False circumcision (2699) (katatome from kata = intensifies + temno = to cut) literally means a cutting down or (ironically) a mutilation. In the Septuagint or LXX the related verb katatemno is used to describe the mutilation that pagans performed as part of their religious ceremonies. Thus Moses records that the holy people, Israel, "shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts (katatemno) in their flesh." (Lev 21:5) In first Kings we read that the idolatrous pagan priests... cried with a loud voice and cut (katatemno) themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. (1Kings 18:28) Paul labeled these men "katatome" probably a play on words for they attempted to "mutilate" the gospel or cut away it's power by preaching Christ plus ______ (works, Jewish ritual, law, tradition). is closely related to "circumcision" or peritome (peri = around + temno = to cut) meaning literally to cut around. The false teachers had so distorted the meaning of circumcision that it had become nothing more than a useless cutting of the body. Peritome had been ordained in the Law of Moses and did convey a spiritual significance, distinguishing God’s people Israel in the OT from the pagans. When this spiritual meaning is forgotten, then peritome, circumcision, becomes katatome, a mutilation, a butchering up, a mere cutting away flesh conveys no merit or value in itself. Paul says keep watching out for these “butchers”. The almost certainly taught that outward circumcision of the flesh was necessary to salvation. Tragically these deceivers were themselves deceived as Paul made clear in Romans "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God." (Ro 2:28, 29-note) Barclay explains that... There are two Greek verbs which are very like each other. Peritemnein means to circumcise; katatemnein means to mutilate, as in Leviticus 21:5, which describes forbidden self-mutilation, such as castration. Paul says, “You Jews think that you are circumcised; in point of fact, you are only mutilated. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) This false circumcision was the counterfeit of the genuine spiritual circumcision which Paul described in Colossians explaining that... and in Him (speak of the believer's inseparable union with Christ - union created by the Spirit and effected by faith) you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (see note Colossians 2:11) Eadie comments that the blessing described in the verse had been already enjoyed, for they were and had been believers in Him in whom they are complete. Through their living union with Christ, they had enjoyed the privilege, and were enjoying the results of a spiritual circumcision. Why then should they suffer the incision of a sharp flint or a glittering knife—in itself, at best, but a sign—when they had already experienced the blessing of a circumcision that drew no blood, and gave no pain—a circumcision “not made with hands”?" (Ibid) Application Do you see how would this warning might apply to the church? Dr. Barnhouse re-phrases Paul's warning in Romans giving in a more modern "spin" -- For he is not a Christian who is one outwardly, nor is that “church membership” which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Christian who is one inwardly; and “church membership” is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Eadie sums up verse 2 concluding that... The repetition of the verb (Beware) proves the anxiety and stern ardour of the apostle. “For you it is safe,” and their safety lay to some extent in being formally and emphatically warned. Like three peals of a trumpet giving a certain blast, do the three clauses sound with the thrice-repeated verb—beware! That the same classes of persons are referred to, we have no doubt. The same men are described in each clause—as impure and profane, as working spiritual mischief, and as taken up with a puerile faith in flesh-cutting. In the first clause you have their character, in the second their conduct, and in the third their destructive creed. The absurd stress they placed on a mere mutilation warranted the satirical epithet of the concision; but their convictions on this point drove them into a course of mischievous agitations, and they became the evil-workers; then from their belief, character, and actings, they stood out as impure and shameless—as dogs. Men who insisted on circumcision as essential to salvation made the rite ridiculous—Judaized ere they Christianized. To circumcise a Gentile was not only to subject him to a rite which God never intended for him, but it was to invest him with a false character. Circumcision to him was a forgery, and he carried a lie in his person. Not a Jew, and yet marked as one—having the token without the lineage—the seal of descent and not a drop of Abraham's blood in his veins. To hinge salvation, especially in the case of a Gentile, on circumcision, was such a spurious proselytism—such a total misappreciation of the Jewish covenant—such a miserable subversion of the liberty of the