Core Glossary
Core Glossary — 2 Timothy
How to Read This Table
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| English Term | Gloss used for cross-reference with source-language study materials |
| Greek | Original word/phrase |
| Cantonese Rendering | Established or proposed destination-language term (Traditional script) |
| Jyutping | Romanized pronunciation |
| Risk | Critical / High / Medium / Low, per baseline definitions |
| Doctrine(s) | Curriculum doctrine(s) this term serves |
| Chapter Refs | 2 Timothy chapter(s)/verse(s) where the term is load-bearing |
| Status & Notes | Reused-from-Romans-TM vs. New; rejected alternatives; collision risk |
Section 1 — Terms Reused Exactly from the Baseline Romans Translation Memory
| English Term | Greek | Cantonese | Jyutping | Risk | Doctrine(s) | Chapter Refs | Status & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace | χάρις | 恩典 | jan1 din2 | Critical | Guarding Sound Doctrine (grace-empowered ministry); general soteriology | 1:2, 1:9, 2:1, 4:22 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER Wong Tai Sin-style transactional favor; ministry strength in 2:1 is grace-given, not self-generated. |
| Mercy | (ἔλεος, new-to-this-book word but same conceptual family as grace) | — | — | — | — | — | See Section 2, ἔλεος — new term, not previously in Romans TM. |
| Faith | πίστις | 信心 | seon3 sam1 | High | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel; Guarding Sound Doctrine | 1:5, 1:13, 2:18, 2:22, 3:8, 3:10, 3:15, 4:7 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] Object must remain recoverable (Christ), not generic piety; note 2:18’s false “resurrection already happened” claim is specifically said to overthrow the faith of some — 信心 must be shown as destructible by false doctrine, not immune. |
| Righteousness | δικαιοσύνη | 義 | ji6 | Critical | Guarding Sound Doctrine; Assurance of Reward | 2:22, 3:16, 4:8 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] In 3:16 (ethical-formation sense) and 4:8 (“crown of righteousness,” reward sense) — flag both as distinct from, yet not contradicting, the forensic-justification sense used in Romans; NEVER let 義氣 (loyalty-and-honor idiom) color either reading. |
| Salvation | σωτηρία | 救恩 | gau3 jan1 | Critical | Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture (3:15) | 2:10, 3:15 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 解脫/超度/Guanyin epithet. |
| Apostle | ἀπόστολος | 使徒 | si2 tou4 | Low | (Paul’s authorial authority throughout) | 1:1, 1:11 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] Avoid 大師 (feng shui grandmaster). |
| Called / Calling | κλητός / κλῆσις (root sense; cf. κλήσει ἁγίᾳ) | 蒙召嘅 / 呼召 | mung4 siu6 ge3 / fu1 siu6 | High | Divine Calling (cross-reference) | 1:9 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 命中注定/命運/緣分. |
| Holy | ἅγιος | 聖潔 | sing3 git3 | High | Guarding Sound Doctrine; general sanctification | 1:9 (“holy calling”), 1:14 (Holy Spirit) | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] Avoid ritual-purity/dietary-abstinence framing. |
| Resurrection | ἀνάστασις | 復活 | fuk6 wut6 | Critical | Perseverance under Suffering (2:8); Apostasy and False Teachers (2:18, false claim) | 2:8, 2:18 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 投胎轉世/問米 framing. 2:18 requires special care: false teachers misuse this very term — the Cantonese text must clearly mark their claim as false doctrine, not endorse a “spiritual, already-realized” resurrection. |
| Lord | κύριος | 主 | zyu2 | Critical | Lordship of Christ; Assurance of Reward | 1:2, 1:8, 2:7, 2:19, 2:22, 2:24, 4:8, 4:14, 4:17, 4:18, 4:22 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 事頭/老爺. Frequent term throughout; consistency required. |
| Christ / Messiah | Χριστός | 基督 | gei1 duk1 | Critical | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel; general Christology | Throughout (e.g. 1:1, 1:9, 2:3, 2:8, 4:1) | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 彌勒/wish-granting-deity framing. |
| Kingdom of God | βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ | 神嘅國 | san4 ge3 gwok3 | Medium | Assurance of Reward (heavenly kingdom, 4:18); Lordship of Christ (4:1) | 4:1, 4:18 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] Here rendered with possessive/modifying variants (“his kingdom,” “his heavenly kingdom” → 佢嘅國 / 天上嘅國); retain baseline’s political-sensitivity caution. |
| Glory | δόξα | 榮耀 | wing4 jiu6 | Medium | Assurance of Reward; doxology | 2:10, 4:18 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] Avoid 面子/威水. |
| Exhort | παρακαλέω | 勸勉 | hyun3 min5 | Low | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:2 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] |
| Seed of David | σπέρμα Δαυίδ | 大衛嘅後裔 | daai6 wai6 ge3 hau6 jeoi6 | High | Perseverance under Suffering (anchoring gospel content) | 2:8 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] |
| David | Δαυίδ | 大衛 | daai6 wai6 | Medium | (background) | 2:8 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] |
| Gospel | εὐαγγέλιον | 福音 | fuk1 jam1 | Medium | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel; The Charge to Preach the Word | 1:8, 1:10, 2:8, 4:5 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] 福 fortune-culture caution applies. |
| Election / the Elect | ἐκλογή / ἐκλεκτός | 揀選 / 蒙揀選嘅人 | gaan2 syun2 | High | Perseverance under Suffering (motive for endurance) | 2:10 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 命運/八字注定. |
| Jesus | Ἰησοῦς | 耶穌 | je4 sou1 | Critical | (throughout) | Throughout | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] |
| God | θεός | 神 | san4 | Critical | (throughout) | Throughout | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 天主/上帝/老天爺. |
| Holy Spirit | πνεῦμα ἅγιον | 聖靈 | sing3 ling4 | Critical | Guarding Sound Doctrine (indwelling enablement) | 1:14 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 靈 alone / 問米 framing. |
| Father | πατήρ | 父 | fu6 | High | (greeting formula) | 1:2 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] |
| Power of God | δύναμις (θεοῦ) | 神嘅大能 | san4 ge3 daai6 nang4 | High | Perseverance under Suffering (1:7); Apostasy (3:5, denied power) | 1:7, 1:8, 3:5 | [REUSED FROM ROMANS TM] NEVER 法力/風水嘅力量. Note 3:5’s ironic negative use: false godliness “denies its power” — the Cantonese rendering must make clear real, God-given power is what is being denied, not that power itself is suspect. |
Section 2 — New Terms Introduced by 2 Timothy (Proposed for Translation Memory)
| English Term | Greek | Cantonese | Jyutping | Risk | Doctrine(s) | Chapter Refs | Status & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| God-breathed / Inspired | θεόπνευστος | 神所感嘅 | san4 so2 gam2 ge3 | Critical | Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture | 3:16 | [NEW] NEVER 靈感 alone (secular artistic inspiration); NEVER frame via 問米-trance utterance or 天機 (fate-almanac “heaven’s secret”). Theologian review required every occurrence. |
| Sacred Writings / Scripture | ἱερὰ γράμματα / γραφή | 聖經 | sing3 ging1 | Medium | Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture | 3:15, 3:16 | [NEW] Distinguish clearly from 佛經/道經 (other traditions’ “sutras/scriptures”) despite shared character 經. |
| Sound Doctrine / Sound Teaching | ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία | 純正嘅教義 | seon4 zing3 ge3 gaau3 ji3 | High | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 4:3 (cf. 1:13 ὑγιαινόντων λόγων) | [NEW] Preserve medical “healthy vs. diseased” metaphor (cf. γάγγραινα, 2:17), not a bare true/false framing. |
| Teaching / Doctrine | διδασκαλία | 教義 / 教導 | gaau3 ji3 / gaau3 dou6 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 3:10, 3:16, 4:2, 4:3 | [NEW] Use consistently paired with 純正 for the “sound doctrine” compound. |
| Guard / Entrusted Deposit | παραθήκη (φυλάσσω, παρατίθημι) | 交託嘅（真道／福音） | gaau1 tok3 ge3 | High | Guarding Sound Doctrine; Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 1:12, 1:14, 2:2 | [NEW] NEVER frame as a vow-repayment (還神還願, forbidden under baseline covenant/obedience entries). This is safeguarding a received gift, not discharging a debt. |
| Preach the Word | κηρύσσω τὸν λόγον | 宣講（聖）道 | syun1 gong2 (sing3) dou6 | High | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:2 (cf. 1:11 κῆρυξ) | [NEW] NEVER 說法 (Buddhist dharma-exposition term). Must retain herald’s delegated authority, not a generic talk/lecture. |
| Evangelist / Evangelism (work of) | εὐαγγελιστής | 傳福音者 / 傳福音嘅工作 | cyun4 fuk1 jam1 ge3 gung1 zok3 | Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word; Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 4:5 | [NEW] Reuses baseline 福音. |
| Ministry / Service | διακονία | 事奉 / 職事 | si6 fung6 / zik1 si6 | Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:5 | [NEW] |
| Savior | σωτήρ | 救主 | gau3 zyu2 | Critical | (Christology, underlying all doctrines) | 1:10 | [NEW] NEVER conflate with Wong Tai Sin/Guanyin wish-granting-savior framing; must be understood as inseparable from 主 and 基督. |
| Appearing / Manifestation (of Christ) | ἐπιφάνεια | 顯現 | hin2 jin6 | Critical | Assurance of Reward; Lordship of Christ | 1:10, 4:1, 4:8 | [NEW] MUST NOT be confused with 顯靈 (forbidden temple-deity-manifestation term already flagged in baseline for Incarnation) despite the shared character 顯. Requires explicit distinguishing footnote at every occurrence. |
| Incorruption / Immortality | ἀφθαρσία | 不朽壞 | bat1 nau2 waai6 | High | Perseverance under Suffering; Resurrection (cross-ref) | 1:10 | [NEW] NEVER conflate with Daoist alchemical/longevity immortality-seeking (長生不老). |
| Abolished (Death) | καταργέω (τὸν θάνατον) | 廢除死亡嘅權勢 | fai3 ceoi4 sei2 mong4 ge3 kyun4 sai3 | High | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:10 | [NEW] |
| Man of God | ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος | 屬神嘅人 | suk6 san4 ge3 jan4 | Low-Medium | Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture | 3:17 | [NEW] |
| Complete / Equipped | ἄρτιος / ἐξηρτισμένος | 完備 / 裝備好 | jyun4 bei6 / zong1 bei6 hou2 | Medium | Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture | 3:17 | [NEW] Must not suggest self-attainment (avoid overlap with 修成正果). |
| Last Days | ἔσχαται ἡμέραι | 末後嘅日子 | mut6 hau6 ge3 jat6 zi2 | High | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 3:1 | [NEW] Avoid 末世/末日 doomsday-pop-culture and almanac-forecast connotations. |
| Perilous Times | καιροὶ χαλεποί | 艱難嘅時期 | gaan1 naan4 ge3 si4 kei4 | Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 3:1 | [NEW] |
| Form of Godliness (denying its power) | μόρφωσις εὐσεβείας…ἀρνέομαι | 有敬虔嘅外表，但否認敬虔嘅能力 | ging3 kin4 …ngo2 jin6 | High | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 3:5 | [NEW] Distinguish from performative temple religiosity and Confucian ritual-propriety critique; the warning applies within the church, not only to other traditions. |
| Godliness | εὐσέβεια | 敬虔 | ging3 kin4 | High | Apostasy and False Teachers; general piety | 3:5, 3:12 | [NEW] |
| Lovers of Pleasure Rather Than Lovers of God | φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι | 愛享樂而唔愛神嘅人 | oi3 hoeng2 lok6 ji4 m4 oi3 san4 ge3 jan4 | High | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 3:4 | [NEW] Root diagnosis of last-days apostasy; must retain explicit God-ward comparison, not reduce to generic hedonism. |
| Impostors (lit. sorcerers/magicians) | γόητες | 行騙嘅人 | hang4 pin3 ge3 jan4 | High | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 3:13 | [NEW] NEVER 術士/法師 (dignifying real magical/dharma-master power); use 行騙嘅人/騙子. |
| Corrupted in Mind / Disapproved re: Faith | κατεφθαρμένοι τὸν νοῦν / ἀδόκιμοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν | 心思敗壞 / 在信心上不合格 | sam1 si1 baai6 waai6 | High | Guarding Sound Doctrine; Apostasy and False Teachers | 3:8 | [NEW] |
| Rightly Handling (the word of truth) | ὀρθοτομέω | 按正意解釋（真理嘅道） | on3 zing3 ji3 gaai2 sik1 | High | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 2:15 | [NEW] Follows established CUV phrase pattern. |
| Gangrene (spreading false teaching) | γάγγραινα | 壞疽 | waai6 zeoi5 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 2:17 | [NEW] Register note: technical term; may need explanatory gloss. |
| Faithful Saying / Trustworthy Word | πιστὸς ὁ λόγος | 這話係可信嘅 | ze5 waa6 hai6 ho2 seon3 ge3 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 2:11 | [NEW] Fixed Pastoral Epistles formula. |
| Rightly Divide, Entrust to Faithful Men | παρατίθημι (πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις) | 交託畀忠心嘅人 | gaau1 tok3 bei2 zung1 sam1 ge3 jan4 | High | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 2:2 | [NEW] Central “generational chain” verse for this doctrine. |
| Vessel for Honor / Dishonor | σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν / ἀτιμίαν | 貴重嘅器皿 / 卑賤嘅器皿 | gwai3 zung6 ge3 hei3 min5 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 2:20-21 | [NEW] |
| Snare of the Devil | παγὶς τοῦ διαβόλου | 魔鬼嘅陷阱 | mo1 gwai2 ge3 haam6 zeng6 | Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 2:26 | [NEW] |
| Poured Out (as a Libation) | σπένδομαι | 被澆奠 | bei6 giu1 din6 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 4:6 | [NEW] Distinguish from ancestral-rite libation practice (灌奠); object is God alone, not ancestor veneration. |
| Fought the Good Fight / Finished the Race / Kept the Faith | ἀγῶνα…δρόμον…πίστιν τετήρηκα | 打過美好嘅仗，跑完咗路程，守住咗信心 | daa2 gwo3 mei5 hou2 ge3 zoeng3… | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering; Assurance of Reward | 4:7 | [NEW] Follows established CUV phrase pattern. |
| Crown of Righteousness | στέφανος τῆς δικαιοσύνης | 義嘅冠冕 | ji6 ge3 gun3 min5 | High | Assurance of Reward | 4:8 | [NEW] Grace-secured reward for faithfulness, never independent merit; guard against 修成正果 and temple-vow-reward framing. |
| Righteous Judge | δίκαιος κριτής | 公義嘅審判者 | gung1 ji6 ge3 sam2 pun3 ze2 | High | Assurance of Reward; Lordship of Christ | 4:8 | [NEW] |
| Judge the Living and the Dead | κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς | 審判活人同死人 | sam2 pun3 wut6 jan4 tung4 sei2 jan4 | High | Lordship of Christ; Assurance of Reward | 4:1 | [NEW] Avoid 報應 (karmic retribution) and 閻王/地府審判 (folk-underworld-tribunal) framing. |
| Deserted, Having Loved This Present Age | ἐγκαταλείπω…ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα | 離棄…貪愛現今嘅世代 | lei4 hei3…taam1 oi3 jin6 gam1 ge3 sai3 doi6 | Medium-High | Apostasy and False Teachers; Perseverance under Suffering | 4:10 | [NEW] Negative example (Demas). |
| Heavenly Kingdom | βασιλεία ἐπουράνιος | 天上嘅國 | tin1 soeng6 ge3 gwok3 | Medium | Assurance of Reward | 4:18 | [NEW] Modifies reused 神嘅國; retain political-neutrality caution. |
| Mercy | ἔλεος | 憐憫 | lin4 man5 | Medium | (greeting triad; underlies all doctrines) | 1:2, 1:16, 1:18 | [NEW] Distinguish from transactional plea-and-favor exchange (cf. baseline grace caution). |
| Conscience | συνείδησις | 良心 | loeng4 sam1 | Low-Medium | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel (Paul’s integrity) | 1:3 | [NEW] Distinguish moral standing before God from social face/reputation (唔衰得). |
| Sincere/Unfeigned Faith | ἀνυπόκριτος πίστις | 真誠嘅信心 | zan1 sing4 ge3 seon3 sam1 | Medium | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 1:5 | [NEW] Modifies reused 信心. |
| Spirit of Fear / Cowardice | πνεῦμα δειλίας | 懦弱嘅心 | no6 joek6 ge3 sam1 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:7 | [NEW] |
| Self-Discipline / Sound-Mindedness | σωφρονισμός | 自律嘅心 | zi6 leot6 ge3 sam1 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:7 | [NEW] Spirit-given, not self-willed discipline. |
| Ashamed (Not Being) | ἐπαισχύνομαι | 以…為恥 | ji5…wai4 ci2 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:8, 1:12, 1:16, 2:15 | [NEW] Contrast with Hong Kong social-face dynamics. |
| Testimony | μαρτύριον | 見證 | gin3 zing3 | Low-Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:8 | [NEW] |
| Suffer Together With | συγκακοπάθησον | 一齊受苦 | jat1 cai4 sau6 fu2 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 1:8, 2:3 | [NEW] |
| Endure Suffering / Hardship | κακοπαθέω | 忍受苦難 | jan2 sau6 fu2 naan6 | Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 2:9, 4:5 | [NEW] |
| Soldier / Athlete / Farmer (ministry metaphors) | στρατιώτης / ἀθλέω / γεωργός | 兵 / 比賽 / 農夫 | bing1 / bei2 coi3 / nung4 fu1 | Low-Medium | Perseverance under Suffering | 2:3-6 | [NEW] |
| Word of God Not Bound | ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται | 神嘅道並唔會被綁住 | san4 ge3 dou6 bing3 m4 wui5 bei6 bong2 zyu6 | Medium | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel; Perseverance under Suffering | 2:9 | [NEW] |
| Died With / Live With / Reign With (Christ) | συναπεθάνομεν / συζήσομεν / συμβασιλεύσομεν | 同（基督）一齊死／活／為王 | tung4 (gei1 duk1) jat1 cai4 sei2/wut6/wai4 wong4 | High | Assurance of Reward; Perseverance under Suffering | 2:11-12 | [NEW] Avoid earthly-political “reign” reading. |
| If We Are Unfaithful, He Remains Faithful | εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει | 我們唔忠心，佢仍然係信實嘅 | ngo5 mun4 m4 zung1 sam1, keoi5 jing4 jin4 hai6 seon3 sat6 ge3 | High | Assurance of Reward | 2:13 | [NEW] Grounds assurance in God’s character, not human performance. |
| Approved / Unashamed Worker | δόκιμος / ἀνεπαίσχυντος ἐργάτης | 蒙認可、唔會覺得羞愧嘅工人 | mung4 jing6 ho2, m4 wui5 gok3 dak1 sau1 kwai2 ge3 gung1 jan4 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine | 2:15 | [NEW] |
| Repentance / Knowledge of the Truth | μετάνοια / ἐπίγνωσις ἀληθείας | 悔改 / 認識真理 | fui3 goi2 / jing6 sik1 zan1 lei5 | Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 2:25, 3:7 | [NEW] |
| Truth | ἀλήθεια | 真理 | zan1 lei5 | Medium | Guarding Sound Doctrine; Apostasy and False Teachers | 2:15, 2:18, 2:25, 3:7-8, 4:4 | [NEW] |
| Myths / Fables | μῦθοι | 荒誕嘅傳說 | fong1 daan3 ge3 cyun4 syut3 | Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 4:4 | [NEW] Prefer over 神話 to avoid incidental deity-legend collision. |
| Itching Ears | κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν | 耳仔痕 | ji5 zai2 han4 | Low-Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 4:3 | [NEW] Established CUV-tradition idiom, adapted colloquially. |
| Charge (Solemn) | διαμαρτύρομαι | 鄭重囑咐 | zeng6 zung6 zuk1 fu3 | Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word | 2:14, 4:1 | [NEW] |
| In Season, Out of Season | εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως | 順境逆境都要 | seon6 ging2 jik6 ging2 dou1 jiu3 | Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:2 | [NEW] Sensitive to HK public-evangelism climate. |
