Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope,

David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay.

because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,

To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside, fears from within.

now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.

even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.

to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,

and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.