Treatise on the Incarnation
Question. 37 - OF CHRIST'S CIRCUMCISION, AND OF THE OTHER LEGAL OBSERVANCES ACCOMPLISHED IN REGARD TO THE CHILD CHRIST (FOUR ARTICLES)
We must now consider Christ's circumcision. And since the circumcision
is a kind of profession of observing the Law, according to Gal. 5:3: "I
testify . . . to every man circumcising himself that he is a debtor to
do the whole Law," we shall have at the same time to inquire about the
other legal observances accomplished in regard to the Child Christ. Therefore there are four points of inquiry:
(1) His circumcision;
(2) The imposition of His name;
(3) His presentation;
(4) His Mother's purification.
Art. 1 - Whether Christ should have been circumcised?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ should not have been
circumcised. For on the advent of the reality, the figure ceases. But
circumcision was prescribed to Abraham as a sign of the covenant
concerning his posterity, as may be seen from Gn. 17. Now this covenant
was fulfilled in Christ's birth. Therefore circumcision should have
ceased at once.
Objection 2: Further, "every action of Christ is a lesson to us" [*Innoc. III, Serm. xxii de Temp.]; wherefore it is written (Jn. 3:15): "I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also." But we ought not to be circumcised; according to Gal. 5:2: "If you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Therefore it seems that neither should Christ have been circumcised.
Objection 3: Further, circumcision was prescribed as a remedy of
original sin. But Christ did not contract original sin, as stated above
([4191]Q[14], A[3];[4192] Q[15], A[1]). Therefore Christ should not
have been circumcised.
On the contrary, It is written (Lk. 2:21): "After eight days were
accomplished, that the child should be circumcised."
I answer that, For several reasons Christ ought to have been
circumcised. First, in order to prove the reality of His human nature, in contradiction to the Manicheans, who said that He had an imaginary body: and in contradiction to Apollinarius, who said that Christ's body was consubstantial with His Godhead; and in contradiction to Valentine, who said that Christ brought His body from heaven. Secondly, in order to show His approval of circumcision, which God had instituted of old. Thirdly, in order to prove that He was descended from Abraham, who had received the commandment of circumcision as a sign of his faith in Him. Fourthly, in order to take away from the Jews an excuse for not receiving Him, if He were uncircumcised. Fifthly, "in order by His example to exhort us to be obedient" [*Bede, Hom. x in Evang.]. Wherefore He was circumcised on the eighth day according to the prescription of the Law (Lev. 12:3). Sixthly, "that He who had come in the likeness of sinful flesh might not reject the remedy whereby sinful flesh was wont to be healed." Seventhly, that by taking on Himself the burden of the Law, He might set others free therefrom, according to Gal. 4:4,5: "God sent His Son . . . made under the Law, that He might redeem them who were under the Law."
Reply to Objection 1: Circumcision by the removal of the piece of skin
in the member of generation, signified "the passing away of the old
generation" [*Athanasius, De Sabb. et Circumcis.]: from the decrepitude
of which we are freed by Christ's Passion. Consequently this figure was
not completely fulfilled in Christ's birth, but in His Passion, until
which time the circumcision retained its virtue and status. Therefore
it behooved Christ to be circumcised as a son of Abraham before His
Passion.
Reply to Objection 2: Christ submitted to circumcision while it was yet
of obligation. And thus His action in this should be imitated by us, in
fulfilling those things which are of obligation in our own time. Because "there is a time and opportunity for every business" (Eccl 8:6).
Moreover, according to Origen (Hom. xiv in Luc.), "as we died when He
died, and rose again when Christ rose from the dead, so were we
circumcised spiritually through Christ: wherefore we need no carnal
circumcision." And this is what the Apostle says (Col. 2:11): "In
whom," [i.e. Christ] "you are circumcised with circumcision not made by
hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision
of" our Lord Jesus "Christ."