Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses.

This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

Any male not circumcised in the flesh will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.

Joshua made sharp knives, and circumcised the men of Israel at the Hill of Circumcision.

Paul wanted to have him travel with him. So he had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in the area. For they knew that his father was a Greek.

Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called who is not circumcised? He should not be circumcised.

Titus was with me and he was not persuaded to be circumcised. He is a Greek.

Behold, I Paul say to you, that, if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

Those who desire to make a showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised. This is done so they may not be persecuted for the stake of Christ.


Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity (ill will), which the law of commandments contained in ordinances. That [way] he might create one new man, out of the two, with himself establishing peace.


Those who desire to make a showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised. This is done so they may not be persecuted for the stake of Christ.

The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. read more.
God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are. The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations. When they finished talking James said: Brothers listen to me: Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree to this for it is written: I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins. I will restore it. (Amos 9:11,12) That the rest of mankind might seek after Jehovah, and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, Jehovah said, who is doing these things. (Amos 9:12) Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Therefore it is my decision not to trouble those of the nations who have turned to God. We should write to them that they should abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled and from blood. Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day. The apostles and elders along with the whole congregation desired to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They wrote letters as follows: The apostles, elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment! It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. These men have endangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things in person. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. You should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farwell (best wishes).


Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say: To Abraham his faith was counted for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them.

Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called who is not circumcised? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Obey the commandments of God.

Titus was with me and he was not persuaded to be circumcised. He is a Greek. This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage.

Behold, I Paul say to you, that, if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision. He is under obligation to obey the whole Law. You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace. read more.
For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision means anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. You were running well! Who hindered you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion did not come from him who calls you. A little leaven, leavens (ferments) the whole lump. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. And he that troubles you will bear his judgment, who ever he is. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then has the stumbling block of the stake been done away?

Remember that you were once people of the nations in the flesh. You are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision, in the flesh, made by human hands.


Behold, I Paul say to you, that, if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.



I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the good news. Therefore I said to Cephas, in front of them all: If you, being a Jew, live as the nations do and not as the Jews, why do you compel the people of the nations to live like the Jews?

Tell me, you that desire to be under the Law; do you not hear the Law?


Christ liberated us for freedom (moral liberty). Stand fast therefore, and do not become entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say to you, that, if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision. He is under obligation to obey the whole Law. read more.
You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision means anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. You were running well! Who hindered you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion did not come from him who calls you. A little leaven, leavens (ferments) the whole lump. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. And he that troubles you will bear his judgment, who ever he is. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then has the stumbling block of the stake been done away? I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision. For you brothers, were called for freedom; only do not use your freedom for an occasion to the flesh. Serve one another through love!


I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation (revelation) (disclosure) of the sons of God. For the creation was subject to corruption, not by it's own will but by reason of the one who subjected it on the basis of hope. read more.
The creation will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and is in pain together until now. We also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption and the release from our bodies by ransom.

Christ liberated us for freedom (moral liberty). Stand fast therefore, and do not become entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say to you, that, if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision. He is under obligation to obey the whole Law. read more.
You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision means anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.