Since the early days of the Church, Christians have not been required to be circumcised.
Circumcision
Last updated 2009-08-03
Christianity and circumcision
In the Old Testament circumcision is clearly defined as a covenant between God and all Jewish males.
Circumcision is not laid down as a requirement in the New Testament. Instead, Christians are urged to be "circumcised of the heart" by trusting in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.
As a Jew, Jesus was himself circumcised (Luke 2:21; Colossians 2:11-12). However, circumcision was a big issue in the early Christian Church. Adult Greeks, in particular, who converted to Christianity were unwilling to undergo the painful operation.
The ritual was not enforced amongst non-Jewish converts and circumcision was even seen by some as being contrary to the Christian faith. It became a sign of separation between circumcised Jews and new adherents of Christianity.
The issue was debated in the Didache, one of the earliest Christian documents discovered.
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