Apostolic FathersChristianityScholarly ReconstructionGreek / Latin / Syriac textual traditionsShareApostolic Fathers 122Ante-Nicene Christian Library - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableAnte-Nicene Christian LibraryLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Apostolic Fathers 1Apostolic Fathers 2Apostolic Fathers 3Apostolic Fathers 4Apostolic Fathers 5Apostolic Fathers 6Apostolic Fathers 7Apostolic Fathers 8Apostolic Fathers 9Apostolic Fathers 10Apostolic Fathers 11Apostolic Fathers 12Apostolic Fathers 13Apostolic Fathers 14Apostolic Fathers 15Apostolic Fathers 16Apostolic Fathers 17Apostolic Fathers 18Apostolic Fathers 19Apostolic Fathers 20Apostolic Fathers 21Apostolic Fathers 22Apostolic Fathers 23Apostolic Fathers 24Apostolic Fathers 25Apostolic Fathers 26Apostolic Fathers 27Apostolic Fathers 28Apostolic Fathers 29Apostolic Fathers 30Apostolic Fathers 31Apostolic Fathers 32Apostolic Fathers 33Apostolic Fathers 34Apostolic Fathers 35Apostolic Fathers 36Apostolic Fathers 37Apostolic Fathers 38Apostolic 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Ix.—The Spiritual Meaning Of Circumcision.Apostolic Fathers 122ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1He speaks moreover concerning our ears, how He hath circumcised both them and our heart. The Lord saith in the prophet, “In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.”[561] And again He saith, “By hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall know what I have done.”[562] And, “Be ye circumcised in your hearts, saith the Lord.”[563] And again He says, “Hear, O Israel, for these things saith the Lord thy God.”[564] And once more the Spirit of the Lord proclaims, “Who is he that wishes to live for ever? By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”[565] And again He saith, “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for God[566] hath spoken.”[567] These are in proof.[568] And again He saith, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of this people.”[569] And again He saith, “Hear, ye children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”[570] Therefore He hath circumcised our ears, that we might hear His word and believe, for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished.[571] For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because an evil angel deluded them.[572] He saith to them, “These things saith the Lord your God”—(here[573] I find a new[574] commandment)—“Sow not among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord.”[575] And why speaks He thus: “Circumcise the stubbornness of your heart, and harden not your neck?”[576] And again: 2“Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised[577] in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart.”[578] But thou wilt say, “Yea, verily the people are circumcised for a seal.” But so also is every Syrian and Arab, and all the priests of idols: are these then also within the bond of His covenant?[579] Yea, the Egyptians also practise circumcision. Learn then, my children, concerning all things richly,[580] that Abraham, the first who enjoined circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Jesus, practised that rite, having received the mysteries[581] of the three letters. For [the Scripture] saith, “And Abraham circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household.”[582] What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred.[583] The ten and the eight are thus denoted—Ten by I, and Eight by H.[584] You have [the initials of the name of] Jesus. And because[585] the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter T, he says also, “Three Hundred.” He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one. He knows this, who has put within us the engrafted[586] gift of His doctrine. No one has been admitted by me to a more excellent piece of knowledge[587] than this, but I know that ye are worthy. ‹Previous chapterApostolic Fathers 121Next chapterApostolic Fathers 123›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg