89. Christ's Circumcision, Naming, and Presentation in the Temple

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

Christ’s Circumcision (Question 37, Article 1) #

• The Central Problem: Why should Christ be circumcised if he had no original sin and circumcision was a remedy for original sin?
• The Figure-Truth Principle: Circumcision as a figure of the Old Law is not fully fulfilled in Christ’s birth but in his passion; therefore it was appropriate for him to be circumcised before his passion as a son of Abraham
• Seven Reasons Christ Was Circumcised:
  1. To demonstrate the truth of his human flesh against Manichaean, Apollinarian, and Valentinian heresies
  2. To approve the circumcision instituted by God in the Old Testament
  3. To prove himself of the race of Abraham and heir to the covenant
  4. To remove excuse from the Jews for not receiving him
  5. To commend the virtue of obedience by his own example
  6. To come in the likeness of the flesh of sin and provide remedy
  7. To bear the weight of the law and liberate others from it

The Imposition of the Name Jesus (Question 37, Article 2) #

• The Objection: Prophets announced multiple names (Emmanuel, Admirable, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Oriens); why specifically “Jesus”?
• Thomas’s Solution: Names imposed divinely signify gratuitous gifts. Jesus means “Savior” and encompasses all other prophetic names as different aspects of salvation
• The Multiple Names Explained:
  • Emmanuel: designates the cause of salvation (union of divine and human nature)
  • Admirable, Counselor, Strong One, Father of Future Age, Prince of Peace: designate the means and end of salvation
  • Oriens (Branch/Dayspring): refers to the mystical incarnation as light arising in darkness
• Uniqueness: While others bore the name Jesus in the Old Testament (Joshua, Jeshua), Christ alone bears it according to the universal notion of spiritual salvation
• Custom of Naming: Among Jews, names were imposed on the day of circumcision; the child did not have perfect being before circumcision, just as now infants receive names at baptism

Presentation in the Temple (Question 37, Article 3) #

• Two Governing Precepts:
  1. General precept: Every firstborn male opens the womb and belongs to the Lord, commemorating liberation from Egypt (Exodus 13)
  2. Special precept: After purification days, offer sacrifice for son or daughter for expiation and consecration
• The Objection: Christ did not open the womb (born of virgin); he was always present to God; he is the chief victim to which all offerings refer
• Why the Offering of Doves: Though Christ could afford a lamb (the wealthy’s offering), he chose doves (the poor’s offering) to demonstrate voluntary poverty and identification with the poor
• Symbolic Meaning of the Doves:
  • Turtledove: signifies preaching and confession of faith (talkative), chastity, solitary contemplation, weeping and tears of prayer
  • Dove (columba): signifies mildness and simplicity; congregating nature represents active life and public prayer of the Church
  • Both offered double: holiness pertains to both soul and body

Purification of Mary (Question 37, Article 4) #

• The Problem: Mary had no uncleanness; why undergo purification?
• Thomas’s Resolution: Though not obligated, Mary voluntarily observed the law to show humility and obedience, to approve the law, and to conform to Christ’s example
• Textual Evidence: Luke 2 uses plural “their purification,” which Thomas interprets to include Mary’s voluntary submission
• The Principle: As fullness of grace from Christ was to her as mother, it was fitting that the mother be conformed to the humility of Christ

Key Arguments #

Arguments Against Circumcision #

• When truth comes, the figure ceases (Gen. 17 covenant completed in Christ’s birth)
• Christ’s actions are our instruction; we are told not to be circumcised (Galatians 5:2)
• Circumcision is a remedy for original sin, which Christ did not have

Thomas’s Responses #

• The figure is not fulfilled in birth but in passion; circumcision retained power before the passion
• Christ underwent circumcision while under the law; we are under grace, not law
• Spiritual circumcision through Christ (Colossians 2) replaces fleshly circumcision in the New Law
• Parallel Structure: Just as Christ underwent death (effect of sin) though sinless to free us from sin, so he underwent circumcision (remedy of sin) though sinless to free us from the yoke of the law

Arguments Against the Name Jesus #

• Prophets announced other names; none exclusively foretold “Jesus”
• Jesus was not a new name; many in the Old Testament bore it (Joshua, Jeshua, etc.)
• Salvation came through the passion, not circumcision alone

Thomas’s Response on Names #

• All prophetic names signify aspects of salvation; Jesus (Savior) names the reality itself
• The name was imposed divinely as a gratuitous gift signifying universal spiritual salvation
• Other bearers of the name could have it “for some reason,” but Christ bears it uniquely according to universal salvation
• Example: “The Philosopher” is the unique name of Aristotle, though others could be called philosophers

