Paul Is Confused About Circumcision

Paul seems to be confused about circumcision. Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem to figure out this matter.^{(Acts 15:2.)} Some people at the gathering said the gentiles needed to be circumcised.^{(Acts 15:5.)} In the end, they decided that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised, they only needed to follow four commands: Abstain from pollutions of idols [food sacrificed to idols], and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.^{Acts 15:20} Paul was in attendance to this, but even if he was not, the church elders still sent Paul as the messenger with other brethren baring the message from the elders in Jerusalem. As the messenger, Paul should have been familiar with these four commandments, so he could explain them. These four commandments were in the letter as well.^{(Acts 15:29.)}

Paul knows that Gentile converts do not need to be circumcised. Unfortunately, Paul met Timothy directly after these events. Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.^{Acts 16:1-3}

Why did Paul circumcise Timothy? There was no reason for it. Paul knew there was no reason for it. He was just in Jerusalem for the specific purpose of learning what actions Gentiles needed to take. Circumcision was not one of them. But Paul still circumcised Timothy!

Furthermore, in his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul seems to complain that Titus was not forced to be circumcised. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.^{Galatians 2:3} Paul then writes in that same letter to Galatians, Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.^{Galatians 5:2-4}

So Paul, by his own actions, and by his own words, circumcised Timothy, then said that Jesus will profit him nothing! What an evil action it was for Paul to circumcise Timothy, because, according to himself, he made Jesus's death of null effect to Timothy.

Value of this Evidence

This is fantastic evidence that Paul is a false apostle. He cannot keep his own doctrine straight. First, he believes that all must be circumcised, then he believes that those circumcised are "debtors to the whole law." That would not be a problem, but Paul also believes that Jesus has abolished the whole law! He must be a very confused individual.