Circumcision In Genesis 1

A discussion on what Genesis 1:1 says would be a short discussion and perhaps only concern Hebrew and English word equivalence. However, to speak about Genesis 1:1, we would need to bring up what the words mean. For example, what does ‘the beginning’ mean, beginning of what? Any attempt to answer these questions will involve a person’s presuppositions (Smith, 14). It is feasible that in the modern Western world, the Biblical passage's beginning would be understood as the Big Bang. This understanding is because regardless of a person’s position on evolution, there is a general acceptance of the universe’s starting point. However, there are some in the Western world that view this beginning as the start of this world only, there was a pre-existence before this beginning (Gospel Principles, 11). This example can show how any reader adapts the
Consider how important the ritual of Abrahamic circumcision is in the Old Testament and consider that, since the 19th century more than 90% of males born in the United States were circumcised. It would be possible for a person coming from another country to discover the high circumcision rate in America and think that it is linked to Abrahamic religious observance. However, the U.S. rate is due in large part to the influence of John Kellogg (George Denniston, Frederick Hodges, Marilyn Fayre Milos, 6). Perhaps this person would question the American understanding of Paul’s statement in Galatians 5:2, “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you” (Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible). In their mind, Paul has just said that that being circumcised negates Christ’s work, ipso facto a male Christian should never be circumcised. This illustration shows the need for interpretation again, God said it and that settles it, is insufficient (McKnight,