Galatians 2:3

Amplified Bible

But [all went well, for] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised, despite the fact that he was a Greek.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

King James Version (1611)
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greeke, was compelled to be circumcised:

King James Version
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

English Standard Version
But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

New American Standard Bible
But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

New Century Version
Titus was with me, but he was not forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Legacy Standard Bible
But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Berean Standard Bible
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

Contemporary English Version
Titus went to Jerusalem with me. He was a Greek, but still he wasn't forced to be circumcised.

Complete Jewish Bible
But they didn't force my Gentile companion Titus to undergo b'rit-milah.

Darby Translation
(but neither was Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, compelled to be circumcised;)

Easy-to-Read Version
Titus, who was with me, is a Greek. But these leaders still did not force him to be circumcised.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But neither yet Titus which was with me, though he were a Grecian, was compelled to be circumcised,

George Lamsa Translation
And Titus, also, who was with me, being Syrian, was not compelled to be circumcised,

Good News Translation
My companion Titus, even though he is Greek, was not forced to be circumcised,

Lexham English Bible
But not even Titus who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Literal Translation
But not even Titus, the one with me, a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

American Standard Version
But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

Bible in Basic English
But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was made to undergo circumcision:

Hebrew Names Version
But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Yevanit, was compelled to be circumcised.

International Standard Version
But not even Titus, who was with me, was forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

Etheridge Translation
Titos also who was with me, who was an Aramoya, was not constrained to be circumcised.

Murdock Translation
Also Titus, who was with me, and was a Gentile, was not compelled to be circumcised.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But neither Titus which was with me, beyng a Greke, was compelled to be circumcised,

English Revised Version
But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

World English Bible
But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
(But neither was Titus, who was with me,

Weymouth's New Testament
But although my companion Titus was a Greek they did not insist upon even his being circumcised.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And nother Tite, that hadde be with me, while he was hethene, was compellid to be circumsidid;

Update Bible Version
But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

Webster's Bible Translation
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

New English Translation
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.

New King James Version
Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

New Living Translation
And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.

New Life Bible
Titus was with me. Even being a Greek, he did not have to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew.

New Revised Standard
But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised; -

Douay-Rheims Bible
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Gentile, was compelled to be circumcised.

Revised Standard Version
But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Also Titus which was with me though he were a Greke yet was not compelled to be circumcised

Young's Literal Translation
but not even Titus, who [is] with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Titus which was also with me, was not compelled to be circucysed, though he was a Greke:

Mace New Testament (1729)
however, Titus who was then with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised:

Simplified Cowboy Version
They all agreed with me. They didn't even ask Titus, who was a Gentile outsider, to have his pickle clipped.

Contextual Overview

¹Then after a period of fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem, [this time] with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. ²I went up [to Jerusalem] because of a [divine] revelation, and I put before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so in private before those of reputation, for fear that I might be running or had run [the course of my ministry] in vain. ³But [all went well, for] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised, despite the fact that he was a Greek.⁴My concern was because of the false brothers [those people masquerading as Christians] who had been secretly smuggled in [to the community of believers]. They had slipped in to spy on the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back into bondage [under the Law of Moses]. ⁵But we did not yield to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would continue to remain with you [in its purity]. ⁶But from those who were of high reputation (whatever they were—in terms of individual importance—makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me [that is, they had nothing to add to my gospel message nor did they impose any new requirements on me]. ⁷But on the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised (Gentiles), just as Peter had been [entrusted to proclaim the gospel] to the circumcised (Jews); ⁸(for He who worked effectively for Peter and empowered him in his ministry to the Jews also worked effectively for me and empowered me in my ministry to the Gentiles). ⁹And recognizing the grace [that God had] bestowed on me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars [of the Jerusalem church], gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we could go to the Gentiles [with their blessing] and they to the circumcised (Jews). ¹⁰They asked only [one thing], that we remember the poor, the very thing I was also eager to do.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Galatians 5:2-6, Acts 15:24, Acts 16:3, 1 Corinthians 9:20, 1 Corinthians 9:21

Reciprocal: Proverbs 28:4 - but John 12:20 - Greeks Acts 14:1 - Greeks Acts 15:1 - ye 1 Corinthians 2:15 - yet 2 Corinthians 2:13 - Titus Galatians 2:1 - Titus Galatians 2:14 - why Galatians 5:11 - if Galatians 6:12 - they constrain Philippians 3:2 - the Philippians 4:21 - The Titus 1:4 - Titus

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Genesis 2:3
So God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [as His own, that is, set it apart as holy from other days], because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and done.

