ARTICLE
The Motif of Timothy’s Circumcision in Acts 16:1-5. Historical, Ethnic and Religious Aspect of Timothy’s Circumcision in the Acts of the Apostles and Theological Interpretation from the Perspective of the Early Church Community
Ľubomír MAJTÁN
volume 13, issue 1, 2021, pages 74-94
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsBZYA4222
Published online: 2021-06-01
Published in print: 2021-06-30
Abstract: The assembly in Jerusalem in Acts 15 decided that believers of gentile provenance do not have to undergo the rite of the circumcision. At the beginning of the second missionary journey, however, Paul made a gesture that appeared to be an abolition of the resolutions of the assembly in Jerusalem, since he circumcised Timothy (cf. Acts 16:1-5). Luke does not specify whether Timothy was a Jew or a Gentile, but focuses the readers’ attention on Paul’s desire that Timothy be part of his missionary team. Paul circumcised Timothy because it was to be of help to his relationships with the Jews, as we see in the following chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.