Bible Strands
Colossians 2:11
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Colossian believers, positioning the statement between the declaration of their completeness in Christ (Colossians 2:10) and the description of their burial and resurrection in baptism (Colossians 2:12).
The words — περιετμήθητε (perietmēthēte) means “you were circumcised,” and ἀχειροποιήτῳ (acheiropoiētō) translates literally to “made without hands.”
The thread — The text’s contrast of physical and spiritual circumcision runs through Romans 2:29, which defines true circumcision as a matter of the heart by the Spirit; Philippians 3:3, which identifies believers as the circumcision that worships by the Spirit of God; and Romans 6:6, which describes the crucifixion of the old self to break sin’s power.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to abandon reliance on human-performed religious rites for spiritual standing and to accept that God alone removes the sinful nature through Christ’s work.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Cross-references
- Romans 2:29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
- Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
- Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
- Colossians 3:8 But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.