Q1. Humility

[Irmela]

Acts 16:1-3) Why does Paul circumcise Timothy, even though his principles don't require him to?

Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage. As the father was a Greek he had not been circumcised at birth. But now as Paul wanted to take him as part of the team, he felt that it would be better to have him circumcised, so that they would not be prevented from also appearing in the synagogues. 

Why does Paul "become all things to all people" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)?

This way he can easier reach more people. 

In what ways does the path of serving Jesus require humility rather than demanding our rights?

The circumstances are not always the same. Many times one has to give in and hearken to do what Jesus would have us do. (This cld be different to our normal thinking and starchy way of life) 

[Krissi]

Why did Paul circumcise Timothy?

Paul circumcised Timothy because he wanted Timothy to be fully accepted by the Jews who were converting to Christianity and had not yet understood the more valuable "circumcision of the heart." This was a visible sign of an inward change ... except it's not usually visible. Because of it's invisibility, Paul may have described Timothy as circumcised, making this point in front of Jews so he would be acceptable to them. Had Paul been ministering exclusively to Greeks (who found circumcision repugnant), I doubt he would have circumcised Timothy.

Paul usually would enter a city and first go to the synagogue. Presumably, there were Jews in every sea-facing city, traders and producers of traded goods. Though Jews culturally mingled with the numerically greater Greeks, Paul, himself a Jew, prioritized evangelizing Jews over evangelizing Greeks and therefore went to synagogues in which an uncircumcised Timothy would have been rejected.

Why did Paul become all things to all people?

He was strategic in his approach to evangelism. 

Why humility instead of demanding rights?

Perhaps, by the time of Paul's journeys, circumcision was a way of showing submission ... though that doesn't make sense since babies were circumcised. Among adults, though, the ceremony would have been painful and humiliating, thus humbling.

RIghts are a modern idea. In Biblical times, Roman citizens certainly demanded their percs and privileges ... rights. Paul used his "rights" as a Roman citizen several times to get privileges not permitted to non-citizens. Demanding the rights of citizenship therefore was strategic, a way Paul furthered his calling as an apostle and evangelist.