Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 3. Circumcised him. Not to obstruct the conversion of the Jews; and because it was still lawful to observe the Jewish ceremonies, though the obligation of keeping the old law had ceased. Witham.—This Saint Paul did in order to gain the Jews, and make Timothy acceptable to them. Tirinus.—To the Jew, says he, (1 Corinthians 9:20) I became a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. If he refused to circumcise Titus, in order to vindicate the Christian’s independence of the Mosaic ceremonies; he now submits to the observance of them, to shew there is nothing of itself bad in them, and that they might without crime be practised, till time by degrees had abolished them. Saint Augustine ep. lxxxii. ad S. Hieronymum.