What Does The Bible Say About Circumcision: Should Christians Get Circumcised?

Christians are a diverse group when it comes to the topic of circumcision. Some believe that it is a necessary practice based on biblical scripture, while others believe that it is an outdated tradition that has no place in modern times. So, what does the Bible say about circumcision? And should Christians get circumcised? Let’s take a look.

What Does The Bible Say About Circumcision?

Circumcision is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 17:10-14:

“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. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (ESV)

In this passage, God tells Abraham to circumcise himself and all the males in his household as a sign of the covenant between them. Genesis doesn’t give any further explanation as to why circumcision was chosen as the sign of the covenant, but some scholars believe it may have been seen as a way to ‘purify’ oneself before entering into a relationship with God.

In the New Testament, circumcision is mentioned a few times, most notably in Acts 15:1-29 and Galatians 5:2-12. In both passages, there is debate amongst Christians as to whether or not Gentile converts must be circumcised. Ultimately, it is decided that circumcision is not required for Gentiles, although they are still encouraged to observe other Jewish customs such as avoiding meat with blood in it and sexual immorality.

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:  You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” Acts 15:28-29 (NIV)

The apostles and elders sent a letter to the Gentile churches with these instructions, following a council in Jerusalem. From this, we can see that while circumcision was not required, Christians were still expected to uphold certain moral standards.

As for Galatians 5, Paul is emphatic that circumcision (or lack thereof) does not matter in the eyes of God. What counts is faith and love.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

Other Scripture Regarding Circumcision

“For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.” In 1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV)

In this verse, Paul makes it clear that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is important in the eyes of God. What matters, instead, is obeying God’s commandments. This is significant because it shows that Paul believed that salvation was not dependent on physical circumcision. Rather, Paul believed that all people, regardless of their physical state, could be saved through faith in Christ.

This inclusive message would have been radical in Paul’s day when many Jews still believed that only those who were physically circumcised could be part of God’s covenant people. By stressing that obedience to God is more important than circumcision, Paul was opening the door for all people to receive salvation. Today, this message is just as timely and relevant as it was in Paul’s day. No matter who we are or what we have done, we can always find forgiveness and new life through Christ.

The prophet Jeremiah was known for his scathing rebukes of the people of Judah.

“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” Jeremiah 4:4 (ESV)

This verse uses the word circumcise in a figurative sense, calling on the people of Judah to ‘circumcise their hearts’. In other words, they needed to get rid of their sinful ways and turn back to God. This is significant because it shows that circumcision was not just a physical act. Rather, it was also meant to be a spiritual act. It was a way of symbolically cleansing oneself and turning to God.

Jeremiah was living in a time when the people of Judah had turned away from God and were engaging in sinful practices. As a result, they were facing judgment from God. By calling on them to circumcise their hearts, Jeremiah was urging them to repent of their sins and turn back to God. Only then would they be able to avoid His judgment. This verse is a powerful reminder that we must continually examine our hearts and make sure that we are living according to God’s will. Otherwise, we too will face His wrath.

Wasn’t Jesus Circumcised? Shouldn’t Christians Follow?

“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke 2:21 (ESV)

Yes, Jesus was circumcised. However, this does not mean that Christians are required to be circumcised. First and foremost, we must remember that Jesus was a Jew and was subject to Hebrew Law. As such, He would have been required to be circumcised according to the Law. However, we as Christians are not under the Law. We are under grace. This means that we are not bound by the same rules and regulations as the Jews were. We are not required to be circumcised in order to follow Christ.

So What Does This Mean For Christians Today?

Christians are not required to be circumcised in the modern day. While circumcision was once mandated by the Mosaic Law for all Jewish males, it is no longer a requirement for those who follow Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, he fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Law. This means that we are now under a new covenant

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

—one that is based on faith rather than works

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

As such, we are no longer bound by the requirements of the old covenant—including circumcision.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Christians are not required to be circumcised. While it was once a requirement under the old covenant, we are now under a new covenant of grace. This means that we are not bound by the same rules and regulations as the Jews were. We are not required to be circumcised to follow Christ. Rather, we simply need to have faith in Him.

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