Titus was not compelled to be circumcised because Paul refused to load salvation with Jewish ritual requirements—justification is by faith alone.
In the transcripts, the question is answered through the Acts 15 conflict: teachers came down from Judea insisting, 'Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.' Les shows Paul rejecting that outright, and Peter backing Paul by recalling that God had already saved Gentiles without requiring them to become Jews. The same principle applies to every Greek believer, including Titus.
Acts 15:1 — This verse records the exact demand that Gentiles be circumcised to be saved—the controversy behind Paul's refusal.
Romans 4:11 — This verse shows Abraham was justified while uncircumcised and circumcision came after as a seal, so it is not required for salvation.
In the Bible, the circumcision controversy is most clearly set out in Acts 15. Acts 15:1 says, 'And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.' This was the teaching Paul confronted when Gentile believers were told they had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Romans 4:11 shows why circumcision is not the basis of righteousness: 'And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.' Abraham's justification came by faith before circumcision was ever given. Romans 2:28-29 further shifts the focus from outward flesh to inward reality: 'For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.'
Les Feldick teaches that Paul was determined not to let circumcision or Law-keeping get attached to the gospel he preached to the Gentiles. He points to Acts 15, where certain men came down from Judea demanding that Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Paul's answer, in Les's words, was 'No way—there's no way that's going to be part of my message.' Peter, remembering the house of Cornelius about fourteen years earlier, came to Paul's defense and testified that God saved a Gentile without ascribing to Judaism, and even before repentance and water baptism. Les also connects this to Romans 4, where Abraham received the sign of circumcision only after he had already been counted righteous by faith while uncircumcised. That makes Abraham the father of all who believe without circumcision. And in Romans 2, Les emphasizes that the circumcision that counts with God is of the heart, not the flesh. For a Greek believer like Titus, the logical conclusion is that he was not compelled to be circumcised because Paul would not let ritual observance be added to the finished work of Christ.
The dispute began because certain men came down from Judaea teaching, 'Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.' According to Les, they also said Gentile believers at Antioch needed to keep the Law of Moses. Paul's response was definite: 'No way—there's no way that's going to be part of my message.' This is the setting that answers why Greek believers such as Titus were not compelled to be circumcised.
In Romans 4, Paul makes the order clear: Abraham was justified by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Circumcision was then given as the sign and seal of the righteousness he already had. Les explains that this ties Abraham to every believer who is not circumcised—'all them that believe, though they be not circumcised.' In other words, circumcision is not a condition for receiving righteousness; it is a later sign for those already righteous by faith.
Les follows Paul's argument in Romans 2 that a person is not a Jew merely by outward circumcision in the flesh. The true spiritual person is one inwardly, and the circumcision that counts before God is of the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter. So the outward ritual that the false teachers were pushing on Gentile believers is not what God is looking for.
Paul's Gospel of Grace for the Gentiles
Les distinguishes the gospel Paul preached to Gentiles from the kingdom message preached to Israel; this is the foundation for why Gentile believers are not put under Jewish covenant requirements like circumcision.
Circumcision of the Heart Not the Flesh
Les explains that true circumcision before God is inward, of the heart, not the outward mark in the flesh—so the fleshly ritual does not determine a person's standing with God.
Abraham Justified While Uncircumcised
Les highlights Romans 4:11 to show Abraham was righteous by faith before circumcision and that circumcision simply sealed that righteousness—so believing uncircumcised Gentiles share in Abraham's blessing.
Why God Holds Everyone Without Excuse — Romans 1:18-21
Come all the way back with me to Titus, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, the Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus chapter 2. Now of course Paul writes this letter toward the end of his ministry, he's only got about another year or two to go until he'll be martyred.
Acts 15: The Demand to Circumcise Gentile Believers
Les reads Acts 15:1 in context and shows that believers from Judea insisted circumcision was necessary for salvation—the very demand Paul rejected.
Paul's Flat Refusal and Peter's Defense
Les recounts the confrontation: Paul said 'No way' to circumcision-plus-Law for Gentiles, and Peter testified that God had already saved uncircumcised Gentiles at Cornelius's house.
Why God's Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Now let�s go on, back to II Corinthians chapter 12, and verse 16, and Paul says, I desired Titus, and with him my sinner brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Walked we not in the same spirit? In other words, Titus didn�t beg for money any more than Paul did.
Paul's Gospel of Grace: From Acts to Romans Explained
Not the heads of the Christian community, probably down in the catacombs already, but instead he still has that heart for Israel. And so he calls for the chief of the Jews, and when they were come together, he said of them, men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, that is Israel, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of t…
Acts 15:1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
This is the false teaching that Paul confronted and rejected when Gentile believers were pressured to be circumcised.
Romans 4:11: And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Abraham's circumcision came after he was already righteous by faith, proving it is not a requirement for salvation.
Romans 2:28-29: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
This contrasts the outward fleshly ritual with the heart circumcision that God actually values.
No. The evidence shows Paul's firm position: when the demand was made that Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, Paul refused outright. Since Titus was a Gentile believer, he was not compelled to be circumcised; the requirement was not part of Paul's gospel.
In Les's account of Acts 15, Paul said 'No way.' He would not let circumcision and Law-keeping become part of his message, because God had already shown at Cornelius's house that salvation comes to Gentiles apart from Judaism.
It means the outward fleshly mark is not what God ultimately requires. As Les explains from Romans 2, the true spiritual person has inward, heart circumcision—of the Spirit, not the letter.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Grace vs. Law — Galatians Chapter 2