Scripture portrays God as a surgeon performing a lifesaving surgery. This might surprise many. However, God’s active role in our salvation is well known.

Luke and Paul describe God’s role as:

… he (God) saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy” Titus 3:5

“God … made us alive in Christ – by grace you are saved” Eph. 2:4,5

… the Lord ( i.e. “the Lord our God” vs. 39) was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47

Furthermore, in his letter to the Colossian church, Paul wrote:

He (the Father) delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Thus while Christ made redemption possible, God is the active agent causing people to enter into salvation. Echoing Ephesians 2:5, Paul proceeded in Colossians to reinforce God’s active role in our salvation. “He (God) nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions” Colossians 2:13. Accordingly, God’s powerful working raises up those who have been dead in sin to become alive with Christ. Colossians 2:12  God is thus the One who causes the lost to enter into the forgiveness in Christ.

So what is the basis for suggesting the metaphor of God being a surgeon performing life-saving surgery? Enter an ambiguous phrase: “the circumcision of Christ” Colossians 2:12.  This phrase has launched a variety of interpretations. Why? Because without a context this phrase is open to multiple possibilities. A closer look is warranted.

First, a brief grammatical observation.  “Of Christ” is in the genitive case. The function of the genitive case enables one noun to describe and limit what another noun means.

For example, "the money of Tom" limits the idea of money to Tom. This is not just any money, but rather "the money of Tom."  It might be Tom owns this money. Or it might be Tom is a counterfeiter who printed this money. The simple phrase, "the money of Tom" cannot distinguish between these or other possibilities. Context is needed. What we can know is that somehow this money is related to Tom.

In Colossians, Paul used Christ to limit what he meant by circumcision. Thus "the circumcision of Christ" is not referring to Jewish rituals.  Rather, it is a surgery related to Christ. Yet, what is this circumcision of Christ?

Generally, two possibilities are considered. Some have argued that Christ received a circumcision, a tearing off of the flesh, while on the cross. Neither the immediate context nor the greater context of the New Testament supports this view. Others have suggested that this phrase is describing Christ performing a surgery. Some contemporary translations reflect this interpretation. Yet, context points toward a third and better explanation.

Immediately after introducing this surgery made without hands that is responsible for the putting off of the flesh, Paul describes God’s powerful working in our lives. God takes us while we are dead in sin and in the uncircumcision of the flesh to transform us into becoming alive with Christ and forgiven! Colossians 2:12-13 With this surgery God transfers us into the Son’s kingdom!

If this is accurate, then to what does the circumcision of Christ refer? Through his death Jesus provided the means enabling God to remove our flesh that we might be forgiven. Thus Paul’s phrase describes this wonderful spiritual surgery Christ made possible. God performs the circumcision of Christ upon those who are lost. God is the surgeon. Christ’s death made the procedure possible.

When we choose to rely upon Christ, God performs a surgery. God removes our sinfulness and spiritual uncircumcision in order to make us alive with Christ and forgiven. Colossians 2:13-14.

Like Ephesians 2, this is a powerful text about God’s gracious saving work in our lives. One other detail. Paul describes God as performing this surgery at the time when we are buried with Christ in baptism and raised with him through faith. Colossians 2:12

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Barry Newton

Barry has worked with congregations in Texas, California and Brazil. He and his wife Sofia have two sons. He believes we should love God above all and that to honor this principle will shape daily decisions and silence competing values. Furthermore, we ought to love people in those ways we would like to be treated.

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