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Yahweh under the category of the Fourth Commandment, (not the mere traditions of men). The Ju-
daizers were saying in essence, 'don't come near us, we are holier than thou because we're circum-
cised and you're not.' Recall that Peter was rebuked by this same group for even eating (sitting
down to meat and drink - Colossians 2:16) with the uncircumcised. Acts 11:2-3.

Paul corrects this misapplication of the law by showing that Abraham obeyed God's com-
mandments before he was circumcised! Romans 4:

vs. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision
also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

vs. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in
circumcision, but in uncircumcision. [see note 1]

Paul laid the foundation for the above passage by stating earlier in chapter 2:

vs. 14 For when the Gentiles [ethnos -- House of Israel], which have not the law, do by nature the
things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

vs. 15 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing wit-
ness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

* * *
vs. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumci-
sion be counted for circumcision?

vs. 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who
by the letter and the circumcision dost transgress the law?

So, circumcision was a sign of the covenant (later enacted into law) which was added af-
ter Abraham proved his faith by obedience to Yahweh's pre-existing Moral and Civil Laws. (See
Genesis 26:4-5). Because of this, when the divorced House of Israel (i.e., "uncircumcised gen-
tiles") showed the work of the law written in their hearts by fulfilling it ("keeping" it -- vs. 26),
they proved their faithfulness just as Abraham did - without circumcision of the flesh. But those
who were circumcised in the flesh and not in heart were exposed as hypocrites. (See Romans
2:25-27).

Third: back to Colossians, the "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us" can't be God's Moral and Civil Law as some teach, nor even the sacrificial laws. The word
ordinances here (Strong's # 1378-1379) is dogma in the Greek, which is where we get the word
dogmatic, synonymous with 'traditions of men.' It is not the same Greek word for ordinances as
used in Luke 1:6 speaking of Zacharias and Elisabeth who "were both righteous before God, walk-
ing in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord Blameless." That word is Strong's num-
ber 1345 -- dikaioma, implicating Yahweh's ordinances pertaining mostly to the Levitical
priesthood.

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