circumcision – Three Minute Bible

September 12, 2025September 12, 2025

Philippians 3:2a – Old and New

a stone bridge between to land masses. The side of the bridge spells out the word "HISTORY." It is a symbolic connection between the old a the new. In the middle of the bridge is the cross and the on the cross is Jesus. (Grok)

For it is we who are the circumcision…

Summary: Understanding what Paul means by “we who are the circumcision” requires a brief look back at the history of the Bible.

In the Old Testament, circumcision was given by God to Abraham and every male that was with him (Genesis 17:10). When we talk about circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament sense, we are talking about something that is uniquely male. Interestingly, when we talk about circumcision in the New Testament sense, it can apply to both men and women.

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

Colossians 2:11 – Cut Off & Born Again

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ …

Summary: Paul resorts to a metaphor that ties in his arguments about circumcision with spiritual truths that we cannot see with human eyes.

I have to confess that I find circumcision a rather awkward topic for discussion. However, since Paul has mentioned it and provided a handy description, we will go with that!

In this passage, Paul equates circumcision to putting off our “whole self ruled by the flesh.”

I wish it were that easy!

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024

Galatians 6:15a – The Meaning of No Meaning

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;

Summary: As Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians, he summarizes his arguments about circumcision rather neatly.

August 31, 2024September 1, 2024

Galatians 6:13b – Getting Points

… yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.

Summary: Why we do things is as important as what we do. Paul unveils another motivation for those who promote circumcision in the flesh.

August 28, 2024August 28, 2024

Galatians 6:12b – Circumcision of the Heart

… circumcised.

Summary: Circumcision is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. In the beginning, it was a symbol of a covenant. In the end, circumcision was a point of contention. Instead of a symbol of something good, it had become a legalistic requirement for something bad.

August 27, 2024August 27, 2024

Galatians 6:12a – Compelled by Whom?

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be … .

Summary: Paul packs a lot into this short sentence. He has been teaching us about the Gospel of Christ, and now he teaches us about the application of that Gospel.

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024

Galatians 5:2 – Complications

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Summary: Paul’s statement about circumcision seems a bit over the top. Fortunately, we have lots of context to help us understand Paul’s meaning.

May 4, 2024May 5, 2024

Galatians 4:9b-10 – The Broken Shell

—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Summary: In this passage we gain greater insight into the threat to the Galatians’ faith that had Paul so worried.

February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

Galatians 2:16a – Challenge Course

[“We who are Jews by birth] … know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

Summary: The Jews that Paul refers to are not a homogeneous group. They are, for the most part, people who have stumbled over the “stumbling stone (Romans 9:32).

February 13, 2024February 14, 2024

Galatians 2:15 – The Godly Goal

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles …”

Summary: Paul is striving to explain to the Galatians why it is dangerous to pretend that we can win God’s favor by something as simple as circumcision.