1 Corinthians 7:19
in 1 Corinthians 7Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
KJV
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
10 notes on this verseCircumcision means nothing by itself, but it was a command of God. On the other hand, uncircumcised is the way God made us, so there is no reward for that either.
This site's exposition
the keeping of the commandments of God
on 1 Corinthians 7:19-20
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God: Paul relativizes the very mark that had divided Jew from Gentile inside the church, neither sign carrying weight in itself, obedience to God the only thing that counts, a verdict that lands as hard on Jewish pride in the sign as on Gentile contempt for it. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called restates the chapter's governing rule in its shortest form, calling here meaning the earthly condition a person held at conversion rather than a vocation newly assigned. The bench reads the pair as Paul stripping away every external badge Corinth might have used to rank believers against each other, circumcision included.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Only as God hath distributed to each man, as the Lord hath called each, so let him walk. Was any one called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Was any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. Wast thou called, being a slave? Care not for it." These things contribute nothing unto faith, saith he. Be not then contentious neither be troubled; for the faith hath cast out all these things. "Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. Hast thou been called, having an unbelieving wife? Continue to have her. Cast not out thy wife for the faith's sake. Hast thou been called, being a slave? Care not for it. Continue to be a slave. Hast thou been called, being in uncircumcision? Remain uncircumcised. Being circumcised, didst thou become a believer? Continue circumcised. For this is the meaning of, "As God hath distributed unto each man." For these are no hindrances to piety. Thou art called, being a slave; another, with an unbelieving wife; another, being circumcised.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Everywhere, he says, together with faith the practice of virtue is required, while everything else is either of little or no importance at all.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing - Will neither promote nor obstruct our salvation. The one point is, keeping the commandments of God; "faith working by love."
Circumcision is nothing,.... In the affair of justification before God, and acceptance with him; it cannot make any man righteous in the sight of God, nor recommend him to the divine favour; it is no evidence of a man's calling, or of his having the truth or grace of God in him; nor is it of any avail in the business of salvation.
In point of acceptance with God, it is neither here nor there whether men be circumcised or not. Note, It is practical religion, sincere obedience to the commands of God, on which the gospel lays stress. External observances without internal piety are as nothing.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Circumcision is nothing ... - It is of no consequence in itself. It is not that which God requires now. And the mere external rite can be of no consequence one way or the other. The heart is all; and that is what God demands; see the notes at Rom 2:29. But the keeping of the commandments of God - Is something, is the main thing, is everything; and this can be done whether a man is circumcised or not.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Circumcision . . . nothing, but . . . keeping of . . . commandments of God--namely, is all in all. In Ga 5:6 this "keeping of the commandments of God" is defined to be "faith which worketh by love"; and in Ga 6:15, "a new creature." Circumcision was a commandment of God: but not for ever, as "love."
Circumcision is nothing - Circumcision itself, though commanded of God, is nothing of itself, it being only a sign of the justification which should be afterwards received by faith. At present, neither it nor its opposite either hinders or furthers the work of grace; and keeping the commandments of God, from his love shed abroad in a believing heart, is the sum and substance of religion.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περιτομὴ | peritome | Circumcision | G4061 → | |
| οὐδέν | ouden | no [thing] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκροβυστία | akrobustia | uncircumcision | G203 → | |
| οὐδέν | ouden | no [thing] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| τήρησις | teresis | keeping | G5084 → | |
| ἐντολῶν | entolon | [the] commandments | G1785 → | |
| θεοῦ. | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
περιτομὴCircumcision
peritomeG4061 →
οὐδένno [thing]
oudenG3762 →232 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
ἀκροβυστίαuncircumcision
akrobustiaG203 →
οὐδένno [thing]
oudenG3762 →232 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
τήρησιςkeeping
teresisG5084 →
ἐντολῶν[the] commandments
entolonG1785 →
θεοῦ.of God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Colossians 3:10–11
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
- Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
- Ephesians 4:24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Through
Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- James 2:14–26
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Galatians 6:15
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Severian of Gabala, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.