After this, Celsus, without condemning circumcision as practised by the
Jews, asserts that this usage was derived from the Egyptians; thus
believing the Egyptians rather than Moses, who says that Abraham was the
first among men who practised the rite. And it is not Moses alone who
mentions the name of Abraham, assigning to him great intimacy with God;
but many also of those who give themselves to the practice of the
conjuration of evil spirits, employ in their spells the expression “God
of Abraham,” pointing out by the very name the friendship [that existed]
between that just man and God. And yet, while making use of the phrase
“God of Abraham,” they do not know who Abraham is! And the same remark
applies to Isaac, and Jacob, and Israel; which names, although
confessedly Hebrew, are frequently introduced by those Egyptians who
profess to produce some wonderful result by means of their knowledge.
The rite of circumcision, however, which began with Abraham, and was
discontinued by Jesus, who desired that His disciples should not
practise it, is not before us for explanation; for the present occasion
does not lead us to speak of such things, but to make an effort to
refute the charges brought against the doctrine of the Jews by Celsus,
who thinks that he will be able the more easily to establish the falsity
of Christianity, if, by assailing its origin in Judaism, he can show
that the latter also is untrue.