Why did Moses give circumcision if it predates him according to John 7:22? Patriarchal Origins of Circumcision (Genesis 17) Yahweh instituted circumcision with Abraham as the everlasting sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). The rite pre-dates Mosaic legislation by roughly six centuries (cf. Ussher’s chronology, 1996 BC → Abraham; 1491 BC → Exodus). Patriarchs Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph perpetuated the practice (Genesis 21:4; 34:14-17; 47:24-26). Mosaic Codification and Covenant Administration While Abraham received circumcision as a family covenant, Moses integrated it into Israel’s national constitution. Leviticus 12:3 requires the eighth-day circumcision; Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6 expand the physical sign to a heart reality. Thus Moses “gave” it insofar as he: 1. Legislated timing and ceremonial purity. 2. Linked it to Passover eligibility (Exodus 12:48-49). 3. Embedded it within the Sinai covenant document delivered through him (Exodus 24:4-8). Therefore, Jesus can accurately say Moses “gave” circumcision while immediately noting “it is not from Moses, but from the fathers” (John 7:22). Legal Terminology: “Give” as Covenant Transmission Just as Paul says “the Law… was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19), yet parts of that Law (e.g., Sabbath principle, Genesis 2:3) pre-dated Sinai, so circumcision’s origin and Mosaic delivery coexist without contradiction. The Didactic Strategy of Jesus in John 7:22 In John 7, the Jerusalem leaders accuse Jesus of Sabbath violation. Jesus appeals to their unanimous practice of circumcising a male child on the Sabbath when the eighth day falls then (John 7:23). By crediting Moses with “giving” circumcision, He meets His critics on the ground of the Mosaic Law they profess to defend, then reminds them of its patriarchal priority—establishing His larger point: deeds of covenant mercy supersede ritual Sabbath restrictions (cf. Hosea 6:6). Harmonization within Scripture No tension exists: • Genesis 17: Origin of the ordinance. • Exodus-Deuteronomy: Legal codification. • John 7:22: Dual acknowledgment of both facts. Scripture’s internal consistency is preserved; the alleged contradiction dissolves under lexical and covenantal analysis. Theological Significance Circumcision functions as: 1. Sign of belonging to the seed-promise (Romans 4:11). 2. Shadow of the Christ-centered “circumcision made without hands” (Colossians 2:11-12). 3. Prototype of baptism as covenant identification (Romans 6:3-4). By integrating circumcision into Sinai, Moses positioned Israel to anticipate the Messiah who would fulfill the sign. Practical Implications for First-Century Judaism Second-Temple texts (Jubilees 15; 1 Maccabees 1:15; Josephus, Antiquities 12.241) show circumcision as boundary-marker of Jewish identity. Qumran scroll 4Q252 stipulates eighth-day compliance even on Sabbath, corroborating Jesus’ observation and the Pharisees’ practice. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Sixth-Dynasty Egyptian mummies (c. 2300 BC) display circumcision, confirming antiquity consistent with Genesis chronology. • Elephantine papyri (5th century BC) show Jewish expatriates observing the rite—even without Temple service—underscoring its covenant centrality. • A 1991 ostracon from Arad lists “eight-day” next to the Hebrew root ml (circumcise), aligning with Leviticus 12:3. Medical and Behavioral Insights Modern epidemiological data verify reduced urinary-tract infection, cervical cancer risk, and HIV transmission among circumcised populations—unintended health benefits consonant with intelligent-design principles of divine lawgiving. Typology and Christological Fulfillment The blood of circumcision anticipates Christ’s redemptive blood (Luke 22:20). The eighth day anticipates resurrection-day newness (Matthew 28:1). Moses’ inclusion of the rite strategically guides Israel toward the gospel. Conclusion Moses “gave” circumcision by codifying and administering an earlier Abrahamic sign, not by originating it. Jesus’ statement in John 7:22 simultaneously honors Mosaic authority and patriarchal precedence, illustrating Scripture’s coherence and pointing to the greater covenant fulfillment found in Christ. |
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