Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:19

"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God." — 1 Corinthians 7:19 (ASV)

The apostle’s first application of this principle is to the religio-national distinctions related to being Jews or Gentiles, being circumcised or uncircumcised. In a Gentile situation like that in Corinth, some Christian Jews may have tried to obliterate the OT covenant mark of circumcision. On the other hand, Judaizers tried to force circumcision on the Gentile Christians (cf. Acts 15:1–5; Galatians 3:1–3; Galatians 5:1). Paul argues that this outward sign of circumcision with its stress on the Jew versus the Gentile now has no significance. If a person was a circumcised Jew when he was saved, he should not become uncircumcised. If he was an uncircumcised Gentile, he should not be circumcised. Circumcision and uncircumcision now make no difference (Romans 2:25, 29; Galatians 5:6), but keeping God’s command is essential (cf. Jn 14:15). By repetition, Paul emphasizes this principle in v.20. One should not seek to change his or her station in life.