Why Titus was not Compelled to be Circumcised (Gal. 2:3)
By
James Scott Trimm
Many who teach that circumcision is not for today will cite Galatians 2:3 saying that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, but what does that really mean?
Even Titus that was with me, who was an Aramean,
was not compelled to be circumcised.
(Gal. 2:3 HRV)
“compelled” = The Aramaic word here is אתאנם IT’ENAS literally “to be forced” from the root אנם meaning “to take by force”.
The text is telling us not that Titus was not circumcised, but that he had done so voluntarily and not been circumcised by force as the Maccabeans had done:
Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:
And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised by force.
(1Macc. 2:45-46)
In fact a comparison with Acts 15-16 will show that at this same time Timothy was also circumcised voluntarily and not by force.
Paul advocated the Pharisaic teaching of Antigones of Soko (who lived in the Maccabean era):
Antigones of Soko received [Torah] from Simeon the Righteous.
He used to say, “Be not like servants who serve their master
for the sake of wages, but be like servants who serve their
master with no thought of a wage – and let the fear
of Heaven be upon you.”
(m.Avot 1:3)
Paul did not want people to be circumcised by compulsion, either by the offer of a reward or the threat of a punishment, but from their own heart, out of the fear (respect) of YHWH, not trying to earn anything. This was at odds with hie Essene opponent who was compelling circumcisions as a method of earning salvation.
Our rent was due yesterday, and we do not have it!
I want to thank all of you supporting this work. I literally could not do it without you!
This work takes hours of my time. As many of you know, my wife is very ill, and I spend most of my time at home as her caretaker. I work at a desk less than six feet from her bed. So I am in a position to dedicate many hours to this important work that I have been directed to do.
But I also realize that it is not the activity of James Trimm alone who is responsible to do this work, it is all of us together who are charged with the responsibility of accomplishing this work. I very much look on the efforts of this restoration work as a cooperative one with each one of you. We are all joint heirs with Messiah and should always be about our Father’s business. I am honored to be able to be partnered with truth seekers as this restoration of Scripture moves forward in fulfillment of prophecy.
Galatians 5:11 implies that Paul advocated for circumcision. Are there any other sources, biblical or non biblical, that state clearly that Paul preached circumcision? I believe Paul only preached against circumcision for new believers, but I would like more solid evidence that my view is correct.
See Circumcision- Token of the Covenant