Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

Now it was for this very purpose ¹  that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, ²  so that though ³  they were judged in the flesh ⁴  by human standards ⁵  they may live spiritually ⁶  by God’s standards. ⁷ 

For by speaking high-sounding but empty words ¹  they are able to entice, ²  with fleshly desires and with debauchery, ³  people ⁴  who have just escaped ⁵  from those who reside in error. ⁶ 

because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) ¹  is not from the Father, but is from the world.

save ¹  others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy ²  on others, coupled with a fear of God, ³  hating even the clothes stained ⁴  by the flesh. ⁵ 

for the life of all flesh is its blood. ¹  So I have said to the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any living thing ²  because the life of every living thing is its blood – all who eat it will be cut off. ³ 

Now Abraham was 99 years old ¹  when he was circumcised; ² 

Make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; ¹  they must cover ²  from the waist to the thighs.

So my heart rejoices and I am happy; ¹  My life is safe. ² 

The Lord says, “Watch out! ¹  The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh. ² 

You people ¹  judge by outward appearances; ²  I do not judge anyone. ³ 

For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,

For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. ¹ 

Beware of the dogs, ¹  beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! ² 

in that he spends the rest of his time ¹  on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.

Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not lay a hand on him, ¹  for after all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. ² 

You must offer your burnt offerings, both meat and blood, on the altar of the Lord your God; the blood of your other sacrifices ¹  you must pour out on his ²  altar while you eat the meat.

You will then eat your own offspring, ¹  the flesh of the sons and daughters the Lord your God has given you, because of the severity of the siege ²  by which your enemies will constrict you.

Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my flesh and blood? ¹  God will punish me severely, ²  if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”

When they went back and told him, he said, “The Lord’s word through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, has come to pass. He warned, ¹  ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh.