7:5a

For: Here this word introduces an explanation for what Paul said in 7:4. In some languages it is more natural to omit this word and let the context imply that connection.

when we lived according to the flesh: This clause refers to how believers lived before they believed in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

when we lived according to our human nature (Good News Translation)
-or-
While we were still living by our natural inclinations (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
When we were controlled by our old nature (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
when we were still obeying our own desire

Here this clause refers in general to the way all people live, without focusing on sin, although that is implied. Paul made the idea of sin clear in 7:5b.

7:5b

the sinful passions…were at work: Paul spoke of these passions as if they were people working. In some languages it is not natural to speak of passions in that way. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning in a natural way. For example:

our sinful passions…were ⌊like someone⌋ working
-or-
our sinful desires…were causing us to be working

the sinful passions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as passions refers to any kind of desire. Here Paul referred to only those desires that are sinful.

were at work: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were at work refers to doing something that produces the desired result. It does not imply that the work is difficult.

This phrase indicates that the sinful passions worked over a period of time. Here it refers to the whole time before a believer started believing in Jesus. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

were working

aroused by the law: This phrase is literally “through the law.” It indicates that the Laws of Moses helped the sinful passions to be at work in our members. The Laws of Moses pointed out what deeds were bad to do, and our sinful passions then wanted to do them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

stirred up by the Law (Good News Translation)
-or-
the sinful desires, which the Law stirred up, were at work
-or-
through the Laws ⌊of Moses⌋ ⌊saying what deeds were evil⌋

our bodies: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bodies refers to parts of the body. Here it implies deeds done with the parts of the body. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

any part of yourselves (Good News Translation)
-or-
yourselves

See how you translated “parts” in 6:13.

7:5c

bearing fruit for death: Here the phrase bearing fruit is a metaphor that means “doing evil deeds that produce evil results.” These evil results benefit death and the power that death has over people. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a simile. For example:

⌊being like plants that⌋ produce fruit for death

• Make the meaning more explicit. For example:

producing evil results that honor death

• Translate without the figure of speech of bearing fruit. For example:

serving death
-or-
doing the work of death
-or-
living evil lives that glorified death

for death: Here this phrase is used in a similar way as “to God” was in 7:4. It is a figure of speech that speaks of death as if it were a person who benefits from the evil deeds that people do. See the above examples.

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