| Reprove / Rebuke / Exhort (triad) | ἔλεγξον / ἐπιτίμησον / παρακάλεσον | 責備 / 譴責 / 勸勉 | zaak3 bei6 / hin2 zaak3 / hyun3 min5 | Low-Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:2 | [NEW] παρακάλεσον reuses baseline 勸勉. |
| Patience / Longsuffering | μακροθυμία | 忍耐 | jan2 noi6 | Low | The Charge to Preach the Word; general character | 3:10, 4:2 | [NEW] |
| Heap Up Teachers | ἐπισωρεύω διδασκάλους | 為自己堆積（教師） | wai6 zi6 gei2 deoi1 zik1 | Low-Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 4:3 | [NEW] |
| Turn Away From Truth / Wander into Myths | ἀποστρέφω / ἐκτρέπομαι | 轉離真理 / 走偏 | zyun2 lei4 zan1 lei5 / zau2 pin1 | Medium | Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 4:4 | [NEW] Closest 2 Timothy term to “apostasy” itself. |
| Sober-Minded / Watchful | νήφω | 保持清醒 | bou2 ci4 cing1 sing2 | Low | Perseverance under Suffering; The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:5 | [NEW] |
| Fulfill (Ministry) Completely | πληροφορέω | 完全做好 / 盡忠完成 | jyun4 cyun4 zou6 hou2 | Low-Medium | The Charge to Preach the Word | 4:5 | [NEW] |
| Promise of Life | ἐπαγγελία ζωῆς | 生命嘅應許 | sang1 ming6 ge3 jing3 heoi2 | Medium | Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 1:1 | [NEW] |
| God’s Purpose and Grace | πρόθεσις καὶ χάρις | 神嘅心意同恩典 | san4 ge3 sam1 ji3 tung4 jan1 din2 | High | Divine Calling (cross-ref); Perseverance under Suffering | 1:9 | [NEW] Avoid 天意/運程/八字注定 fatalism framing. Reuses baseline 恩典. |
| Laying On of Hands | ἐπίθεσις τῶν χειρῶν | 按手 | on3 sau2 | Low | (ordination background) | 1:6 | [NEW] |
| Firm Foundation / Seal | στερεὸς θεμέλιος / σφραγίς | 堅固嘅根基 / 印記 | gin1 gu3 ge3 gan1 gei1 | Medium | Assurance of Reward | 2:19 | [NEW] |
| Proper Names (Timothy, Onesiphorus, Phygelus, Hermogenes, Hymenaeus, Philetus, Jannes, Jambres, Demas, Crescens, Titus, Luke, Mark, Tychicus, Carpus, Alexander, Prisca/Aquila, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, Trophimus) | (various) | 提摩太、阿尼色弗、腓吉路、黑摩其尼、許米乃、腓理徒、雅尼、佯庇羅、底馬、革勒士、提多、路加、馬可、推基古、加布、亞歷山大、百基拉、亞居拉、友布羅、布田、利奴、革老底亞、特羅非摩 | (established forms) | Low | (biographical/historical grounding) | Throughout | [NEW] Established Chinese Bible transliteration conventions (cross-checked against Traditional-character CUV). No doctrinal collision risk. |
Section 3 — Doctrine-to-Term Cross-Reference Summary
| Curriculum Doctrine | Key Terms (Cantonese) | Highest Risk Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture | 神所感嘅, 聖經, 完備, 裝備好, 屬神嘅人 | Critical |
| Perseverance under Suffering | 忍受苦難, 懦弱嘅心, 自律嘅心, 以…為恥, 一齊受苦, 兵/比賽/農夫, 不朽壞 | High |
| Guarding Sound Doctrine | 純正嘅教義, 交託嘅（真道）, 按正意解釋（真理嘅道）, 壞疽, 貴重／卑賤嘅器皿 | High |
| Faithful Transmission of the Gospel | 交託畀忠心嘅人, 福音, 生命嘅應許, 真誠嘅信心 | High |
| The Charge to Preach the Word | 宣講（聖）道, 鄭重囑咐, 順境逆境都要, 責備/譴責/勸勉, 傳福音嘅工作 | High |
| Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days | 末後嘅日子, 有敬虔嘅外表但否認能力, 愛享樂而唔愛神嘅人, 行騙嘅人, 轉離真理, 荒誕嘅傳說, 耳仔痕, 魔鬼嘅陷阱 | High |
| Assurance of Reward | 義嘅冠冕, 公義嘅審判者, 顯現, 天上嘅國, 打過美好嘅仗跑完咗路程守住咗信心 | Critical |
All Critical and High tier terms above require human theologian review at every occurrence, per the escalation rules established in the baseline 12_ai_translation_requirements.md, which this glossary extends without contradiction.
Critical Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: 恩典
Transliteration: jan1 din2
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: 福氣, 有求必應式嘅恩典, 功德
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER frame as Wong Tai Sin-style transactional temple-vow favor. In 2 Timothy specifically grounds ministry-empowering strength (2:1, ‘be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus’) and God’s eternal saving purpose given before the ages (1:9) — not a resource the minister generates by his own resolve.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: 義
Transliteration: ji6
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine / Assurance of Reward
Rejected alternatives: 道德, 善行
Original: δικαιοσύνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). 2 Timothy uses this Critical term in THREE distinct senses within one short letter: ethical-formation (3:16, Scripture ‘training in righteousness’), reward (4:8, ‘crown of righteousness’), and the forensic sense carried over from Romans. Every occurrence must be checked for which sense is active and fenced against the Cantonese loyalty-and-honor idiom 義氣 (triad/gangster-film brotherhood-code), a risk multiplied by this letter’s sense-density compared to Romans.
Salvation
Approved rendering: 救恩
Transliteration: gau3 jan1
Doctrine: Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: 解脫, 超度, 大慈大悲救苦救難
Original: σωτηρία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 解脫/超度 or the popular Guanyin epithet. 2 Timothy 3:15: Scripture makes one ‘wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.‘
Resurrection
Approved rendering: 復活
Transliteration: fuk6 wut6
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: 投胎轉世, 問米式嘅還魂
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 投胎轉世 or 問米 framing. CRITICAL special handling at 2 Timothy 2:18: Hymenaeus and Philetus falsely teach ‘the resurrection has already happened’ in a purely spiritual sense. The Cantonese text must use unambiguous reported-speech framing (‘佢哋話…’) so this reads as their false claim, never as Scripture’s own teaching. This is the single highest-sensitivity occurrence of this Critical term in the whole letter.
Lord
Approved rendering: 主
Transliteration: zyu2
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: 事頭, 老爺
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 事頭/老爺. Highly frequent in 2 Timothy (1:2, 1:8, 2:7, 2:19, 2:22, 2:24, 4:8, 4:14, 4:17, 4:18, 4:22). At 4:1, Christ’s Lordship is joined to his role as universal judge of the living and dead — keep strictly doctrinal, never a political-loyalty statement, given Hong Kong’s political sensitivities around sovereignty language.
Messiah
Approved rendering: 基督
Transliteration: gei1 duk1
Doctrine: Saviorhood and Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: 彌勒, 黃大仙式嘅救世主
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly; also functions as ‘Christ’ throughout 2 Timothy). NEVER conflate with 彌勒 (Maitreya) or a wish-granting temple deity.
