John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek , etc..] There was such an agreement between the apostle, and his fellow apostles at Jerusalem, even about this article of the necessity of circumcision, and other rituals of the law of Moses, to salvation; that Titus, whom he brought along with him, an intimate companion of his in his travels, a fellow labourer with him in the ministry, and now upon the spot, though he was a Gentile, an uncircumcised person, yet even not he was compelled to be circumcised : the elders did not urge it, or insist upon it, as proper and necessary; they looked upon it as a thing indifferent, left him to his liberty, and made use of no forcible methods to oblige him to it; yea, were of opinion, as Peter and James in the synod declared, that such a yoke ought not to be put upon the necks of the disciples, and that those who turned to God from among the Gentiles, should not be troubled with these things.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from all mixture of Judaism. Thi doctrine would be ungrateful to many, yet he was not afraid to own it His care was, lest the success of his past labours should be lessened or his future usefulness be hindered. While we simply depend upon God for success to our labours, we should use every proper caution to remove mistakes, and against opposers. There are things which ma lawfully be complied with, yet, when they cannot be done withou betraying the truth, they ought to be refused. We must not give plac to any conduct, whereby the truth of the gospel would be reflecte upon. Though Paul conversed with the other apostles, yet he did no receive any addition to his knowledge, or authority, from them Perceiving the grace given to him, they gave unto him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, whereby they acknowledged that he wa designed to the honour and office of an apostle as well as themselves They agreed that these two should go to the heathen, while the continued to preach to the Jews; judging it agreeable to the mind of Christ, so to divide their work. Here we learn that the gospel is no ours, but God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are to praise God. The apostle showed his charitable disposition, an how ready he was to own the Jewish converts as brethren, though man would scarcely allow the like favour to the converted Gentiles; but mere difference of opinion was no reason to him why he should not hel them. Herein is a pattern of Christian charity, which we should exten to all the disciples of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 CONJ ουδε 3761 ADV τιτος 5103 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM συν 4862 PREP εμοι 1698 P-1DS ελλην 1672 N-NSM ων 5607 5752 V-PXP-NSM ηναγκασθη 315 5681 V-API-3S περιτμηθηναι 4059 5683 V-APN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Neither (oude). More correctly, not even. So far were they from pronouncing my labor in vain, that not even Titus was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. Though approving Paul's preaching, the apostles might, for the sake of conciliation, have insisted on the circumcision of his Gentile companion.Being a Greek (%Ellhn wn). Or, although he was a Greek. Const.
closely with sun ejmoi, with me. It was a bold proceeding for Paul to take an uncircumcised Gentile with him to the conference at Jerusalem.
Was compelled to be circumcised (hnagkasqh peritmhqhnai). That is. no constraint was applied by the Jerusalem church and its authorities for the circumcision of Titus. The statement is not that such an attempt was pressed but successfully resisted, but that circumcision was not insisted on by the church. The pressure in that direction came from "the false brethren" described in the next verse.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:3 {Being a Greek} (hellen wn). Concessive participle, though he was a Greek. {Was compelled to be circumcised} (enagkasqe peritmeqenai). First aorist passive indicative of anagkazw and first aorist passive infinitive of peritemnw. Curiously enough some scholars interpret this language to mean that Paul voluntarily had Titus circumcised, instead of being compelled to do it, an impossible view in my opinion in the light of verse #5 and wholly inconsistent with the whole context. Paul means that he stood his ground against compulsion and all force.
