Bible verses about "circumcision" | Twentieth_Century

²¹ Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus--the name given him by the angel before his conception.

¹¹ Not after, but before. And it was as a sign of this that he received the rite of circumcision-to attest the righteousness due to the faith of an uncircumcised man-in order that he might be the father of all who have faith in God even when uncircumcised, that they also may be regarded by God as righteous;

¹ But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved. ² This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion. ³ The Church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the Brethren. ⁴ On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do. ⁵ Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses. ⁶ The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter rose and said: "You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled me out--that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ. ⁸ Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith. ¹⁰ Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ No, it is through the loving-kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved." ¹² Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. "Brothers," he began, "hear what I have to say. ¹⁴ Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his Name. ¹⁵ And that is in harmony with the words of the Prophets, where they say-- ¹⁶ '"After this I will return; and I will rebuild the House of David which has fallen--its very ruins I will rebuild, and will set it up once more; ¹⁷ That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord--even all the Gentiles on whom my Name has been bestowed." ¹⁸ Says the Lord, as he does these things, foreknown from of old.' ¹⁹ In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ But we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood. ²¹ For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the Synagogues every Sabbath." ²² It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, with the assent of the whole Church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leading men among the Brethren. ²³ They were bearers of the following letter--'The Apostles, and the Brothers who are the Officers of the Church, send their greetings to the Brethren of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. ²⁴ As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds--without instructions from us-- ²⁵ We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear brothers Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ Who have sacrificed themselves for the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing. ²⁸ We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these necessary conditions-- ²⁹ That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.' ³⁰ So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the brethren, ³¹ And delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents. ³² Judas and Silas, who were themselves Prophets, further encouraged the Brethren by many an address, and strengthened their faith. ³³ After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them. ³⁴ OMITTED TEXT ³⁵ Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where they taught and, with the help of many others, told the Good News of the Lord's Message. ³⁶ Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas: "Let us go back and visit the Brethren in every town in which we have told the Lord's Message, and see how they are prospering." ³⁷ Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark; ³⁸ But Paul felt that they ought not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work. ³⁹ This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ While Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord, ⁴¹ Started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches in the faith.

²⁸ For a man who is only a Jew outwardly is not a real Jew; nor is outward bodily circumcision real circumcision. The real Jew is the man who is a Jew in soul;

¹⁵ For neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything; but a new nature is everything.

³ Yet even my companion, Titus, though a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised.

³ For it is we who are the circumcised--we whose worship is prompted by the Spirit of God, who exult in Christ Jesus, and who do not rely upon external privileges;

²⁵ Circumcision has its value, if you are obeying the Law. But, if you are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision is no better than uncircumcision. ²⁶ If, then, an uncircumcised man pays regard to the requirements of the Law, will not he, although not circumcised, be regarded by God as if he were? ²⁷ Indeed, the man who, owing to his birth, remains uncircumcised, and yet scrupulously obeys the Law, will condemn you, who, for all your written Law and your circumcision, are yet a breaker of the Law. ²⁸ For a man who is only a Jew outwardly is not a real Jew; nor is outward bodily circumcision real circumcision. The real Jew is the man who is a Jew in soul; ²⁹ And the real circumcision is the circumcision of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal thing. Such a man wins praise from God, though not from men.

² Understand that I, Paul, myself tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. ³ I again declare to every one who receives circumcision, that he binds himself to obey the whole Law. ⁴ You have severed yourselves from Christ--you who are seeking to be pronounced righteous through Law; you have fallen away from love. ⁵ For we, by the help of the Spirit, are eagerly waiting for the fulfillment of our hope--that we may be pronounced righteous as the result of faith. ⁶ If a man is in union with Christ Jesus, neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but faith, working through love, is everything. ⁷ You were once making good progress! Who has hindered you from obeying the Truth? ⁸ The persuasion brought to bear on you does not come from him who calls you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens all the dough. ¹⁰ I, through my union with the Lord, am persuaded that you will learn to think with me. But the man who is disturbing your minds will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be. ¹¹ If I, Brothers, am still proclaiming circumcision, why am I still persecuted? It seems that the Cross has ceased to be an obstacle!

¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything.