Paul Adams Comments
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Dear UCG;
My understanding is that the first century New Testament church, Jew & Gentile alike, continued the practice of eight-day-old boy circumcision. A “believers circumcision” was rejected by the Jerusalem council (c. A.D. 52) as being “trouble” and a “greater burden.” (Acts 15:19-28) Eight-day-old boy circumcision is not mentioned in the record of the council except in that Moses “is read every Sabbath in the synagogues,” (Acts 15:21) which would include preaching of the rite.
Some like to say that circumcision was done away at the crucifixion. Someone might find validity in that belief had it come from Moses. But Scripture says, “Joh 7:22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), . . .
As a Gentile grafted into Israel (New Covenant), I find it difficult to believe it has no value to me, salvation aside as Paul says. There is always a spiritual element in obedience, whether known by us or not. Wrong uses of the rite by the Jews does not negate God’s ordination of it.
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