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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised." What means, "being a Greek?" Of Greek extraction, and not circumcised; for not only did I so preach but Titus so acted, nor did the Apostles compel him to be circumcised. A plain proof this that the Apostles did not condemn Paul's doctrine or his practice. Nay more, even the urgent representations of the adverse party, who were aware of these facts, did not oblige the Apostles to enjoin circumcision, as appears by his own words.
Theophylact of Ohrid
Uncircumcised Titus, he says, was not compelled to be circumcised. And this serves as the most important proof that the apostles too permitted circumcision not as a law, but according to a certain economy, that is, as a temporary measure of prudent condescension to the weak, for the sake of believers from the circumcision, – and that they could not censure the preaching of Paul, whose disciple was uncircumcised.
Oecumenius
"Yet not even Titus, who was with me and a Greek." He says "who was with me" and "a Greek," that is, uncircumcised. Therefore, being uncircumcised, he was not compelled by the apostles to be circumcised, which would have been a criticism, nor did they preach circumcision to the men around Peter; yet, out of accommodation to the believing Jews from Israel, they consented to circumcision. In another way. …
Western Saints
Jerome
But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Gentile, was compelled to be circumcised. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Gentile. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, "But neither Titus who was with me," he shows what resulted from the discussion held with the apostles. And he mentions three results: That he did not depart from his opinion; That nothing was added to his teaching (v. 6); Thirdly, that his teaching was approved (v. 7). Concerning the first he does two things: First, he shows with respect to one definite point that he did not depart from his teaching; Secondly, that on no other point did he depart from it (v. 4). …
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