27 Bible Verses about Circumcision, spiritual

nor is that circumcision, which is only in appearance, in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter: whose praise is not from men, but from God.

For circumcision indeed is profitable, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteous precepts of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be accounted to him for circumcision? and shall not the uncircumcision that is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? for he is not a Jew, who is only so in appearance;

and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.

surely of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision also through faith.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:

Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted to him? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also:read more.
and the father of circumcision to those, who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much, every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved. A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question. They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren.read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them. But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they. And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me. ---Simeon hath related, how God at first condescended to take out of the Gentiles a people to his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again. That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things." Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them,

Now the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, those that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them.

While Peter was yet speaking these words, the holy Spirit fell upon all them that heard the word. And those of the circumcision that were believers, who came with Peter, were astonished, that the gift of the holy Spirit was conferred upon the Gentiles also: for they heard them speaking in divers languages, and glorifying God.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was indeed to be blamed. For before certain men came from James, he did eat with the gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews dissembled also with him; so that Barnabas too was carried away with their dissimulation.read more.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all,---If thou, who art a Jew, livest sometimes after the manner of the gentiles, and not like the Jews, why dost thou now in a manner compel the gentiles to judaize? We, who are Jews by birth, and not sinners of the gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to the whole law.read more.
Christ is become nothing to you, whosoever of you are seeking to be justified by the law: ye are fallen from the grace of the gospel. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.

But even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised; and that because of the false brethren clandestinely introduced, who had crept in as spies upon our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we yielded no submission, not even for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles by Christ Jesus; that we through faith might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Ye did run well: who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion came not from him that called you: but a little leaven leaveneth the whole mass. I have confidence in you however through the Lord,read more.
that ye will not think otherwise: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted by the Jews? for then the offence of the cross is ceased. I wish they were even cut off from your communion, that make such disturbance amongst you.

They, who want to make a fair appearance in the flesh, would constrain you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For they, who are circumcised, do not themselves keep the law: but they would have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Beware of those that are like dogs, beware of evil doers, beware of the concision. For we are of the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh.

For there are many disorderly persons, vain-talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; whose mouths must be stopped: who subvert whole families, teaching what they ought not, for shameful gain:

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision not performed by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision which is of Christ: being buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised together with Him, through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Wherein there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free: but Christ is all and in all.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more: having been circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of Hebrews, with respect to the law a pharisee, as to zeal persecuting the church, as to the righteousness of the law blameless: but those things,read more.
which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless and I count all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and I account them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him,

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision not performed by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision which is of Christ: being buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised together with Him, through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when ye were dead in trespasses, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also:

but He that establisheth us as well as you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

In whom ye also trusted, when ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also when ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise,