|
|
Study:
11
Paul
The Apostle, Did Actually Circumcise To Timothy?
According to the Scriptures Paul would have to go forth Timothy with him,
and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those
quarters, for they knew all that his father was a greek (see Acts
16:3). Nevertheless, there is no concordance between the former and
that which is written in Acts
15:1-32, for Paul and Barnabas had no small
dissension and disputation with those who came from Judaea and
taught the brethern saying: "Except ye be circumcised after the
manner of Moses ye cannot be Saved" (see Acts
15:1-2 and Acts
15:22-24).
Wherefore the Church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, to
them which were Apostles of the Lord before Paul (Galatians
1:17) to consider about this matter (Acts
15:3-5). And the Apostles and Elders came together (see John
16:12-15; Matthew
18:19-20) and after a great disputing
with certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, Peter explained
how God sent him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles
for the first time, and these believed (see Acts
10:1-43), so the Lord gave them the Gift of the Holy Spirit even as He
did unto them which were Israelites (Acts
2:4; Acts 2:38; Acts
10:44-48 and Acts
11:1-18), purifying their hearts
by Faith (Acts 15:9 and Acts
11:4-10). "Now therefore why test ye God
to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?. But we believe
that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be Saved, EVEN
AS THEY" (Acts
15:10-11). After, James concluded: "Wherefore my judgment is that
we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are TURNED TO
GOD: But
that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and
from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood" (Acts
15:19-20). Thus the Apostles and Elders sent Judas and Silas with Paul and
Barnabas which brought the following letter: "For it seemed good to
the Holy Spirit, and to us (remember Matthew 18:19-20 and
John 16:12-15)
to lay upon you NO MORE BURDEN than these necessary things: that ye
abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things
strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do Well. Fare ye Well". So the brethern from Antioch did
receive a Great Consolation through that letter (see Acts
15:19-32).
Paul keeping this Lord's Commandment wrote: "But as God
hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called to every one, so
let hin walk, and so ordain I in all Churches. Is any man called being
circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in
uncircumcision? let HIM NOT BE CIRCUMCISED. Circumcision is nothing, and
uncircumcision is nothing, but the Obeying the Commandments of God" (1 Corinthians
7:17-19). For the Law and the Prophets were until John;
since that time the Kingdom of God is Preached (The Gospel for Salvation)
and the Whole Law and the Prophets hang on the following two Commandments:
"Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind; and the second is like unto it, Thou
shall love thy neighbour as thyself" (see Luke
16:16-17; Matthew
22:37-40; Galatians
5:13-14). Therefore, Christ is the END of the Law for
Righteousness to every one that believes on Him (see Romans 10:4 and
Romans 4:3); for, what a person could, can or shall be able to accomplish
the whole Law? (see Acts
15:8-11; James 2:8-11). For as many as are of the
works of the Law are under the CURSE, because God Justifies man by Faith
(see Galatinas 3:5-12). Wherefore: "Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the Law, being a curse for us (for it is written: Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree); that the Blessing of Abraham might come on
the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the Promise of
the Spirit Trough Faith" (Galatians
3:13-14; see also Galatians
3:1-6; Acts 2:1-39;
and Acts 10:44-48). "For in Jesus
Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but
Faith which WORKETH BY LOVE. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye
should not Obey the Truth?" (Galatians
5:6-7). "And I, brethern,
if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the
offence of the tree ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble
you" (Galatians
5:11-12). "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if
ye be circumcised, Christ shall benefit you nothing. For I testify again
to every man that is circumcised, that he is OBLIGATED TO DO THE WHOLE
LAW. You have given up Grace" (Galatians
5:2-4).
Let
us meditate:
Is there respect of persons with God?. Never! (Colossians
3:25; Acts 10:34; Romans
2:11; Galatians 2:6;
Ephesians 6:9); then, why should Paul
circumcise to Timothy "because of the Jews which abode there",
tempting God by doing Timothy to keep the whole Law?.
Reader, do you sincerely think that Paul trespassed God's
Commandment for pleasing men?. If it were on that way, that which is
written in Galatians 1:1 and
Galatians 1:6-12 should be a lie; wherefore
Paul should be a fraudulent worker of Christ. "For do I now persuade
men, or God? or I do seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I
should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians
1:10). A-men.
|