Circumcision

The question arose in a recent Bible discussion whether circumcision was a covenant or a (Old Testament) law. We will depart from our usual format to do a survey of circumcision throughout the Bible, and examine what we find. This will not be a totally comprehensive survey, calling out every reference, but I will try to hit all the related topics and views. Let’s see what we find!

The first reference to circumcision in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 17. Use the link to read the chapter and get the context; I won’t quote all of it here, but these are the high points:

• v. 9-11 “And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.”

  • Circumcision is definately a command of God, related to His covenant with Abraham. God made His covenant with Abraham above in verse 4, so the covenant was not dependent upon Abraham’s obedience; it was decided entirely by God.

  • God’s command applied to all following generations. I don’t see any reason that even the coming of Christ would have abrogated this covenant. The command should continue in force even today for descendants of Abraham. Verse 13 says “So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.”.

  • The covenant command was extended to foreigners who joined an Israelite household. Verse 12: “…Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring…”. See also Exodus 12:43-49.

• Leviticus 12:3: “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”. It appears here that the covenant command was included within the Law that God gave to Moses. While this passage is primarily about the woman giving birth, it also commands the circumcision of the male child, on the eighth day, exactly according to the covenant command God gave to Abraham.

• Deuteronomy 10:16: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.”

  Circumcision was never just about a mark in the flesh; it was always about the dedication of a man’s heart to God. This thought is not unique in the Old Testament; it was repeated in …

• Deuteronomy 30:6: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”

  The same thought regarding circumcision of the heart is found here also, but it is expanded. Salvation is related to circumcision of the heart, not circumcision of the flesh.

• Jeremiah 9:25: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh.”

  What God requires of His people is of the heart, not of the flesh.

• Romans 2:25-29: “For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

  Moving into the New Testament, we find that …

  • Circumcision that counts for Jews is circumcision of the heart, not circumcision of the flesh.
  • The same standard is applied to Gentile believers.
  • Circumcision of the heart is evidenced by obedience to God’s commands.

• Colossians 2:11-12: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

  A circumcision made “without hands”, having “put off the body of flesh” is a circumcision of the heart. This circumcision is made through faith. We can’t see a person’s faith,but we can see the changes which faith has wroght in that person.

These are not all the verses throughout the Bible which mention circumcision, but I believe we have covered the major points, which I’ll try to summarize here …

• Circumcision was originally a command associated with God’s covenant with Abraham, applicable to all succeeding generations, both natural-born and legally joined. This command appears never to have been rescinded.

• Circumcision was always, even in the Old Testament, about obedience of the heart, being far more important than marks of the flesh. The physical circumcision was to be evidence of the heart circumcision.

• Circumcision of the heart is enjoined upon all believers in Christ, regardless of the presence or absence of a physical circumcision. It is evidenced by faith, and by the changes in dedication, direction, attitude and action which faith creates within the believer in Christ Jesus.

As always, I want to apply these scriptures, and the lessons therein, to myself. I ask myself, what are the visible results of faith in my life? What can others percieve in my life which can only come from faith in our Lord Christ Jesus?