RIGHTEOUS BY PROMISE
A biblical theology of circumcision
By Karl Deenick
Apollos/IVP. 249 pages. £14.95
ISBN 978 1 783 596 010
This book is very deceptive. It is a bit like entering the Tardis and being amazed at what lies within!
A detailed analysis of the biblical material on circumcision is long overdue and I, for one, am glad that the author’s PhD thesis has been made available in this format to a wider readership. Dr Deenick is a Tasmanian pastor and guest lecturer at the Reformed Theological College, Melbourne.
Starting with Paul
The starting point for this fascinating study is Paul’s statement concerning Abraham in Romans 4:11 where circumcision is connected particularly to the themes of righteousness and faith. Our author shows that this was no Pauline invention, but integral to the whole biblical revelation concerning the significance of circumcision.
A second chapter contains an examination of the first reference to circumcision (Genesis 17), which is seen in the context of the divine command to walk before God and be blame-less/righteous. But it is noted that prior to the command and covenant sign being given, Abraham was already reckoned righteous on account of his faith in God’s promised seed. The covenant sign comes to indicate that it is through a blameless/righteous male seed of Davidic descent that God would fulfil his promise, one who would walk before God and be the blameless substitute, typified in the law by the unblemished animal sacrifices. Crucial to his argument is the author’s insistence that in the moral/religious sense the Hebrew word translated ‘whole/complete’ means ‘blameless’ or ‘morally perfect’ and is synonymous with being ‘righteous’.
The glory of Christ
Chapter three considers physical and metaphorical references to circumcision in the rest of the Old Testament, with particular attention given to Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 30, Joshua 5 and Exodus 4.24-26. Parts of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Habakkuk are also brought into the argument. All are used to support Deenick’s contention that circumcision is associated with faith, repentance, sacrifice, blameless-ness/righteousness and the promised seed.
A fourth chapter begins looking at the New Testament evidence. Special consideration is given to the themes of ‘walking’ and ‘being blameless’, prior to examining the important Philippians 3 passage plus verses from Colossians 2 and Ephesians 2. Two chapters focus on Paul’s argument in Romans 2-4 and the message of Galatians before the concluding chapter, which seeks to draw together all the threads and emphasises how the gospel promise concerning right-eousness/blamelessness lies at the very heart of the institution of circumcision. With the coming of the Messiah, the seed of Abraham, it would be missing the point and a denial of the gospel to embrace circumcision.
It is a demanding read and there are places where the argument could have been expressed better. I admired his reverent approach to Scripture and his testimony that his studies had moved him to tears at the glory of Christ (p. xi). Pastors will find fresh light on many intriguing parts of Scripture and those attracted to the main subject and the associated themes, especially in the light of modern views on justification, will be interested in the author’s findings. The study is a worthy addition to the silver-backed Biblical Theology series edited by Don Carson.
