08 - Chapter 7
WATER BAPTISM AND CIRCUMCISION
Some assume that Christ, by his apostles and disciples, instituted water baptism as the Christian successor of Jewish circumcision. Scripture testimony conflicts with this assumption. "The Acts of the Apostles" indicate that these apostles were mostly tenacious of Jewish customs and only gradually comprehended the universal and spiritual nature of Christ’s kingdom in its noon-day brightness.
They looked for a Jewish kingdom with Christ as earthly king, and of course to retain in some way their existing customs.[162] They called all who were not Jews, uncircumcised Gentiles. But few of the apostles would sit at table with Gentiles or eat in their houses.[163]
Peter required a vision before preaching the Gospel to Gentiles, and gave as his reason for hesitation that it was unlawful for Jews to keep company or come unto those of another nation.[164]
Other apostles censured Peter for making the freedom with Gentiles which he sometimes did.[165] Some insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity be circumcised.[166] Some taught: Except ye be circumcised ye cannot be saved.[167] Gentile converts at Antioch resisted circumcision.[168] Paul pleaded the Gentile cause before the elders and apostles at Jerusalem.[169]
After much questioning Gentile converts to Christianity were excused from circumcision but no others were excused.[170] Jews were reminded that Moses was preached and read to them in the Jewish Synagogue every Sabbath day.[171] This reminder in connection with the subject before them indicates that Jews were expected to continue as heretofore to circumcise their children according to the law of Moses which was preached and read to them in the Jewish Synagogue every Sabbath day.[172]
These elders and apostles know nothing about water baptism, being the Christian successor of Jewish circumcision or they would surely have instructed the Gentiles to this effect when they excused them from circumcision. Their silence upon this opportune occasion and at all other times is decided evidence that there was no such succession.[173]
Eight years later, the same old controversy about circumcision brought Paul again before the elders and apostles at Jerusalem.[174]
They re-affirmed their former decision that Gentiles be excused from circumcision but reminded Paul that he (a Jew) was expected to walk orderly and keep the law of Moses.[175] They prevailed upon him to take a vow, shave his head, and enter into the Jewish temple until an offering should be offered for him, because he taught Jews of the dispersion, that they should not circumcise their children nor walk after the customs of Moses. Paul was induced to suppress or conceal his indifference to circumcision but not his pronounced indifference to water baptism.
Thus closes our last recorded meeting of the elders and apostles at Jerusalem with no apparent abatement of zeal for circumcision. To the last they evinced much more zeal for circumcision than they had ever shown for water baptism; and they never in any way recognized water baptism as the successor of circumcision.
Plainly it was not by the apostles but after the apostles’ time that circumcision was discarded and water baptism exalted.[176]
Altho’ Paul ostensibly yielded to the elders and apostles at Jerusalem, yet his subsequent epistles indicate that he remained firmly indifferent or opposed to circumcision, water baptism, and other ordinances, all of which he called carnal, weak and beggarly elements when applied to Gentiles. Paul said he was made all things to all men that he might win some.[177] To the Jews, he became a Jew, to the Gentiles a Gentile.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 162: Acts 1:6; Luk 24:21] [Footnote 163: Acts 11:1; Acts 11:3; Gal 2:11-12] [Footnote 164: Acts 11:1; Acts 11:16; Acts 10:28] [Footnote 165: Acts 11:1; Acts 11:3] [Footnote 166: Acts 15:5-6] [Footnote 167: Acts 15:1] [Footnote 168: Acts 15:2] [Footnote 169: Acts 15:2; Acts 15:6] [Footnote 170: Acts 15:6; Acts 15:20 R.v.] [Footnote 171: Acts 15:21] [Footnote 172: Acts 15:21] [Footnote 173: Acts 15:23; Acts 15:29] [Footnote 174: Acts 21:21; Acts 21:24] [Footnote 175: Acts 21:21; Acts 21:25; Acts 21:21; Acts 21:26] [Footnote 176: Acts 21:21; Acts 21:26]
[Footnote 177: Acts 21:21; Acts 21:26; Col 2:10; Col 2:23; Heb 9:1; Heb 9:10; Gal 6:12; Gal 6:16; 1Co 1:14; 1Co 1:17; Gal 4:4; Gal 4:11; 1Co 9:20; 1Co 9:22]