nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. ¹  Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan ²  that operates by faith.

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

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Many ¹  women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support ²  were also there, watching from a distance.

and Joanna the wife of Cuza ¹  (Herod’s ²  household manager), ³  Susanna, and many others who provided for them ⁴  out of their own resources.

The ¹  women who had accompanied Jesus ²  from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” ¹  (which are offered according to the law),

And every priest stands day after day ¹  serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, ¹  help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry ²  along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.