Circumcise Your Interpretation

Looking at a text like this should raise a few questions. I think it is an excellent example of how most of us are comfortable approaching the Bible on it's own terms. We are able to understand that there was a specific audience, time and reason for 'Paul' writing these commands.

For example, it is likely the people of Galatia were struggling with circumcision because of it's religious & cultural relationship to their previous Hebrew faith, and some were demanding others become circumcised in order to conform to their tradition & community. Those who didn't were being persecuted. Paul's command that a person who receives it keep the entire law is meant to illustrate the freedom in Christ the believers had from it. We do not apply these verses literally to ourselves today..if we did, then why are the majority of Christians (at least in America) still circumcised.

The point is not whether or not we should circumcise, but that Christ provided the freedom for them to live in a different way, by the spirit.

There is a distinction between what is written to you, and what can be written for you.

What are some teachings from Paul (or other Biblical authors) that you take literally, and do you think you should?

Created 8 months ago