Important Definitions #

Circumcision (περιτομή): A sign and covenant marking established by God in Genesis 17, signifying the taking away of the old generation and the mortification of the flesh; in Christ’s case, it demonstrates his submission to the law he came to fulfill

Figure and Truth (figura et veritas): The Old Testament observances are figures (types) that find their truth (antitype) in Christ; the figure’s power and status remain until the truth is fulfilled

Spiritual Circumcision (circumcisio spiritualis): The mortification of vices and removal of sin through grace, accomplished through Christ’s circumcision and death; replaces fleshly circumcision in the New Law

Humility and Obedience (humilitas et oboedientia): Central virtues demonstrated by Christ’s voluntary submission to the law despite not being obligated; primary reasons for his circumcision, naming on the eighth day, presentation, and Mary’s purification

Imposition of the Name (impositio nominis): The Jewish custom of formally naming a child on the eighth day at circumcision; significant because names imposed divinely signify gratuitous gifts

Pellicula: The foreskin; its removal in circumcision signifies the taking away of the old generation

Examples & Illustrations #

The Naming Question from Parish Experience #

Berquist recounts being called “Dwayne” by his parishioners despite being christened “Hugo Dwayne.” He noted the pastor objected because Hugo was a saint’s name but Dwayne was not, illustrating how names are traditionally chosen according to saints’ feast days or family tradition—a practice that Aquinas explains according to the principle that names should correspond to properties or times.

The Doves vs. the Lamb #

Berquist emphasizes that though Christ’s family could have afforded the lamb (the offering of the wealthy), they chose the pair of doves (the offering of the poor). This concrete choice demonstrates Christ’s voluntary poverty and identification with the poor in a way that mere precept could not.

Notable Quotes #

“The truth of this figure was not fully fulfilled in the birth of Christ but rather in his passion; before which circumcision had its power and status, and therefore it is appropriate that Christ before his passion, as it were a son of Abraham, be circumcised but not afterwards.” (Aquinas, on the proper timing of circumcision)

“Just as Christ by his own will underwent our death, which is the effect of sin, though having in himself no sin, that he might liberate us from sin and spiritually make us die to sin, so also circumcision, which was a remedy of original sin, he received without this that he had original sin, that he might free us from the yoke of the law.” (Aquinas, on the parallel between Christ’s death and circumcision)

“In all those names, in some way it signified this name Jesus, which is significant of salvation.” (Aquinas, on how all prophetic names encompass the name Jesus)

“Names which are placed upon someone divinely, right, always signify some gratuitous gift.” (Aquinas, on the theological principle governing divinely imposed names)

Questions Addressed #

Q: Why did Christ undergo circumcision if he had no original sin and circumcision was meant as a remedy for it?

A: For seven reasons: (1) to demonstrate the truth of his human flesh against various heresies; (2) to approve the circumcision God instituted; (3) to prove his descent from Abraham; (4) to remove excuse from the Jews; (5) to exemplify obedience; (6) to provide remedy for the flesh of sin; (7) to bear the weight of the law and free others from it. The figure of circumcision was not fully fulfilled in his birth but in his passion, so it was appropriate for him to be circumcised before his passion.

Q: Why was he called Jesus rather than Emmanuel, Admirable, or one of the other prophetic names?

A: Jesus (Savior) encompasses all other names; they designate different aspects of salvation (its cause in Emmanuel, its means in Admirable/Counselor, its end in Prince of Peace), while Jesus names the reality itself. Divinely imposed names signify gratuitous gifts, and the gift given to Christ was universal spiritual salvation. Though others bore the name Jesus in the Old Testament, Christ bears it uniquely according to this universal notion.

Q: Why were doves offered instead of a lamb, which was the more valuable and customary offering?

A: To demonstrate Christ’s voluntary poverty and identification with the poor. The doves also symbolize Christian virtues: the turtledove signifies preaching, chastity, and contemplative prayer; the dove signifies mildness, simplicity, and the active prayer of the Church. The doubling of each bird signifies that holiness pertains to both soul and body.

Q: Why did Mary undergo purification if she was sinless and undefiled?

A: Not from necessity or obligation, but voluntarily, to demonstrate humility and obedience, to approve the law, and to conform to Christ’s example. As the fullness of grace from Christ came to her as mother, it was fitting that she be conformed to the humility of Christ.