Jesus
Approved rendering: 耶穌
Transliteration: je4 sou1
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly).
God
Approved rendering: 神
Transliteration: san4
Doctrine: Saviorhood and Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: 天主, 上帝, 老天爺
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 天主 (Catholic term)/上帝/老天爺, per this Protestant-curriculum-consistency standard.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: 聖靈
Transliteration: sing3 ling4
Doctrine: Power of the Holy Spirit
Rejected alternatives: 問米嘅靈, 祖先靈
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 靈 alone or a 問米 spirit-medium framing. 2 Timothy 1:14: ‘the Holy Spirit who dwells within us’ is the means by which the entrusted deposit is guarded.
Savior
Approved rendering: 救主
Transliteration: gau3 zyu2
Doctrine: Saviorhood and Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: 黃大仙式嘅救世主, 大慈大悲救苦救難嘅觀音
Original: σωτήρ
Category: Christology
NEW. A Christological title new to this curriculum (not used standalone in the Romans package). NEVER conflate with Wong Tai Sin’s or Guanyin’s popular wish-granting-savior framing (the epithet ‘greatly compassionate, saving from suffering and hardship’ is already forbidden under the baseline’s salvation entry). Names Christ’s unique, once-for-all rescue (1:9-10), inseparable from his Lordship (主) and Messiahship (基督).
Appearing
Approved rendering: 顯現
Transliteration: hin2 jin6
Doctrine: Christ’s Appearing
Rejected alternatives: 顯靈, 化身
Original: ἐπιφάνεια
Category: Christology
NEW. CRITICAL: must be sharply distinguished from 顯靈, the Hong Kong temple-culture phrase for a deity ‘manifesting its power’ at a shrine (already forbidden under the baseline’s Incarnation entry) — the two compounds share the character 顯 and risk conflation by an inattentive reviewer. Occurs at 1:10 (past, incarnation-appearing), 4:1 and 4:8 (future, Christ’s return). Names a unique, personal, bodily, once-for-all event — never repeatable or petition-responsive. Requires an explicit distinguishing footnote at every occurrence.
God Breathed
Approved rendering: 神所感嘅
Transliteration: san4 so2 gam2 ge3
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: 靈感, 天機, 問米式嘅感應
Original: θεόπνευστος
Category: Scripture
NEW. CRITICAL. NT hapax legomenon θεόπνευστος, 2 Timothy 3:16 — the single most important term in this curriculum’s Inspiration doctrine. NEVER 靈感 alone (secular artistic ‘inspiration’ used of a poet’s or entrepreneur’s muse in ordinary Cantonese). NEVER conflate with a 問米 spirit-medium’s trance-inspired utterance or 天機 (‘heaven’s secret,’ a fortune-telling/almanac term implying hidden fate rather than propositional, verbal revelation). Theologian review required at every occurrence.
High Risk Terms
Faith
Approved rendering: 信心
Transliteration: seon3 sam1
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: 虔誠, 睇相算命式嘅相信
Original: πίστις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Object must remain recoverable as Christ specifically. 2 Timothy 2:18 additionally shows 信心 must be portrayed as vulnerable to being overthrown by false doctrine (‘upsetting the faith of some’) — not as an unassailable inner state, unlike most Romans occurrences.
Called
Approved rendering: 蒙召嘅
Transliteration: mung4 siu6 ge3
Doctrine: Divine Calling to Ministry
Rejected alternatives: 天生註定, 命中注定
Original: κλητός (root sense)
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 命中注定/八字注定 (birth-chart-fixed fate). 2 Timothy 1:9: God ‘called us to a holy calling… according to his own purpose and grace.‘
Calling
Approved rendering: 呼召
Transliteration: fu1 siu6
Doctrine: Divine Calling to Ministry
Rejected alternatives: 命運, 緣分
Original: κλῆσις (κλήσει ἁγίᾳ)
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 命運/緣分. Used in the compound 聖潔嘅呼召 (‘holy calling’) at 1:9.
Holy
Approved rendering: 聖潔
Transliteration: sing3 git3
Doctrine: Divine Calling to Ministry
Rejected alternatives: 清淨, 戒口修行式嘅潔淨
Original: ἅγιος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Describes both the believer’s calling (1:9) and modifies 靈 in the fixed compound 聖靈 (1:14).
Seed Of David
Approved rendering: 大衛嘅後裔
Transliteration: daai6 wai6 ge3 hau6 jeoi6
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: σπέρμα Δαυίδ
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). 2 Timothy 2:8: ‘Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel’ — content Paul suffers to defend.
Election
Approved rendering: 揀選
Transliteration: gaan2 syun2
Doctrine: Election
Rejected alternatives: 命運, 八字注定
Original: ἐκλογή / ἐκλεκτός
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 命運/八字注定. 2 Timothy 2:10: Paul endures suffering ‘for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation’ — a personal motive for costly endurance, not passive fatalism.
Father
Approved rendering: 父
Transliteration: fu6
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: 祖先, 老竇式嘅父
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Opens 2 Timothy’s greeting formula (1:2: grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord).
Power Of God
Approved rendering: 神嘅大能
Transliteration: san4 ge3 daai6 nang4
Doctrine: Power of the Holy Spirit
Rejected alternatives: 法力, 風水嘅力量
Original: δύναμις (θεοῦ)
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). NEVER 法力/風水嘅力量. 2 Timothy 1:7-8 (God gives power, not fear) and 3:5’s ironic negative use (‘denying its power’) require the Cantonese rendering to make clear real, God-given power is what false godliness denies, not that such power is itself in doubt.
Incorruption
Approved rendering: 不朽壞
Transliteration: bat1 nau2 waai6
Doctrine: Incorruptible Life through Christ
Rejected alternatives: 長生不老, 得道成仙
Original: ἀφθαρσία
Category: Christology
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:10. NEVER conflate with the Daoist alchemical/longevity pursuit of physical immortality (長生不老), a recurring motif in Cantonese folk religion and martial-arts fiction/popular media. This is a resurrection-body gift secured by Christ’s victory over death, received by grace, never self-cultivated or alchemically attained.
Abolished Death
Approved rendering: 廢除死亡嘅權勢
Transliteration: fai3 ceoi4 sei2 mong4 ge3 kyun4 sai3
Doctrine: Incorruptible Life through Christ
Original: καταργέω τὸν θάνατον
Category: Christology
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:10 (καταργήσαντος τὸν θάνατον). Must retain a completed, once-for-all victory, not an ongoing or partial struggle against death.
Judge Living And Dead
Approved rendering: 審判活人同死人
Transliteration: sam2 pun3 wut6 jan4 tung4 sei2 jan4
Doctrine: Final Judgment by Christ
Rejected alternatives: 報應, 閻王審判, 地府審判
Original: κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς
Category: Christology
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:1. Must retain a personal, moral, forensic judgment carried out by Christ himself — never an impersonal karmic reckoning (報應, already flagged under the baseline’s sin entry) nor a Buddhist/Daoist underworld tribunal (閻王/地府審判) familiar from Cantonese Yu Lan (盂蘭) ghost-festival culture and popular media.