gospel—such a perverse and superstitious reliance on a manual rite, that its advocates might be well caricatured and branded as the concision. The rite, so misplaced, was both a fiction and an anachronism; for the benefits of circumcision were to be enjoyed in Palestine, and not in Europe, and enjoyed up to the period “of the abolition of the law of commandments contained in ordinances.” What these persons were may be seen in the Introduction. They might not have done damage as yet in Philippi, but there was a danger of their doing so. Such a warning, repeated, would put the Philippians on their guard and contribute to their safety. (Ibid) Philippians 3:3 for we are (1PPAI) the true circumcision, who worship (PAPMPN) in the Spirit of God and glory (PMPMPN) in Christ Jesus and put no confidence (RAPMPN) in the flesh (NASB: Lockman) Greek: hemeis gar esmen (1PPAI) e peritome, oi pneumati theou latreuontes (PAPMPN) kai kauchomenoi (PMPMPN) en Christo Iesou kai ouk en sarki pepoithotes, (RAPMPN) Amplified: For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances— (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Lightfoot: for we are the true circumcision, we offer the genuine service; we—you and I—Gentile and Jew alike—who serve by the Spirit of God, who place our boast in Christ Jesus and put no trust in the flesh. Phillips: We are, remember, truly circumcised when we worship God by the Spirit, when we find our joy in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in what we are in the flesh (New Testament in Modern English) Wuest: For, as for us, we are the circumcision, those who by the Spirit of God are rendering sacred service and obedience, and who are exulting in Christ Jesus, and who have not come to a settled persuasion, trusting in the flesh [human worthiness and attainment] (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: for we are the circumcision, who by the Spirit are serving God, and glorying in Christ Jesus, and in flesh having no trust, FOR WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION: hemeis gar esmen (1PPAI) e peritome: (Gen 17:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Dt 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26; Ro 2:25, 26, 27, 28, 29; 4:11,12; Col 2:11) Related Resources: Circumcision - peritome (Including Circumcision of one's heart) Scriptures on Circumcision Excursus on Circumcision Of the Heart For (gar) introduces Paul's explanation of why the false teachers (probably Judaizers) just described have no right to claim they are the true circumcision. Observe that Paul's claim that he and the believing readers were the true circumcision is based on the three reasons which follow. Spurgeon notes... These are three marks of the true Israel of God; have you all of them,-worshipping God in the spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh? We - This pronoun is first in the Greek sentence adding emphasis. Paul is including himself with the saints at Philippi, many of whom were undoubtedly Gentile (see Acts 16 for his first European converts - Lydia, the Philippian jailer, both Gentiles as far as we can discern) Robertson agrees writing that we refers to... We believers in Christ, the children of Abraham by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, the spiritual circumcision in contrast to the merely physical (Ro 2:25, 26, 27, 28, 29-notes Ro 2:25; 26; 27; 28; 29; Col 3:11-note :11; Ep 2:11-note). As Paul wrote to the saints at Colossae, when one is in Christ by grace through faith... there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (Col 3:11-note) Similarly writing to the Galatian churches he explained that... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) The true circumcision - The NAS translators added the word "true" which is not in the Greek but it fits well with the context (as an aside this is why I recommend using a Bible translation which is literal and which uses italics so that you know what they have added to the original Greek text - NAS, KJV, NKJV, Darby, et al, use italics. The ESV and NET are both excellent translations but neither use italics) What Paul is saying here is that the circumcision God has always desired is not an external physical circumcision but an internal spiritual circumcision of the heart. Spurgeon comments... This is the real circumcision, which is of the spirit, and not of the flesh. The men who have abandoned all confidence in themselves, the men who have come to rely upon Christ alone, the men who “rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,” those who care not for outward rites and ceremonies, but who worship God in the spirit, — these are the true circumcision. Addressing primarily the Jewish readers in his letter to the Romans (but applicable to all unsaved readers) Paul explains that... he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter (~ the Law); and his praise is not from men, but from God. (Ro 2:28, 29-notes) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_31-6.htm#false