Galatians 2:3
3 But [alla] neither [oude] Titus, [Titos] who [ho] was with [sun] me, [emoi] being [on] a Greek, [Hellen] was compelled [anagkazo] to
be circumcised: [peritemno] KJV-Interlinear
3 But not even Titus who was with
me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. NASB
Now the question that is being presented is beginning
to be expressed.
Was circumcision a requirement for salvation, or
not?
In Acts 16:3, Timothy was circumcised. His father was a Greek and as such he was not
circumcised when he was an infant.
However, Timothy submitted to circumcision voluntarily in order to
remain compliant with the custom of the Jewish culture. Nothing wrong with of cultural respect.
Titus, on the other hand did not submit to circumcision. He too was from Greek parents and was not
circumcised as an infant.
But our verse here states that he was being
compelled to be circumcised in order to be saved.
This Paul resisted, because Titus for one, did not
wish to be circumcised, and second, physical circumcision was not a requirement
of salvation. Faith and faith alone
gains one salvation, not the cutting away of some body part.
So, the question was posed and the Apostles agreed
with Paul, that circumcision was not a requirement. Some pressed the issue as a matter of Jewish cultural
principle, and Paul likewise objected on the basis of spiritual principle. Spiritual principles always win out over
anything man can invent or define.
Circumcision is the cutting away of an otherwise
dead and worthless portion of the male anatomy.
This applies to males only. Typically
done shortly after birth, within a few days.
This is the symbolism of cutting away of a dead thing in ones soul.
Spiritual circumcision is the cutting away of that
which is dead, spiritual death, within the soul. And this applies to all people, both male and
female. Faith is the action of the
cutting away of ones spiritual death, replacing it with eternal life. Physical circumcision is the symbolic
expression of faith, teaching the principle of faith.
While as an infant, someone else is doing all the
work of salvation, symbolizing the work of God, and as an adult, then it takes
a lot of faith to give someone else a knife and letting them cut away on your
private.
