On its own, the physical sign of circumcision is no guarantee of finding favour in the sight of God. It was intended to be the outward sign of inward consecration and should be accompanied by repentance, faith and obedience. Paul stresses that circumcision confers no special privileges upon individuals; it is faith in God, rather than any outward sign, that ensures that believers stand in a right relationship to God.
Physical circumcision has no value without the obedience of the heart
Deuteronomy 30:6 See also Deuteronomy 10:14–16; Jeremiah 4:4Romans 2:28–29 See also Romans 2:25–27; 1 Corinthians 7:19
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
Circumcision and faith
Galatians 5:6 See also Romans 3:30
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
Abraham's righteousness depended on his faith, not on the covenant of circumcision
Galatians 3:6; Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:9–12
Paul values the law as part of God's plan
The sharp debate about circumcision for Christians
The Council of Jerusalem
Jewish Christians in Jerusalem criticise Peter for accepting hospitality from Cornelius and his (uncircumcised) friends
God's acceptance of uncircumcised Gentiles is clear from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them
Acts 10:44–46 See also Acts 10:34
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
Peter's misgivings about Gentile believers and the law
Galatians 2:11–16 the dispute between Paul and Peter
Imposing circumcision upon Gentile Christians denies the freedom of the gospel
Galatians 5:1–6 To insist on circumcision is to nullify the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. See also Galatians 2:3–5, Galatians 3:14
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
``Judaisers'' should be resisted
Galatians 5:7–12, Galatians 6:12–13, Galatians 6:15; Philippians 3:2–3; Titus 1:10–11
To be ``in Christ'' is to be spiritually circumcised
Colossians 2:11–12 See also Colossians 3:11
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Paul's confidence in Jesus Christ
The relationship between baptism and circumcision in the NT
Colossians 2:11–13 Both circumcision and baptism may each be described as a “seal”. Baptism signifies entry into the new covenant in the same way that circumcision marked initiation into the old; Romans 4:11 Abraham the father of all believers; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Ephesians 1:13
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.