Righteous Judge
Approved rendering: 公義嘅審判者
Transliteration: gung1 ji6 ge3 sam2 pun3 ze2
Doctrine: Assurance of Reward
Original: δίκαιος κριτής
Category: Christology
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:8. Combines the baseline’s Critical term 主 (Lord) with judicial righteousness (義); must not blur into the Confucian loyalty-and-honor idiom 義氣.
Died Live Reign With Christ
Approved rendering: 同基督一齊死、活、為王
Transliteration: tung4 gei1 duk1 jat1 cai4 sei2, wut6, wai4 wong4
Doctrine: Assurance of Reward
Original: συναπεθάνομεν / συζήσομεν / συμβασιλεύσομεν
Category: Christology
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 creedal statement (συναπεθάνομεν/συζήσομεν/συμβασιλεύσομεν). Preserve union-with-Christ logic; do not let ‘reign with him’ collapse into an earthly-political reading, given the baseline’s kingdom-of-God political-sensitivity caution for Hong Kong.
Gods Purpose And Grace
Approved rendering: 神嘅心意同恩典
Transliteration: san4 ge3 sam1 ji3 tung4 jan1 din2
Doctrine: Providence and God’s Purpose
Rejected alternatives: 天意, 運程, 八字注定
Original: πρόθεσις καὶ χάρις
Category: Salvation
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:9. Must avoid the impersonal-fate framing already forbidden under the baseline’s providence and election entries — a personal God’s eternal, gracious purpose enacted through Christ, not calculable destiny read off a birth chart or almanac.
Unfaithful He Remains Faithful
Approved rendering: 我們唔忠心，佢仍然係信實嘅
Transliteration: ngo5 mun4 m4 zung1 sam1, keoi5 jing4 jin4 hai6 seon3 sat6 ge3
Doctrine: God’s Faithfulness despite Human Unfaithfulness
Rejected alternatives: 我們唔信，佢仍然係可信嘅 (CNV-style 不信/unbelief rendering, risks misreading as loss of saving faith rather than a lapse in faithful conduct)
Original: εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει
Category: Salvation
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:13. Follow the CUV/RCUV 失信 (unfaithful-in-conduct) pattern, not CNV’s 不信 (unbelief) pattern — this verse comforts believers who fail in faithfulness, grounding assurance in God’s unchanging character, not in a lapsing vow-and-favor exchange (cf. Wong Tai Sin caution).
Sound Doctrine
Approved rendering: 純正嘅教義
Transliteration: seon4 zing3 ge3 gaau3 ji3
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Rejected alternatives: 正確嘅教導 (accurate but loses the medical metaphor)
Original: ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία
Category: Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:3 (cf. 1:13’s 純正嘅道/ὑποτύπωσιν ὑγιαινόντων λόγων). Must preserve Paul’s medical ‘healthy vs. diseased’ metaphor, contrasted with 壞疽 (gangrene, 2:17), not collapse into a bare true/false framing — the doctrine is living and life-giving, not merely factually accurate.
Guard The Deposit
Approved rendering: 交託嘅（真道／福音）
Transliteration: gaau1 tok3 ge3
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine / Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Rejected alternatives: 還神還願
Original: παραθήκη (φυλάσσω)
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:12, 1:14, 2:2 (παραθήκη/φυλάσσω). Must never be framed with the transactional vow-repayment sense of 還神還願 (forbidden under the baseline’s covenant and obedience-of-faith entries) — this is safeguarding a gift received, not discharging a debt. Always pair 交託 with a guarding verb (謹守/守護) rather than leaving it to stand alone, since 交託 by itself is a common secular verb (‘hand over,’ e.g. to a lawyer) lacking a built-in safeguarding sense.
Preach The Word
Approved rendering: 宣講（聖）道
Transliteration: syun1 gong2 sing3 dou6
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Rejected alternatives: 說法, 演講
Original: κήρυξον τὸν λόγον
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:2 (κήρυξον τὸν λόγον; cf. 1:11’s κῆρυξ). NEVER 說法, the standard Chinese Buddhist term for a monk expounding the dharma. NEVER softened to a generic 演講 (‘give a talk/lecture’), which loses the herald’s delegated, non-self-generated authority.
Entrust To Faithful Men
Approved rendering: 交託畀忠心嘅人
Transliteration: gaau1 tok3 bei2 zung1 sam1 ge3 jan4
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Original: παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:2, the central multi-generational-chain verse for this doctrine. Must retain the full chain (‘what you heard from me… entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also’) via verbal staging in translation, not a single compact one-time hand-off verb.
Rightly Handling The Word
Approved rendering: 按正意解釋（真理嘅道）
Transliteration: on3 zing3 ji3 gaai2 sik1 zan1 lei5 ge3 dou6
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Rejected alternatives: 正確地講解真理的道 (loses the precision-cutting image)
Original: ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:15 (ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας). Follows the established CUV phrase pattern (‘按著正意分解真理的道’); preserves the craftsman’s-precision image (lit. ‘cut straight’).
Last Days
Approved rendering: 末後嘅日子
Transliteration: mut6 hau6 ge3 jat6 zi2
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Rejected alternatives: 末世, 世界末日
Original: ἔσχαται ἡμέραι
Category: Eschatology
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:1 (ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις). NEVER 末世 or 世界末日, which carry a cataclysmic-countdown connotation from Hong Kong disaster-film pop culture and are ALSO the self-identifying branding of the Church of Almighty God cult (全能神教會 / ‘Eastern Lightning’ 東方閃電), actively notorious in Hong Kong. Names the already-inaugurated, ongoing church-age period, not an imminent-cataclysm countdown.
Crown Of Righteousness
Approved rendering: 義嘅冠冕
Transliteration: ji6 ge3 gun3 min5
Doctrine: Assurance of Reward
Rejected alternatives: 修成正果嘅獎賞, 還神還願式嘅回報
Original: ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος
Category: Eschatology
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:8. Must be framed as a grace-secured reward for faithfulness already enabled by grace (cf. 1:9, 2:1), never as merit independently earning salvation — guard against 修成正果 and against the transactional temple-vow reward structure of popular Hong Kong temple worship (Wong Tai Sin’s ‘whatever you ask, you shall receive’).
Form Of Godliness
Approved rendering: 有敬虔嘅外表，但否認敬虔嘅能力
Transliteration: jau5 ging3 kin4 ge3 ngoi6 biu2, daan6 fau2 jing6 ging3 kin4 ge3 nang4 lik6
Doctrine: Authentic Godliness vs. Empty Form
Rejected alternatives: 有敬虔嘅外貌，卻背了敬虔嘅實意 (CUV’s looser 實意 rendering)
Original: μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:5. Follow the RCUV/CNV 能力 (power) pattern, not CUV’s looser 實意 (‘true substance’), so real, God-given power (神嘅大能) is explicitly what is denied. Must be distinguished from Confucian ritual-propriety critique (禮) and performative temple religiosity (燒香拜神 without inward devotion), while remaining a warning Paul directs at professing believers within the church, not only at other religions.
