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Analyzing Pauline Traditions

Paul of Tarsus and the Origins of Syncretism in the Christian Church

—  Page 5  —

Who Commanded Circumcision?

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul's view is that Circumcision is of no consequence, with the things of consequence being the Commandments of YHWH. He implies that Circumcision is not a Commandment of YHWH. If, as Paul implies, Circumcision is not a Commandment of YHWH, then whose Commandment is it? Did YHWH command Circumcision or did someone else command it?

YHWH Commanded Circumcision As An Everlasting Covenant

Genesis 17:1-14 & 22-27 reads,

^17:1 When Abram was 99 years old, YHWH appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am Elohim Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. ^17:2 I will make my Covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." ^17:3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying, ^17:4 "As for me, behold, my Covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. ^17:5 Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for the father of a multitude of nations have I made you. ^17:6 I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. ^17:7 I will establish my Covenant between me and you, and your seed after you throughout their generations, for an Everlasting Covenant, to be an Elohim to you, and to your seed after you. ^17:8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim." ^17:9 Elohim said to Abraham, "As for you, you will keep my Covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.
^17:10 This is my Covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you, and your seed after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ^17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a Sign of a Covenant between me and you. ^17:12 He who is 8 days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, and he who is born in the house, or who is bought with money from any foreigner and who is not of your seed. ^17:13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My Covenant will be in your flesh for an Everlasting Covenant.
^17:14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my Covenant."
^17:22 When he finished talking with him, Elohim went up from Abraham. ^17:23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money — every male among the men of Abraham's house — and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as Elohim had said to him. ^17:24 Abraham was 99 years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ^17:25 Ishmael, his son, was 13 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 17:26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. ^17:27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

It is clearly noted that the Circumcision Covenant did not originate with man, but with YHWH. For it is He who instituted it, as a Sign of the Covenant that he had made with Abraham and his seed after him throughout their generations, for an Everlasting Covenant, to be Mighty One to him and to his seed after him. So important is the Circumcision Covenant and Command that YHWH decrees the separation from his people of any male qualifying for Circumcision who is not circumcised. In other words, all males among his people, especially those of Abraham's seed, must be circumcised.

All Of Abraham's Male Descendants Should Be Circumcised

It is very evident that Circumcision is not contrasted against YHWH's Commandments, notwithstanding Paul's comments to the contrary. Circumcision is indeed part of YHWH's Commandments to Abraham and to his seed after him throughout their generations for an Everlasting Covenant. In other words, as long as the generations of Abraham continue, they are to observe the Circumcision Covenant, and their males are be circumcised in the flesh of their foreskins as a Sign of the Covenant, that YHWH is indeed our Mighty One.

Abraham Worshipped YHWH According To YHWH's Word
And Not According To Erroneous Opinions Such As Paul's

It should also be noted that Abraham's attitude toward the Circumcision was the total opposite of Paul's teaching. For whereas Paul was teaching people to remain in whatever state they were in, either circumcised or not, Abraham speedily — in the very same day that YHWH instructed him — underwent circumcision and his entire household with him. And he was 99 years old! In other words, to Abraham, YHWH is to be worshipped in the manner He specifies, not in the manner of our opinions, including some erroneous ones at that.

Genesis 21:1-4 reads,

^21:1 YHWH visited Sarah as he had said, and YHWH did to Sarah as he had spoken. ^21:2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which Elohim had spoken to him. ^21:3 Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. ^21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was 8 days old, as Elohim had commanded him.

Abraham dutifully obeyed YHWH in the Circumcision Covenant. He did not accept the philosophy later taught by the likes of Paul.

Abraham Entered Into The Circumcision Covenant
Despite Having Served YHWH For At Least 24 Years Without It

It should also be noted that Abraham was 99 years old at the time he entered into the Circumcision Covenant with YHWH, about 24 years after the time YHWH called him out of the land of his ancestors and away from his relatives. In other words, for at least 24 years Abraham had not partaken of Circumcision, yet he was in YHWH's service. But once YHWH had revealed to him that he needed to enter into the Circumcision Covenant, Abraham did not waste time entering into it, nor did he argue that because YHWH hadn't required him to abide by this Covenant for a period of 24 years from the time of his calling, he didn't need to abide by it. Abraham speedily did what YHWH now required of him, even though he hadn't done so for a period of 24 years during his service to him. Abraham conduct was totally contrary to the message Paul later preached, of remaining in one's state or condition at the time of one's calling.

From Abraham's example YHWH's servants should learn that they should be ever ready to implement any Word of YHWH that comes to them at any point in time in their lives — even after a long period of service to him without their previously being aware of that Word of YHWH. For so did Abraham, and so should all of YHWH's servants do — especially if they desire to remain in YHWH's service.

YHWH Does Not Tolerate Disobedience
To His Circumcision Covenant Among His Servants

Exodus 4:20-26 reads,

^4:20 Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took Elohim's rod in his hand. ^4:21 YHWH said to Moses, "When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. ^4:22 You shall tell Pharaoh, 'Thus says YHWH, Israel is my Son — my Firstborn — ^4:23 and I have said to you, "Let my son go, that he may serve me;" and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.'"
^4:24 It happened on the way at a lodging place, that YHWH met him and wanted to kill him. ^4:25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet. And she said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me." ^4:26 So he let him alone. Then she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood," because of the Circumcision.

That YHWH met Moses and wanted to kill him, on account of his not having circumcised his son as per the Circumcision Covenant, shows that YHWH does not play about with his Circumcision Covenant. All who are Abraham's seed should ensure that their males are circumcised as per this Covenant — especially if they are in YHWH's service. For YHWH does not tolerate disobedience to his Circumcision Covenant.

Moses' family example is quite a contrast to Paul's misleading teaching that those called to YHWH's service should commence their service without having to abide by this Covenant if it applies to them. If those YHWH has called to his service do not abide by all of his Commands to them, including his Circumcision Covenant, he kills them and finds himself more faithful and loyal servants.

All Of Abraham's Descendants Who Are YHWH's
Servants Should Abide By The Circumcision Covenant

Moses' family example also shows that YHWH may for a period of time tolerate those of Abraham's seed not circumcising their seed according to the Covenant. For Moses did not circumcise his son on the 8th day of his life. Nevertheless, to fully enter into YHWH's service, his son had to be circumcised. It therefore appears that any of Abraham's seed who may not have honoured the Circumcision Covenant should speedily do so, especially before entering into YHWH's service, if they are to preserve their lives and not be cut off from Abraham's seed.

Non Israelites Who Desire To Be Part Of The Congregation
Of Israel Must Enter Into The Circumcision Covenant

Exodus 12:43-51 reads,

^12:43 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the Ordinance of the Passover. There shall no foreigner eat of it, 12:44 but every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he shall eat of it. ^12:45 A sojourner, and a hired servant, shall not eat of it. ^12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth anything of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it. ^12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
^12:48 When a stranger shall sojourn with you, and will want to keep the Passover to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it. Then, he shall be as one who is born in the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. ^12:49 One Law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who sojourns among you." ^12:50 Thus did all the children of Israel. As YHWH commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. ^12:51 It happened the same day, that YHWH brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

It should be noted that the Ordinance of the Passover is one for all the congregation of Israel. Non Israelites living among Israelites are allowed to keep this Passover Ordinance only if they willingly become part of the Congregation of Israel by entering through the Circumcision Covenant. In other words, YHWH does not insist that non Israelites keep this ordinance, or in fact be circumcised. But for those who desire to be part of the Congregation of Israel, and thereafter be fully part of this Ccongregation, as anyone of Israel's seed, are welcome to do so of their own volition. They have the option of becoming part of the Congregation of Israel, but they are not compelled to so become part of it. Of course, if they want to partake of the Passover Lamb, they are to be circumcized first and then eat of it. This is exactly what the Jewish preachers of Yeshua, whom Paul so bitterly attacked, were saying to the Gentiles who wanted to receive Yeshua, "Get circumcized first, and then proceed to it". Paul turned upside down the order that the Almighty had clearly established. Knowing this. how can anyone in his right mind, and with an honest heart, accept the heretical teachings of this ravenous wolf dressed in sheep's clothing?

Should One Remain In The Status Or Condition
As At The Time Of One's Calling?

In 1 Corinthians 7:24 Paul stated that each person should remain in the condition one was in at the time one received one's call from YHWH. Is this what YHWH teaches his people, especially those whom he calls?