Idolatry can Come Even in What God Ordains


Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,”
which is performed in the flesh by human hands
(Eph 2:11).


The Jews circumcise male infants as a sign of God's covenant.  It's obvious that such an act requires "human hands," so why does Paul point it out here?  The Faithlife Study Bible notes, “In the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the ot), this word is used to refer to idols (e.g., Lev 26:1; Isa 2:18; 10:11; Dan 5:4).”[1] 

Interestingly, even though God commanded circumcision, Paul uses the same terminology for idolatry. 

Even that which is good and ordained by God — in this case, a mark to identify a people with God — becomes an object for pride and self-worship.  For a New Covenant application, remember that Paul had to confront those at Corinth who took pride in who baptized them (1 Cor 3).  Our hearts are idol factories, as one theologian famously said, and we mark and avoid this tendency within ourselves.

May the Lord protect us against the idolatry of the heart by motivating us to continue in true faith in Him!



[1] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eph 2:11.


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