted local customs of modesty. This helped her move about more freely, avoid unwanted attention, and gain the trust of those she served.

Timothy was half-Jew, therefore subject to the law of Moses

as Paul’s son in the ministry, Timothy was circumcised in accordance with the Law by his spiritual father, Paul

the Jerusalem Council’s decision was intended to be for the Gentiles, and no such decree was made to address the half-Jews or even full Jew or to absolve the of the works of the Law

So Paul made the decision, and Timothy complied, to perform this ritual in order to be more effective and have more opportunities to share the Gospel.

Through all of this, Paul maintains the belief and teaching that Christ fulfilled the Law. This is a consistent theme in his letters, particularly to the Romans and the Galatians.

Romans 8:3–4 ESV

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

In Galatians 3:24-25 he describes how the Law is a schoolmaster, who was put in place to point us to Christ. After Christ came, we no longer need the schoolmaster to point Him out, because we see Him and better yet, we know Him!

Verses 4-5

After this ritual was performed, they continued on their journey. They delivered to the churches the decree of the Council of Jerusalem. Just like it was in Antioch, this was welcome news to the Christians in this region. Think about how encouraging this letter must have been to them!

Have you ever read through the Pentateuch and tried to study the old laws of Moses? It is mind-boggling in many places. They are 700 miles or more from Jerusalem and the temple, and trying to figure out how they are going to travel to Jerusalem 3 times a year for the feasts. What clothes to wear, what to eat, how to send their tithes to Jerusalem, etc. Some of them had spent the better part of a year or more trying to figure this out so they are not disobedient to God.

So when Paul, Silas, and Timothy showed up with this letter from the Jerusalem Council that says to just abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from meat that has been strangled, from consuming blood, and from the practice of fornication, what a relief that must have been! What a joy to know you are not bound by the strict rules of the schoolmaster any longer!

Because of this, verse 5 tells us the churches were strengthened in FAITH (notice this in contrast to WORKS) and increased in number daily. What seems to be implied here is that the teaching of the Judaizers was starting to have a negative effect on the joy and growth of the church. They had put up unnecessary barriers that the Gentile believers were struggling to overcome.

This does not negate the helpfulness and necessity of having standards of righteousness for the church. Part of our church covenant, in which the members of the church all voluntarily agree to abide by, states:

I agree, by God’s grace, to walk in holiness as an act of worship to Jesus Christ, who has saved me from my sin so that I could live a new life; I will practice complete chastity before marriage and complete fidelity in heterosexual marriage by abstaining from practices such as cohabitation, homosexuality, pornography, and fornication: I will refrain from illegal drug use, drunkenness. and other sinful behavior as the Bible, my elders, and my conscience dictate. Should I sin in such a manner, I agree to confess my sins to Christian brothers or sisters and seek help to put my sin to death.

This practice of abstinence from these things is not so that we can be saved, but so that we can be pure and holy BECAUSE we are saved by grace through faith! These are things that we teach to you, and that you encourage each other with, for the strength and encouragement of the church. We are to put to death the desires of the flesh so that we might be able to walk daily with Christ in the calling to which we are called, and that is to be holy for He is holy!

So take joy in knowing that in Christ we have liberty and freedom from the strict schoolmaster, but let us also remember that in that liberty, we have a higher calling: to bring the Gospel to the lost by whatever means necessary, and to live a holy and blameless life. That may mean we set aside our liberty and humble ourselves so that the Gospel may be heard. That may mean we deny ourselves the joy or pleasure of liberty and enter into bondage with someone so that we may show them the way out of that bondage. In all of this, never take your eyes off of the Lord.