Paul's Concern About Circumcision

Paul was concerned with implementing the old Jewish tradition of circumcision in the beliefs and practice of newly converted followers of Christ. Though he himself had been a Pharisee, and therefore a practicing Jew prior to his miraculous vision on the road to Damascus, he did not feel it necessary. He believed the practice of circumcision had been instituted to provide for the Israelites a symbol, a covenant of obedience between they made with Jehovah. It was an essential physical manifestation of their keeping the Mosaic Law.
With Christ’s coming to the earth, however, the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Him as He himself preached. Paul recognized circumcision as part of this fulfilled law. He believed that the Jews had become so focused on the literal practicing of the Law of Moses, that they had come to forget its original purpose. Its original purpose, as Paul knew and preached, was to teach them to look to Christ. In focusing so much on their belief in the necessity of circumcision, Paul felt the other apostles were completely missing the true significance of conversion.
As many of Paul’s converts were Gentiles, they were not accustomed to this Jewish tradition of circumcision. Paul recognized that the essential and most important component of their conversion was their change of heart. He especially addresses this concern in his epistle to the Galatians, whom he reprimands for so easily being led away from the truths of the doctrines he taught them by the false teachings of others. In this epistle he also addresses his conflict with a few of the other apostles because of their commitment to circumcision. He felt what was important was that these Gentiles had accepted Christ and turned their hearts and lives to Him. Christ had come and established His church upon the earth. It was not then necessary, Paul felt, for his Gentile converts to be forced to first convert to Judaism, and then to Christianity. Paul’s feelings of concern towards circumcision arose from his insightful understanding of what it means to be truly converted to Christ’s church.