Circumcision of Christ in Colossians 2:11 Explained Theologically
Colossians 2:11 states, "In whome also yee are circumcised with circumcision made without handes, by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ" (Geneva 1599) [1]. This verse addresses the Colossian believers, many of whom were Gentiles, assuring them that they possess a spiritual circumcision that supersedes the physical rite practiced by Jews [8, 11].
Circumcision was an ancient practice, appointed by God as a sign of his covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:10-11) [4]. It was a physical mark, a "cutting around" of the foreskin, signifying consecration to God and serving as a seal of the covenant (Genesis 17:11; Romans 4:11) [2, 4]. The Apostle Paul, however, distinguishes between outward and inward circumcision, emphasizing that true circumcision involves a spiritual change of heart (Romans 2:28-29) [2].
In Colossians 2:11, Paul explains that believers have undergone a "circumcision made without hands" [1]. This spiritual circumcision is not a physical act but a metaphorical "cutting away of the sinful nature" or "the body of the flesh" [5]. Just as physical circumcision marked initiation into the Jewish people, spiritual conversion to Christ marks initiation into God's people, with the "sinful nature" being removed [5]. John Gill notes that the Jews considered circumcision essential for perfection, and Paul's statement counters this by asserting that believers in Christ already possess a superior spiritual reality [8].
The phrase "through the circumcision of Christ" can be understood in two ways. Adam Clarke suggests it refers to Christ having fulfilled all necessary rites and ordinances, including circumcision, to qualify as a mediator [7]. Indeed, Christ was circumcised eight days after his birth, demonstrating the reality of his human nature and his submission to the Law (Luke 2:21) [3, 12]. Thomas Aquinas argues that Christ's circumcision proved his true humanity against various heresies that denied his physical body [12].
Alternatively, "the circumcision of Christ" can refer to the spiritual work Christ performs in believers. Charles Hodge emphasizes Christ's true humanity, born of a woman, which is essential for his mediatorial role [10]. The spiritual circumcision believers receive is a result of their union with Christ, who himself underwent the physical rite. This spiritual transformation is the Christian counterpart to physical circumcision, signifying a radical break from the power of sin [5]. Matthew Henry connects this spiritual reality to being "quickened together with him" (Colossians 2:13), moving from a state of spiritual death in sin to new life in Christ [9]. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, draws a parallel between circumcision and baptism, viewing both as signs of a spiritual reality [6].
Sources
- Colossians “Colossians 2:11 (Geneva1599) — In whome also yee are circumcised with circumcision made without handes, by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Circumcision — Instituted by God -- Ge 17:9,10. Described -- Ge 17:11; Ex 4:25. Enforced by the law -- Le 12:3; Joh 7:22. Called the Covenant of circumcision. -- Ac 7:8. Circumcision in the flesh. -- Eph 2:11. Concision. -- Php 3:2. A painful and bloody rite -- Ex 4:26; Jos 5:8. Promises to Abraham previous to -- Ro 4:9,13. A seal of the covenant -- Ge 17:11; Ro 4:11. Introductory Jewish ordinances -- Ga 5:3. Outward sign of -- Ro 2:28. Inward grace -- Ro 2:29. Necessary to enjoying the privileges of the Jewish State -- Ex 12:48; Eze 44:7. Was performed On males home”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Circumcision — Cutting around. This rite, practised before, as some think, by divers races, was appointed by God to be the special badge of his chosen people, an abiding sign of their consecration to him. It was established as a national ordinance (Gen. 17:10, 11). In compliance with the divine command, Abraham, though ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised on the same day with Ishmael, who was thirteen years old (17:24-27). Slaves, whether home-born or purchased, were circumcised (17:12, 13); and all foreigners must have their males circumcised before they could ”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:11: 2:11 Christ performed a spiritual circumcision: Spiritual conversion to Christ is the Christian counterpart to physical circumcision. • the cutting away of your sinful nature (literally the cutting away of the body of the flesh): Just as Jewish boys have the flesh of their foreskin cut off to mark their initiation into the people of God, so believers have metaphorical flesh (translated sinful nature) cut off when they come to Christ.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 98: to them as dwindling down into present and corporeal blessings. If this dogma is received, what remains but that the Jewish nation was overloaded for a time with divine kindness (just as swine are gorged in their sty), that they might at last perish eternally? Whenever we quote circumcision and the promises annexed to it, they answer, that circumcision was a literal sign, and that its promises were carnal. 2536 11. Certainly, if circumcision was a literal sign, the same view must be taken of baptism, since, in the second chapter to”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 2:11: In whom also ye are circumcised - All that was designed by circumcision, literally performed, is accomplished in them that believe through the Spirit and power of Christ. It is not a cutting off of a part of the flesh, but a putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ; he having undergone and performed this, and all other rites necessary to qualify him to be a mediator between God and man; for, being made under the law, he was subject to all its ordinances, and every act of his contributed to the salvation of men. But by the”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:11: In whom also ye are circumcised,.... This is said to prevent an objection that might be made to the perfection of these Gentile believers, because they were not circumcised; for the Jews thought that perfection lay in circumcision, at least that there could be no perfection without it: "great is circumcision (say they (x)), for notwithstanding all the commands which Abraham our father did, he was not called perfect until he was circumcised; as it is written, Gen 17:1; "walk before me, and be thou perfect:" which objection the apostle anticipates, by observing,”
- Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 2:13: The apostle here represents the privileges we Christians have above the Jews, which are very great. I. Christ's death is our life: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, Col 2:13. A state of sin is a state of spiritual death. Those who are in sin are dead in sin. As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the corruption and putrefaction of it, so sin is the c”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 126: substance of the Virgin Mary.” This is involved in the Scriptural statement that He was born of a woman, which can only mean that He was born in the sense in which other children of men are born of women. This is essential to his true humanity, and to that likeness to men which makes them his brethren, and which was se cured by his taking part in flesh and blood. ( Heb. ii. 14 .) The incarnation of the Son of God, his stooping to take into personal and perpetual union with Himself a nature infinitely lower than his own, was an act of uns”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 2:11: Implying that they did not need, as the Judaizers taught, the outward rite of circumcision, since they had already the inward spiritual reality of it. are--rather, as the Greek, "Ye were (once for all) circumcised (spiritually, at your conversion and baptism, Rom 2:28-29; Phi 3:3) with a (so the Greek) circumcision made without hands"; opposed to "the circumcision in the flesh made by hands" (Eph 2:11). Christ's own body, by which the believer is sanctified, is said to be "not made with hands" (Mar 14:58; Heb 9:11; compare Dan 2:45). in putting”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of Christ's Circumcision, and of the Other Legal Observances Accomplished in Regard to the Child Christ, Art. 1: Article: Whether Christ should have been circumcised? I answer that, For several reasons Christ ought to have been circumcised. First, in order to prove the reality of His human nature, in contradiction to the Manicheans, who said that He had an imaginary body: and in contradiction to Apollinarius, who said that Christ's body was consubstantial with His Godhead; and in contradiction to Valentine, who said that Christ brought His b”