7:25a
This verse begins with the conjunction that is often translated as “and” or “but.” Here it introduces something more that Paul said about who saves people (7:24). Some languages will see contrast to the question of who in that verse. For example:
But
Other languages will need to indicate that 7:25a answers the question in 7:24b in a different way. For example:
Hey,
-or-
Look/Listen!
But for the connection to 7:24 here, it is more natural in many languages to omit this conjunction.
Thanks be to God:
This clause implies that the answer to Paul’s question of “who will deliver me from this body of death” is God. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that. If that is true in your language, make that meaning explicit. For example:
Thanks be to God, ⌊it is he⌋
-or-
⌊It is⌋ God ⌊who will rescue me,⌋ thanks to him
Thanks be: The Berean Standard Bible adds the verb be. This is a general thanksgiving. Paul thanked God, but the phrase allows others to join in that thanksgiving. Some languages must translate with a verb other than be. For example:
I thank God
-or-
We should thank God
through Jesus Christ: Here the word through indicates that God will rescue Paul because of what Jesus did in his death and resurrection.
our Lord: The word Lord refers to someone who has authority over people. Here it indicates that Jesus has authority over believers. See how you translated this phrase in 1:4 or 6:23.
7:25b
So then: Here this phrase introduces Paul’s conclusion of all that he said in 7:7–25. For example:
Therefore (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
with my mind I serve the law of God: The phrase with my mind is emphasized by being in front of the verb in the Greek clause. The Berean Standard Bible reflects this. Another way to translate this is:
I myself, with my mind, serve the law of God
In some languages it is more natural to have the phrase with my mind after the phrase the law of God. For example:
I myself serve the law of God with my mind (English Standard Version)
serve the law of God: Here the word serve refers to doing as the law of God says. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as serve can also refer to acting like a slave to his or her master. A slave always does what the master tells him to do. For example:
am a slave to God’s law (New International Version)
This is a figure of speech. In some languages it is not natural to speak of people being a slave to laws. For example:
am ⌊like⌋ a slave to God’s law
-or-
obey the law of God (New Jerusalem Bible)
the law of God: See how you translated this phrase in 7:22.
7:25c
with my flesh I serve the law of sin: The phrase with my flesh is emphasized by being in front of the verb in the Greek clause. In some languages it is more natural to have this phrase in its normal place. For example:
I serve the law of sin with my flesh
my flesh: Here the word flesh refers to human nature. See how you translated this phrase in 7:18.
the law of sin: Here the word law again refers to a principle. Here it is the principle that sin bosses people, telling them to do evil things. See how you translated this phrase in 7:23.
General Comment on 7:25b–c
Both serving the law of God with the mind (7:25b) and serving the law of sin with the flesh (7:25c) occurred in Paul’s life. In some languages it is necessary to make explicit that both things were happening. For example:
I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but ⌊it is also true that⌋ with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
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