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

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 person’s praise is not from people but from God.^(D)

⁵ For when we were in the flesh,^(A) the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us^[a](B) to bear 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 newness of the Spirit^(C) and not in the old letter of the law.

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

⁵ hand 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 by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?

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

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶ I say, then, walk by the Spirit^(A) and you will certainly 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] 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,^[b](P) drunkenness, carousing,^(Q) and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned 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, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness,^(X) and self-control.^(Y) The law is not against such things.^{[c] 24} Now those who belong to Christ Jesus^(Z) have crucified the flesh^(AA) with its passions and desires.^(AB)