Biblical Contradiction: Circumcision is or is not required:

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Biblical Contradiction: Circumcision is or is not required:

Circumcision is required:

This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

Genesis 17:10

Circumcision is not required:

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

Galatians 5:2

Explanation:

This is simply a case of removing a passage from its context. By simply reading the rest of what Paul had to say regarding circumcision his meaning becomes clear:

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Galatians 5:3-6

During the mid-first century, (the time during which Galatians was written) a controversial debate was at hand in the Christian church: whether or not a Christian is required to be circumcised.

Paul’s argument was that those who believe circumcision is a requirement are ignoring the New Covenant established by Christ. They are trying to live under the Old Covenant.

In essence, Paul is saying: If you want to live by the Old Covenant, go ahead. But, Christ will be of no use to you because you’re trying to justify yourself by following the Laws.