Galatians 2:3

Galatians 2:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
• New International Version (NIV)Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Context of Galatians 2:3

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. 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. 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].

Galatians 2:3 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ Τίτος ὁ σὺν ἐμοί, Ἕλλην ὤν, ἠναγκάσθη περιτμηθῆναι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• TitusΤίτοςTitos · TitusG5103
• who wasὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• withσύνsun · withG4862
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a GreekἝλλην=ἝλληνHellēn · Greek, GentileG1672
• was compelledἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
• to be circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059

Cross-references for Galatians 2:3

• Galatians 5:2Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation].
• Acts 15:24Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions—
• Acts 16:3Paul wanted Timothy to go with him [as a missionary]; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law.

Commentaries on Galatians 2:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3But 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3But 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The apostles in Jerusalem fully agreed with Paul's message. They all believed the same good news: God's grace comes through faith in Christ, not by following the law. The Jerusalem apostles clearly did not believe that circumcision was necessary for a non-Jew like Titus.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. But--So far were they from regarding me as running in vain, that "not even Titus who was with me, who was a Greek (and therefore uncircumcised), was compelled to be circumcised." So the Greek should be translated. The "false brethren," Ga 2:4 ("certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed," Ac 15:5), demanded his circumcision. The apostles, however, constrained by the firmness of Paul and Barnabas (Ga 2:5), did not compel or insist on his being…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 2:3

• Barnabas
• Bigotry
• Circumcision
• Law
• Minister, Christian
• Titus

In the dictionaries

• Greek
• Titus
• Manius; Titus
• Titus; Titius Justus
• Greek, Grecian, Hellenist
• Add
• Blame
• Bondage
• Circumcision
• Conference

Commentaries on Galatians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings