Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- BSB Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- NKJV Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
- NASB Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
- NLT For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Circumcision and uncircumcision count for nothing; what matters is keeping God's commandments. The outward badge is replaced by heartfelt obedience.
Overview
Paul strips the old covenant boundary marker of saving significance and relocates true religion in obedient love toward God. This is not a contradiction of justification by faith but its fruit: the believer, made new in Christ, keeps God's commands by the Spirit. The verse reinforces that the gospel transcends ethnic ritual and creates a people defined by obedience flowing from grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Gal 6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- 1 Jn 2:3–4And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- 1 Jn 3:22–24And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
- Rom 2:25–29For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
- Rev 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Col 3:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
- 1 Cor 8:8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
- John 15:14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
- 1 Jn 5:2–3By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
- Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Jer 7:22–23For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
- Rom 3:30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
- Matt 5:19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Sam 15:22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 7:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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