www.ArgumentCenter.org - Where hard questions are answered

< OK No. Today’s practices are different from Jesus’ and Israel’s time.

Circumcision was merely a cutting of the tip of the tissue at the end of the foreskin, not the complete amputation of the entire foreskin. Most of the foreskin was retained, protecting the glands of the penis.

< OK Peter forbade it.

Peter was confronted with the circumcision question, to which he referred to his dream.

Then he said:
Acts 11:17:  "If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

Therefore, it looks like it’s true that the Gentiles (non-Christians) shouldn’t be circumcised in this new era of the New Testament.

< STRONG No. Circumcision is not necessary (Biblical).

Rom 2:25,27-29: Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised... The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

1 Cor 7:19: Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.

Gal 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Col 2:11: In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.

Paul makes it clear that circumcision isn't necessary to our faith.

-JM