2:5a

made us alive with Christ: The clause made us alive with Christ is a metaphor. It refers to a Christian’s spiritual life. When we believe in Christ, God gives us a new, spiritual life just as he gave Christ a new life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

brought us to life with Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God gave us Christ and we live through/because of him

when we were dead in our trespasses: As in 2:1, the word dead is a metaphor and refers to spiritual death. The word trespasses is a synonym of “sin.” So the phrase means that “because of our sins, we were like dead people.”

In many languages, it is better to translate this as a simile. For example:

we were like dead people
-or-
it was as if we were dead

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the point of comparison explicit. For example:

we were as unable to please God as a dead person is unable to please God

trespasses: As stated above, the word trespasses means “sins.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

sins (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
disobedience (Good News Translation)
-or-
the things we did against God (New Century Version)

2:5b

It is by grace: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the words It is to emphasize the word grace here. Try to keep this emphasis in your translation.

grace: Here grace means “showing kindness or generosity to someone.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

special favor (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
wonderful kindness (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated grace in 1:2, 1:6a, and 1:7c. Also see grace, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.

you have been saved!: This is a passive form. If your language would not use a passive verb here, you may need to say:

God saved you (plur.)

saved!: To be saved means to be rescued from danger. In this case, God is rescuing believers from the spiritual danger of being punished for their sins. See save, Word 1, in the Glossary for more information.

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