Paul’s Choice of Words

Philippians 3:3

Excerpt

In Phil. 3:2 Paul uses the deliberately offensive word katatomē, ‘those who mutilate the flesh’ (rsv), ‘the concision’ (av). He is not defaming circumcision on Christians (cf. Gal. 5:12). The cognate verb (katatemnō) is used (Lv. 21:5, lxx) of forbidden heathen mutilations. To Christians, who are ‘the circumcision’ (Phil. 3:3), the enforcement of the outmoded sign is tantamount to a heathenish gashing of the body. More

Motyer, J. A. “Circumcision.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible Dictionary 1996 : 205. Print.