Given the foundational importance of circumcision in the OT and its prevalence in numerous debates in the NT, it is surprising that so little detailed work has been done on establishing a biblical theology of circumcision. This lack is even more surprising given that circumcision forms the background for some of the most hotly contested writings of the apostle Paul. The biblical material on circumcision seems to present vastly different and even apparently contradictory pictures of what circumcision means. The two key biblical concepts of righteousness and faith are closely linked to circumcision in debates carried on in Paul's letters and the early church. Karl Deenick shows that these two concepts are central to both the NT understanding and the developing OT understanding of circumcision. They are held together by the unfolding promise of a blameless 'seed of Abraham' through whose sacrifice the promised righteousness will finally come - a righteousness which will be enjoyed by those who trust in God's promise. Physical circumcision signified the goal of walking blamelessly before Yahweh, but it also represented the hope that Yahweh would provide a blameless seed through whom he would bring about that blamelessness in those who were not blameless/righteous. Circumcision of the heart is the appropriation of that promise by faith. It is the willing allegiance to Yahweh and the trust that Yahweh both forgives and makes righteous through the promised seed of Abraham.

Baptism is a subject which has caused confusion amongst Christians for many years. Jesus included it in his final charge to the disciples. It is clearly important, so why do we spend so much time arguing about it? Baptism is a God-given sign, not to obscure the gospel, but to make it clearer. Karl Deenick explains not only what baptism is, what it isn't, and who should be baptised, but he follows the threads of symbolic cleansing through both the Old and New Testaments. He explains and exalts the gospel and shows how the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus and how he fulfils the Old Testament.

Given the foundational importance of circumcision in the Old Testament and its prevalence in numerous debates in the New Testament, it is surprising that so little detailed work has been done on establishing a biblical theology of circumcision. This lack is even more surprising given that circumcision forms the background for some of the most hotly contested writings of the apostle Paul. The situation is complicated by the fact that the biblical material on circumcision seems to present often quite different and even apparently contradictory pictures of what circumcision means. Two of the key biblical concepts which are closely linked to circumcision in the debates carried on in Paul's letters and the early church are righteousness and faith. In this NSBT volume, Karl Deenick shows that these two concepts are central to both the New Testament understanding and the developing Old Testament understanding of circumcision. They are held together by the unfolding promise of a blameless "seed of Abraham," Jesus Christ, through whose sacrifice the promised righteousness will finally come--a righteousness which will be enjoyed by those whose hearts are circumcised, who trust in God's promise. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.