Restoring Abraham’s Foreskin : The Significance of ἀκροβυστία for Paul’s Argument about Circumcision in Romans 4:9-12

• In his discussion of Abraham’s circumcision (Romans 4:9-12), Paul uses the term ἀκροβυστία, or ‘foreskin’, six times, as a key part of his argument. Unfortunately, this term is something of a scholarly blind spot and is often taken as referring only to the absence of circumcision, or to a time before circumcision. However, given Paul’s usage of this term, as well as the metaphor of foreskin in the Hebrew Bible, ἀκροβυστία should be understood as a negative physical presence which marks those who do not belong to God’s people. Paul’s argument that Abraham was justified while ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ therefore specifically concerns gentiles, and does not make a point about πίστις or justification before circumcision. Moreover, awareness of the physical referent of the term shows that Paul describes Abraham’s circumcision as a sign that marks the foreskin. A consistent focus on the significance of ἀκροβυστία therefore offers an important correction to the common understanding of this crucial passage. 

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Religionshistoria (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- History of Religions (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Circumcision

Paul

New Testament

foreskin

gentiles

justification

Romans

nya testamentets exegetik

New Testament Exegesis

religionshistoria

History Of Religions

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