Circumcision

The practice of circumcision was instituted by God for His people during the time of Abraham in Genesis 17. It involves cutting off the foreskin of any male child born to Jewish parents or any slave bought by Jewish people (Genesis 17:10-14). This procedure was also performed on any adult male converted to Judaism. It was a sign that someone belonged to God’s people. However, the apostle Paul says in Romans 2:28-29 that circumcision does not make someone one of God’s people if it is only about the outward appearance. He says that for someone to be truly one of God’s people, they must have an inward ‘circumcision of heart’ by the Spirit of God. Paul makes it clear that circumcision is not now a required practice for non-Jews who become followers of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. He argues in several places that non-Jewish people (Gentiles) should not have to be circumcised in order to become Christians (Galatians 5:2, 6:12-15, Titus 1:10-12).