Circumcision

Christianity and circumcision

In the Old Testament circumcision is clearly defined as a covenant between God and all Jewish males.

Circumcision is not laid down as a requirement in the New Testament. Instead, Christians are urged to be "circumcised of the heart" by trusting in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.

As a Jew, Jesus was himself circumcised (Luke 2:21; Colossians 2:11-12). However, circumcision was a big issue in the early Christian Church. Adult Greeks, in particular, who converted to Christianity were unwilling to undergo the painful operation.

The ritual was not enforced amongst non-Jewish converts and circumcision was even seen by some as being contrary to the Christian faith. It became a sign of separation between circumcised Jews and new adherents of Christianity.

The issue was debated in the Didache, one of the earliest Christian documents discovered.

Find out more

• Male circumcision
• Didache: the circumcision debate in the early Church
• Judaism and circumcision
• The Bible
• Christian history