Discuss Theology

The law of Moses forbade tattoos. The primary reason for that was that the heathen nations around Israel practiced this in commitment to their gods. In the NT, the same things occurred in the whole of the mediaterranean world. This like many other interdictions and prohibitions does not carry over into the NT age for believers. In fact, Paul uses the word for tattoo, as does John to state that God has put his “tattoo” on us by the Holy Spirit. Like the food laws in the OT, this one is not applicable today. Body piercings were common in Israel, as a nose ring was the usual mark of loyalty in a wedding ceremony. It was the ungodly lashings and bloodlettings that God forbade in the OT.