Circumcised and Uncircumcised
(Understanding the words of Paul)
By MBPSTB
Wednesday, 1 February, 2017
4thDotW, 16thD, 11thM
Reading in Jeremiah the morning in the HRV (close to the JPS) and the following verse describes aptly the condition of followers of Christ in these days we are in:
Jer 6:10(JPS) To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is dull, and they cannot attend; behold, the word of the LORD is become unto them a reproach, they have no delight in it.
Then, glancing at the same verse inmy KJV, seeing this:
Jer 6:10(KJV) To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Jer 6:10(KJV+) ToH5921 whomH4310 shall I speak,H1696 and give warning,H5749 that they may hear?H8085 behold,H2009 their earH241 is uncircumcised,H6189 and they cannotH3201 H3808 hearken:H7181 behold,H2009 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 isH1961 unto them a reproach;H2781 they have noH3808 delightH2654 in it.
H6189 uncircumcised,H6189
ערל
‛ârêl
aw-rale'
From H6188; properly exposed, that is, projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically uncircumcised (that is, still having the prepuce uncurtailed): - uncircumcised (person).
H6188
ערל
‛ârêl
aw-rale'
A primitive root; properly to strip; but used only as denominative from H6189; to expose or remove the prepuce, whether literally (to go naked) or figuratively (to refrain from using): - count uncircumcised, foreskin to be uncovered.
I wondered about this in the context of having been puzzled as to why many in the Christian faith have refused to acknowledge or understand anything about the Sabbath, Feast Days and keeping the Torah. Struggled in regard to the words of warning found in Ezekiel about if we don’t warn, then the blood of those we did not warn is on our heads, and the if we do warn and they pay no heed, the blood is on them. How is this reconciled???
Then too, consider that it also is written in scripture that if we walk in ignorance of sin, we essentially are not committing sin in our own eyes, but if we do know about sin and we sin, then we are sinning in our own eyes.
The words of Paul’s letters have always been confusing to me and I know so many others also. But as I have studied the Torah and God’s patterns for redemption and restoration, a small but noticeable ground in understanding his words is gained.
For a long time now, I have tried in vain to reach my Christian brethren with the message that they are of Israel, the lost sheep that Jesus came for. But this has been in vain. I stopped trying to share this message because of the words of Paul found in the Book of Romans. Instead I would share the knowledge but not push, not trying to condemn anyone, just share.
When I saw that the words “dull” and “uncircumcised” were being used for the concept of one’s ears being unable to hear by the spirit, I went further into searching for more instances which supported this context. In the Old Testament there are many occurrences of Moses’ lips and Isaiah’s lips being uncircumcised and taking that into the context meant to be that they felt unworthy, unclean, etc. Those states are considered unholy and not in keeping with one who should be righteous. Clearly it is not meant to be taken literally as a surgical procedure of one’s lips or mouth and must mean something else. We even find this same wording used when speaking of one’s heart and again not to be taken in the literal sense of some surgical procedure. We do in fact “glean” that it means someone who is either unworthy or feels unworthy. While the actual Hebrew definitions of words did not yield anything clear enough, the Greek did better.
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Act_7:51 Ye stiffneckedG4644 andG2532 uncircumcisedG564 in heartG2588 andG2532 ears,G3775 yeG5210 do alwaysG104 resistG496 theG3588 HolyG40 Ghost:G4151 asG5613 yourG5216 fathersG3962 did, soG2532 do ye.G5210
G564 uncircumcisedG564
ἀπερίτμητος
aperitmētos
ap-er-eet'-may-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G4059; uncircumcised (figuratively): - uncircumcised.
Act 11:3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Act_11:3 Saying,G3004 Thou wentest inG1525 toG4314 menG435 uncircumcised,G203 andG2532 didst eat withG4906 them.G846
G203 uncircumcised,G203
ἀκροβυστία
akrobustia
ak-rob-oos-tee'-ah
From G206 and probably a modified form of πόσθη posthē (the penis or male sexual organ); the prepuce; by implication an uncircumcised (that is, gentile, figuratively unregenerate) state or person: - not circumcised, uncircumcised [with G2192], uncircumcision.
Circumcised (Called to keep Torah, Sabbath and Feast Days)
Uncircumcised (Remaining in Christianity plainly)
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
To be “circumcised” is to enter in to Covenant just as Abraham did and it became part of Torah for Israel. While a physical act was performed on the hidden part of a man, it is the spiritual aspect and importance we desire to focus on. The heart of Israel becomes circumcised when they as individuals, enter in to this Covenant, the Torah, the keeping of the Ten commandments, etc. Once this takes place, it is not to be undone, one cannot back out. This is what Paul meant by the underlined words above.
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
The second half of this verse has Paul addressing those called in “uncircumcision”. Called into….some are called to circumcision, some called to uncircumcision.
IF we accept what Paul is saying as he uses these terms we see how they can be deemed two distinct groups called in different ways, and we see this in his subsequent message:
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Live and let live. Christians don’t typically come against the Jewish people for their beliefs, yet they will take immediate offense to their own Christian brethren who have crossed over. Paul has instructed to NOT do that.
The same can be said of orthodox Judaism when their own come to receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah. They should NOT rail against them.
And SO, Judaism should not reject the Torah and Christians should not reject Jesus and those who have come out of each place and embraced BOTH Jesus AND His Torah, should keep praying for their brethren and be blessed as the firstfruits of the prophecies being fulfilled.
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