More on Origen Connecting the 'Sign of Jonah' With Castration

Something is called a sign when through something visible something else is meant. So for example ... the sign of Jonah and what is meant is Christ ... But something is called a seal when somebody is given custom for a time over an object which no one may open but the one who gave it. By the seal of circumcision is signified the righteous faith which Abraham still uncircumcised merited to receive and become the father of many nations. It will be unsealed we believe when 'the full number of the Gentiles has come in and all Israel will be saved" [Rom 11:25 - 26]. That is when what the Apostle speaks of [Rom 4:12] will come about, namely that Abraham will be the father not only of the nations only, but, through faith, of circumcision ... Since one is talking about a sign as we have explained where something is indicated through what is visible but one has a seal which is closed for a time and is not visible, this can be understood in such a way that the mysteries are foreshadow in the law and the patriarchs were this kind of reality. That is they were to be both pointed to by signs and guarded by seals. When therefore they were to be pointed to with signs for the pagans who believed then Abraham is said to have received a sign; but when they were to be kept secret from the circumcised who were not to believe he is said to have recieved a seal [Commentary on Romans, 4.2]