Circumcision, which is the removal of the male foreskin, was common in the ancient Near East (see Jeremiah 9:25–26). For Jews, it held religious importance as a sign of the covenant (special agreement) God made with the people of Israel (Genesis 17:9–14; Joshua 5:2; John 7:22; Acts 7:8; Sirach 44:20). They usually performed it on the eighth day after a male infant's birth (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59; Acts 7:8).
The New Testament mentions the circumcision of John the Baptizer, Jesus, and the apostles Paul and Timothy (Luke 1:59; 2:21; Acts 16:2–3; Philippians 3:5). Circumcision also became a symbol for renewing a person's relationship with God (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:28–29). In the late 40s AD, some Jewish Christians wanted gentile (non-Jewish) Christians to become circumcised (Acts 15:1, 5; see 21:20–21; Galatians 2:4, 11–13). But Paul and Barnabas disagreed (Acts 15:2). The Church council in Jerusalem decided that gentiles did not need to become circumcised (15:19–21, 28–29).
Paul insisted that it does not matter if a man becomes circumcised (1 Corinthians 7:19). What matters is faith showing itself through love (Galatians 5:6). In Galatians, Paul argued against strong Jewish opponents and stated that everyone joins God's family through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:14–21). Circumcision is not necessary for God to accept a person (Galatians 5:6). Jesus' death on the cross is how sinners enter into covenant with God (Galatians 2:14–21).
Passages for Further Study
Genesis 17:9–14; Leviticus 12:3; Joshua 5:2–9; Jeremiah 9:25–26; Luke 1:59; Luke 2:21; John 7:22–24; Acts 7:8; Acts 15:1–5, 19–21, 28–31; Acts 16:2–3; Acts 21:18–24; Romans 2:25–29; 1 Corinthians 7:17–19; Galatians 2:3–5, 11–21; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:15; Philippians 3:5–9; Colossians 2:11–23