Genesis 2:4
This is the history of [the origin of] the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [that is, days of creation] that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens—

Genesis 2:7
then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there.

Genesis 2:10
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four [branching] rivers.

Genesis 2:11
The first [river] is named Pishon; it flows around the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 2:12
The gold of that land is good; bdellium (a fragrant, valuable resin) and the onyx stone are found there.

Genesis 2:13
The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the entire land of Cush [in Mesopotamia].

Genesis 2:14
The third river is named Hiddekel (Tigris); it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,.... 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But neither Titus, who was with me - Paul introduces this case of Titus undoubtedly to show that circumcision was not necessary for salvation. It was a case just in point. He had gone up to Jerusalem with the express reference to this question. Here was a man whom he had admitted to the Christian church without circumcising him. He claimed that he had a right to do so; and that circumcision was not necessary in order for salvation. If it were necessary, it would have been proper that Titus should have been compelled to submit to it. But Paul that says this was not demanded; or if demanded by anyone, the point was yielded, and he was not compelled to be circumcised. It is to be remembered that this was at Jerusalem; that it was a case submitted to the apostles there; and that consequently the determination of this case settled the whole controversy about the obligation of the Mosaic laws on the Gentile converts.

It is quite evident from the whole statement here that Paul did not intend that Titus should be circumcised; that he maintained that it was not necessary; and that he resisted it when it was demanded; Galatians 2:4-5. Yet on another occasion he himself performed the act of circumcision upon Timothy; Acts 16:3. But there is no inconsistency in Paul’s conduct. In the case of Titus, it was demanded as a matter of right and as obligatory upon him, and Paul resisted the principle as dangerous. In the case of Timothy, it was a voluntary compliance on his part with the usual customs of the Jews, where it was not pressed as a matter of obligation, and where it would not be understood as indispensable to salvation. No danger would follow from compliance with the custom, and it might do much to conciliate the favor of the Jews, and he therefore submitted to it. Paul would not have hesitated to have circumcised Titus in the same circumstances in which it was done to Timothy; but the circumstances were different; and when it was insisted upon as a matter of principle and of obligation, it became a matter of principle and of obligation with him to oppose it.

Being a Greek - Born of Gentile parents, of course he had not been circumcised. Probably both his parents were Greeks. The case with Timothy was somewhat different. His mother was a Jewess, but his father was a Greek Acts 16:3.

Was compelled to be circumcised - I think it is implied here that this was demanded and insisted on by some that he should be circumcised. It is also implied that Paul resisted it, and the point was yielded, thus settling the great and important principle that it was not necessary in order for salvation; see Galatians 2:5.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Galatians 2:3. But neither Titus, who was with me — The apostle proceeds to state that his account was so satisfactory to the apostles, that they not only did not require him to insist on the necessity of circumcision among the Gentiles, but did not even require him to have Titus, who was a Greek, circumcised; though that might have appeared expedient, especially at Jerusalem, to have prevented false brethren from making a handle of his uncircumcision, and turning it to the prejudice of the Gospel in Judea.

To spy out our liberty — The Judaizing brethren got introduced into the assembly of the apostles, in order to find out what was implied in the liberty of the Gospel, that they might know the better how to oppose St. Paul and his fellows in their preaching Christ to the Gentiles, and admitting them into the Church without obliging them to observe circumcision and keep the law. The apostle saw that while such men were in the assembly it was better not to mention his mission among the Gentiles, lest, by means of those false brethren, occasion should be given to altercations and disputes; therefore he took the opportunity, by private conferences, to set the whole matter, relative to his work among the Gentiles, before the chief of the apostles.