Godliness
Approved rendering: 敬虔
Transliteration: ging3 kin4
Doctrine: Authentic Godliness vs. Empty Form
Original: εὐσέβεια
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:5, 3:12 (εὐσέβεια). Authentic devotion to God, whose true power is denied by the merely outward-religious in the last days.
Lovers Of Pleasure Rather Than God
Approved rendering: 愛享樂而唔愛神嘅人
Transliteration: oi3 hoeng2 lok6 ji4 m4 oi3 san4 ge3 jan4
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Rejected alternatives: 享樂主義者 (loses the explicit God-ward comparison)
Original: φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:4 (φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλόθεοι, a NT hapax pairing). Must retain the explicit God-ward comparison rather than flattening into generic hedonism — this is the root diagnosis behind the whole vice catalogue of 3:2-4.
Impostors Goetes
Approved rendering: 行騙嘅人
Transliteration: hang4 pin3 ge3 jan4
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Rejected alternatives: 術士, 法師, 大師
Original: γόητες
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:13 (γόητες, lit. ‘sorcerer/magician’, NT-generalized to ‘impostor/swindler’). NEVER 術士 or 法師 (both dignify real folk-religious magical or dharma-master power in Cantonese usage), and never 大師 (already forbidden under the baseline’s apostle entry). Use 行騙嘅人/騙子 exclusively to retain the impostor sense without importing occult legitimacy.
Corrupted In Mind
Approved rendering: 心思敗壞
Transliteration: sam1 si1 baai6 waai6
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: κατεφθαρμένοι τὸν νοῦν, ἀδόκιμοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:8 (κατεφθαρμένοι τὸν νοῦν, ἀδόκιμοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν). Must retain moral-intellectual corruption tied specifically to rejecting the faith, not generic error.
Deserted Loved Present Age
Approved rendering: 離棄…貪愛現今嘅世代
Transliteration: lei4 hei3…, taam1 oi3 jin6 gam1 ge3 sai3 doi6
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: ἐγκατέλιπεν ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:10, Demas’s concrete negative example (ἐγκατέλιπεν ἀγαπήσας τὸν νῦν αἰῶνα). A sobering counter-example to 4:8’s ‘loved his appearing’ — directly relevant to both Apostasy and Perseverance under Suffering.
Medium Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: 福音
Transliteration: fuk1 jam1
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel / The Charge to Preach the Word
Rejected alternatives: 好消息, 喜訊
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Hong Kong prosperity-and-luck culture caution (恭喜發財 New Year greeting) still applies. In 2 Timothy anchors 1:8, 1:10, 2:8, 4:5 — teaching must keep this the announcement of salvation through Christ’s death/resurrection, never forecasted prosperity.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: 神嘅國
Transliteration: san4 ge3 gwok3
Doctrine: Kingdom of God (Heavenly)
Rejected alternatives: 天下, 王朝
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). In 2 Timothy rendered with possessive/modifying variants: 佢嘅國 (‘his kingdom,’ 4:1) and 天上嘅國 (‘his heavenly kingdom,’ 4:18 — see separate heavenly_kingdom entry). Retain the baseline’s political-neutrality caution for Hong Kong readers.
Glory
Approved rendering: 榮耀
Transliteration: wing4 jiu6
Doctrine: Assurance of Reward
Rejected alternatives: 面子, 威水
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Avoid 面子/威水. Appears at 2 Timothy 2:10 (eternal glory as the goal of salvation) and 4:18 (closing doxology).
David
Approved rendering: 大衛
Transliteration: daai6 wai6
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: Δαυίδ
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Background reference at 2 Timothy 2:8.
Peace
Approved rendering: 平安
Transliteration: ping4 on1
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: 平安符式嘅平安, 老黃曆話嘅好日子
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Opens 2 Timothy’s greeting triad (1:2) alongside 恩典 and 憐憫.
Mercy
Approved rendering: 憐憫
Transliteration: lin4 man5
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: 有求必應式嘅憐憫, 功德式嘅回報
Original: ἔλεος
Category: God
NEW. God’s compassion shown toward the guilty/needy, part of the greeting triad (1:2) and twice more attached to Onesiphorus (1:16, 1:18, ‘may the Lord grant him to find mercy’). Distinguish from a transactional plea-and-favor exchange, echoing the baseline’s grace-vs-Wong-Tai-Sin caution — mercy remains God’s free gift even when requested on someone’s behalf, not a reward purchased by past service.
Promise Of Life
Approved rendering: 生命嘅應許
Transliteration: sang1 ming6 ge3 jing3 heoi2
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Original: ἐπαγγελία ζωῆς
Category: Salvation
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:1. Frame as a divine promise secured in Christ, not a human achievement.
Sacred Writings
Approved rendering: 聖經
Transliteration: sing3 ging1
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: 佛經, 道經
Original: ἱερὰ γράμματα / γραφή
Category: Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:15-16. Distinguish clearly from 佛經/道經 (‘sutras/scriptures’ of other traditions) despite the shared character 經; anchor 聖經 explicitly as exclusively ‘the Bible’ for low-literacy or first-time readers on first occurrence in any lesson.
Teaching Doctrine
Approved rendering: 教義／教導
Transliteration: gaau3 ji3 / gaau3 dou6
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
NEW. General term (διδασκαλία), 2 Timothy 3:10, 3:16, 4:2, 4:3. Use consistently paired with 純正 to form the ‘sound doctrine’ compound.
Man Of God
Approved rendering: 屬神嘅人
Transliteration: suk6 san4 ge3 jan4
Doctrine: Sufficiency of Scripture
Original: ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος
Category: Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:17 (ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος). An OT-derived title for one devoted to and representing God; reinforces OT-NT ministry continuity.
Equipped For Service
Approved rendering: 裝備好（完備）
Transliteration: zong1 bei6 hou2 (jyun4 bei6)
Doctrine: Sufficiency of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: 修成正果
Original: ἄρτιος / ἐξηρτισμένος
Category: Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:17 (ἄρτιος/ἐξηρτισμένος). Must not suggest self-attainment; avoid overlap with 修成正果, forbidden under the baseline’s justification entry. Scripture alone furnishes the believer for every good work; must never be presented as merely one useful resource among several, such as almanac/fortune-guidance consultation.
Truth
Approved rendering: 真理
Transliteration: zan1 lei5
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: ἀλήθεια
Category: Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:15, 2:18, 2:25, 3:7-8, 4:4 (ἀλήθεια). Keep specifically the apostolic/gospel truth in view, not truth-in-general.
