The Apostles at Jerusalem Decide the Issue of Circumcision
Acts 15:6–11
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“Unity in doctrine and practice is an absolute essential within the true Church. One branch of the Church cannot cleave to one standard and another to a different one. Either circumcision is essential to salvation or it is not, and different groups within the Church do not have power to make their own choice in the matter. And so it is with baptism, miracles, Church organization, and all of the doctrines of the kingdom—there can be only one true standard. . . .
“With insight and inspiration Peter strikes at the heart of the controversy over circumcision. It is not circumcision as such, but rather: Can the gospel be offered to uncircumcised Gentiles or is it limited to circumcised Israel? Are people who do not keep the law of Moses eligible to inherit the blessings of salvation which Christ came to bring? Who can be saved through the gospel—those (according to the view of believing Pharisees) in whose flesh is found the token of the covenant God made with Abraham, or people (in the view of Paul and Barnabas) among all nations and kindreds? Is salvation in Moses or in Christ? And since these are the issues, there really is nothing to decide. God has already spoken on the matter. Peter himself has received the revelation. The gospel is for all men and therefore circumcision—with all that it symbolizes—is not essential to salvation.”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:139–40, 142–43.)
