³ concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David^[a](A) according to the flesh^{(B) 4} and who has been declared to be the powerful^(C) Son of God^(D) by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.^[b]

²⁸ For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,^(A) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. ²⁹ On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,^(B) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.^[a](C) That man’s praise^[b] is not from men but from God.^(D)

⁵ For when we were in the flesh,^[a](A) the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us^[b](B) and bore fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way^[c] of the Spirit^(C) and not in the old letter of the law.

⁴ in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished^(A) in us who do not walk according to the flesh^(B) but according to the Spirit.

⁵ turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,^(A) so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.^(B)

¹⁶ Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh.^{(A)[a] 17} But anyone joined^(B) to the Lord is one spirit^(C) with Him.

³ Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?^[a]

²⁹ But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,^(A) so also now.^(B)

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶ I say then, walk by the Spirit^(A) and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires^(B) what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.^{(C) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious:^[a][b] sexual immorality,^(D) moral impurity,^(E) promiscuity,^{(F) 20} idolatry,^(G) sorcery,^(H) hatreds,^(I) strife,^(J) jealousy,^(K) outbursts of anger,^(L) selfish ambitions,^(M) dissensions,^(N) factions,^{(O) 21} envy,^[c](P) drunkenness, carousing,^(Q) and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(R)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit^(S) is love,^(T) joy,^(U) peace, patience,^(V) kindness,^(W) goodness, faith,^{[d] 23} gentleness,^(X) self-control.^(Y) Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus^(Z) have crucified the flesh^(AA) with its passions and desires.^(AB)