Note 11 at Col. 2:11: Circumcision was practiced to some extent by other nations but it had a special significance to the nation of Israel through both the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants (Gen. 17:11; Lev. 12:1, 3; see note 2 at Acts 15:1, p. 659). The very nature of the act makes it clear that this is not something to be flaunted (see note 8 at Gal. 2:4, p. 1059). It was a very private matter between God and the individual.

Biblically speaking the uncircumcised were identified with that which was unholy and unclean (Isa. 52:1; Ezek. 44:7, 9). In both the Old and New Testaments, "uncircumcision" illustrated a need for the cleansing of the heart (Dt. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; 9:26; Acts 7:51; Rom. 2:29). For Paul to include Gentiles among the circumcision was to include them in the family of God.

This circumcision was made without hands (see ref. k at this verse). That means that it was not done by man and it was not done in the physical. Paul is referring to spiritual circumcision of the heart. This verse goes on to explain that this circumcision was the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh. The sins of our heart were cut away and discarded through the sacrifice of Christ in a similar way that the foreskin is removed from a male. The physical act of circumcision was a picture of this spiritual circumcision which is now a reality in every born-again believer (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92).