A Biblical Theology of Circumcision

Karl Deenick

Righteous by Promise: A Biblical Theology of Circumcision
NSBT; Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2018.
Available at Amazon.com

This volume by Tasmanian Pastor Karl Deenick (based on his PhD thesis written at Ridley College supervised by Peter Adam and Lindsay Wilson!) is a biblical theology of circumcision (for a historical study of ancient practices of circumcision see Andreas Blashke, Beschneidung, be warned, it has pictures!).  In many ways, Deenick’s thesis is an exposition of Rom 4:11 that Abraham’s circumcision was a sign of the seal of the righteousness that he had by faith. The issue is that, as Deenick knows, circumcision is more than a sign of faith in the OT. Circumcision is connected to promises, covenantal obedience, sacrificial cultus, cleansing, ethnic boundaries, and even as a metaphor. Also, how does Genesis 15 relate to Genesis 17, is the Abrahamic covenant entirely gratuitous or conditional on walking blamelessly before God? Thus Deenick explores the link between righteousness, circumcision, and faith across the OT and NT. Some good discussions of circumcision in the Torah and key Pauline texts in Romans, Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians. Deenick’s thesis is: “My argument here has been that right from the institution of circumcision, righteousness and blamelessness have been at the very heart. That righteousness/blamelessness is both a present status but also a future promise that is appropriated by humble trust in God’s promise to Abraham of a blameless ‘seed.'” A cutting edge volume (pun intended) that utilizes solid biblical theology to examine tricky subject: what does circumcision have to do with faith and righteousness.