CIRCUMCISION: What's the BIG Deal?

 

For young boys here in our country, circumcision is a big deal. It’s not just for hygiene—it’s to avoid being teased! I still remember the mix of nervousness and excitement when it was finally my turn. Circumcision is seen as a rite of passage into manhood. You're considered a young man once you’re circumcised. In the Bible, this practice is portrayed as controversial in several parts of the Old Testament and also in the New Testament. Readers might find it strange to read that circumcision was a major concern at that time. Here are some points we need to know about it:

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁

Circumcision was common in the ancient Near East, but the details and purpose of this practice differ according to culture. In some cultures back then, it was a preparation for marriage. But for the Israelites, it held a special meaning because of God’s covenant with their ancestor Abraham (Gen 17:1–27). When the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, He commanded circumcision as the sign of their agreement. In the covenant of Genesis 17, God promised him many descendants (v. 2), but Abraham had to be dedicated to Him (v. 1), along with his entire household (including servants) and his future offspring (vv. 9–14). The condition of the agreement was that Abraham and his descendants had to be circumcised as a sign of their consecration to God. By fulfilling this practice, the Israelites agreed to and affirmed the contents of the covenant between God and their ancestors.

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Ancient people often saw circumcision as a rite of passage or an event marking a new stage in a person's life, where the circumcised individual was given a new identity and became a member of a group. It's similar to our context, where someone circumcised is considered a young man and included among the group of young men. Because it was connected to the covenant with Abraham, the Israelites who were circumcised were also entering into that same covenant and becoming members of the group responsible for keeping it. Circumcision serves as their identity as members of the same clan. What about the women? Since, in their time, women adopted the religion of the tribe they came from or their husbands, they also became part of the covenant even without going through circumcision. This surgery was done to an eight-day-old male child (Lev 12:3; Lk 2:21), usually using a flint knife (Josh 5:2).

Since this was a symbol of their dedication to the Lord, we can understand why it was a serious matter to God that they observe it. Anyone who was not circumcised would not be considered a member of the community (Gen 17:4). In one instance, God lifted His disapproval of Israel when the men were circumcised (Josh 2:2–9). It seems that Moses was saved from God when his wife circumcised his son (Ex 4:24–25). There were also misuses of this practice, like when Jacob’s sons requested Shechem and his people to be circumcised to pretend they were welcome in their clan (Gen 34:13–29).

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Since circumcision was only an external proof of their consecration to the Lord, what God really desired was deep devotion in following the covenant. This internal conviction is called the “circumcision of the heart” (Jer 4:4; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Lev 26:41; etc.). There were many times when Israel forgot their covenant with God. In these cases, they failed to “circumcise their hearts,” despite being circumcised physically, and so they were no better than the uncircumcised pagans (Jer 9:25–26).

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵

Because the Jews placed such high value on circumcision, it became a major issue when the new covenant through Jesus arrived (Lk 22:20) and the church was born. It wasn’t easy for them to let go of long-standing beliefs, even with the new agreement in place. Some Jewish/circumcised believers demanded that Gentiles/non-Jews must first be circumcised before they could be saved (Acts 15:1–10). For them, a person had to be circumcised (in other words, become a Jew) before becoming a Christian. To resolve the issue, the early church leaders emphasized that salvation was also offered to the Gentiles (vv. 7–8), their hearts were already purified by faith (v. 9), and they were saved by grace (v. 11), just like the Jews. They agreed that it was optional if a Gentile wanted to be circumcised (cf. 1 Cor 7:18–20). That’s why Timothy was circumcised (Acts 16:3), but Titus was not (Gal 2:3).

The controversy over whether a Gentile believer needed to be circumcised didn’t immediately die down. That’s why the topic is still mentioned often in many of Paul’s letters (Rom 4:9–12; Gal 5:2; 2:3–5; 6:12–13; etc.). Some Jewish believers took pride in being circumcised and insisted on its practice to be saved, despite the truth that its importance is no longer applicable! Paul argued that the believers are the true circumcised, for we are circumcised spiritually in our hearts (Rom 2:28–29; Phil 3:3; Col 2:11; etc.).

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For us believers, circumcision is no longer a required ritual. We are not part of the covenant between the Lord and Abraham’s descendants. As people of the new covenant, we are spiritually circumcised by Christ (Col 2:11–12). His finished work not only cut off our sins but also made us worthy to be accepted into His family. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀:

Walton J. and, Craig K. (2016). “Circumcision”. 𝘕𝘐𝘝 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 (pp. 46-47). Zondervan Publishing.
Beck, J. (2013). “Circumcise”. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴. Baker Books
MacKenzie, J.L. (Gen Ed). (1965). “Circumcision” . 𝘋𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. (pp.136-138). MacMillan Publishing.