I don't completely know what's going on in the Greek in that verse*, but I'm not sure that his disdain is directed at circumcision as much as it is false circumcision. He does, later (?), direct even Timothy to be circumcised. Paul is clear throughout his writing that he can't stand people who *insist* on physical circumcision as a means to belonging to the Way. As for the act itself, I'm not sure he has disdain for it.
*I looked it up, but would need someone else's help with it. The Greek itself uses only one word for circumcision there and it apparently means "false circumcision."
“Watch out for those who insist on circumcision, which is really mutilation.”
Sometimes I think we miss the significance of stuff like this. It used to be everything. Now Paul speaks of it with disdain.
I don't completely know what's going on in the Greek in that verse*, but I'm not sure that his disdain is directed at circumcision as much as it is false circumcision. He does, later (?), direct even Timothy to be circumcised. Paul is clear throughout his writing that he can't stand people who *insist* on physical circumcision as a means to belonging to the Way. As for the act itself, I'm not sure he has disdain for it.
*I looked it up, but would need someone else's help with it. The Greek itself uses only one word for circumcision there and it apparently means "false circumcision."
Thank you for the clarification. Your explanation seems plausible, and makes more sense than how I read it, given Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.