Faithful Saying
Approved rendering: 這話係可信嘅
Transliteration: ze5 waa6 hai6 ho2 seon3 ge3
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Original: πιστὸς ὁ λόγος
Category: Scripture
NEW. Fixed Pastoral Epistles formula (πιστὸς ὁ λόγος), 2 Timothy 2:11. Signals settled, memorized, authoritative doctrine, not the speaker’s private opinion.
Evangelist
Approved rendering: 傳福音者
Transliteration: cyun4 fuk1 jam1 ze2
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: εὐαγγελιστής
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:5’s ‘work of an evangelist’ (εὐαγγελιστής). Reuses baseline 福音.
Ministry Service
Approved rendering: 事奉
Transliteration: si6 fung6
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: διακονία
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:5 (διακονία). Timothy’s total Christian service/office, of which evangelism is one part.
Solemn Charge
Approved rendering: 鄭重囑咐
Transliteration: zeng6 zung6 zuk1 fu3
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: διαμαρτύρομαι
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:14, 4:1 (διαμαρτύρομαι). At 4:1, retain the co-witness of God and Christ Jesus, implicitly affirming Christ’s co-equal divine status; teaching material should gloss the underlying courtroom-oath structure.
In Season Out Of Season
Approved rendering: 順境逆境都要（傳）
Transliteration: seon6 ging2 jik6 ging2 dou1 jiu3
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:2 merism (εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως). Native-speaker review recommended given contemporary Hong Kong sensitivities around public religious expression.
Perilous Times
Approved rendering: 艱難嘅時期
Transliteration: gaan1 naan4 ge3 si4 kei4
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: καιροὶ χαλεποί
Category: Eschatology
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:1 (καιροὶ χαλεποί). Describes the moral/spiritual character of the last days, introducing the vice catalogue of 3:2-4.
Heavenly Kingdom
Approved rendering: 天上嘅國
Transliteration: tin1 soeng6 ge3 gwok3
Doctrine: Kingdom of God (Heavenly)
Original: βασιλεία ἐπουράνιος
Category: Eschatology
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:18 (βασιλεία ἐπουράνιος), modifying the baseline’s 神嘅國. Reinforces that ‘kingdom of God’ names a spiritual/heavenly reign, not an earthly political program, given Hong Kong’s political sensitivities.
Myths
Approved rendering: 荒誕嘅傳說
Transliteration: fong1 daan3 ge3 cyun4 syut3
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Rejected alternatives: 神話
Original: μύθοι
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:4 (μῦθοι). Prefer over 神話, since 神話 literally contains 神 (God/deity) and could read as ‘stories about gods,’ touching Hong Kong’s folk-deity legend traditions (Wong Tai Sin, Guanyin legends).
Turn Away Wander Into Myths
Approved rendering: 轉離真理、走偏
Transliteration: zyun2 lei4 zan1 lei5, zau2 pin1
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: ἀποστρέφω / ἐκτρέπομαι
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:4 (ἀποστρέφω/ἐκτρέπομαι). The closest 2 Timothy comes to naming apostasy directly, though the noun ‘apostasy’ itself never occurs in this letter.
Snare Of The Devil
Approved rendering: 魔鬼嘅陷阱
Transliteration: mo1 gwai2 ge3 haam6 zeng6
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: ἡ τοῦ διαβόλου παγίς
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:26. Situates doctrinal corruption within spiritual warfare, not merely human intellectual error.
Gangrene
Approved rendering: 壞疽
Transliteration: waai6 zeoi5
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Original: γάγγραινα
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:17 (γάγγραινα, NT hapax). A clinical loanword rarely used outside hospital contexts in everyday Cantonese; lesson material should supply a brief explanatory gloss (‘一種令組織腐爛蔓延嘅病，喻表錯誤教導喺教會裡面點樣擴散’) to preserve the medical metaphor’s force, while the fixed Bible-text rendering remains 壞疽.
Spirit Of Fear
Approved rendering: 懦弱嘅心
Transliteration: no6 joek6 ge3 sam1
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: πνεῦμα δειλίας
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:7 (πνεῦμα δειλίας). Names the obstacle God’s Spirit overcomes; must not be softened into ordinary nervousness.
Self Discipline
Approved rendering: 自律嘅心
Transliteration: zi6 leot6 ge3 sam1
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: σωφρονισμός
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:7 (σωφρονισμός, NT hapax). Distinguish from secular self-discipline achievable by willpower alone — this is a Spirit-given gift alongside power and love.
Ashamed
Approved rendering: 以…為恥
Transliteration: ji5 wai4 ci2
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: ἐπαισχύνομαι
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:8, 1:12, 1:16, 2:15 (ἐπαισχύνομαι). A recurring theme running directly against Hong Kong’s social-face dynamic (面子/唔衰得, flagged under the baseline’s sin entry); must be read as refusing shame before God/regarding the gospel, never reframed as a face-preservation strategy.
Suffer Together
Approved rendering: 一齊受苦
Transliteration: jat1 cai4 sau6 fu2
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: συγκακοπάθησον
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:8, 2:3 (συγκακοπάθησον). Emphasizes communal, not individualistic, perseverance.
Endure Suffering
Approved rendering: 忍受苦難
Transliteration: jan2 sau6 fu2 naan6
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Rejected alternatives: 撐住, 頂得住 (colloquial stoic-toughness idioms lacking the Spirit-empowered nuance of 1:7)
Original: κακοπαθέω
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:9, 4:5 (κακοπαθέω). Central term for this doctrine; never substitute colloquial toughness idioms for the Spirit-empowerment triad of 1:7 (power, love, self-discipline).
Sincere Faith
Approved rendering: 真誠嘅信心
Transliteration: zan1 sing4 ge3 seon3 sam1
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Original: ἀνυπόκριτος πίστις
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:5 (ἀνυπόκριτος πίστις), modifying the baseline’s 信心. Continuous with faith transmitted through generations (Lois, Eunice, Timothy) — must be taught as personally, genuinely held by Timothy, not a family-obligation transfer akin to 家教/孝道.
Word Of God Not Bound
Approved rendering: 神嘅道並唔會被綁住
Transliteration: san4 ge3 dou6 bing3 m4 wui5 bei6 bong2 zyu6
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Original: ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:9. Even under persecution/imprisonment, the gospel’s advance cannot be stopped.
Poured Out Libation
Approved rendering: 被澆奠
Transliteration: bei6 giu1 din6
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: ἐγὼ…σπένδομαι
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:6 (σπένδομαι). No unambiguous alternative rendering exists in mainstream Chinese translation; care needed that readers not confuse this with Cantonese ancestral-rite libation practice (灌奠) at Ching Ming/Chung Yeung — the object of Paul’s ‘pouring out’ is God alone, not veneration of the dead. Requires explicit teaching-note gloss (‘獻祭咁被澆奠喺神面前’).
Fought Good Fight
Approved rendering: 打過美好嘅仗，跑完咗路程，守住咗信心
Transliteration: daa2 gwo3 mei5 hou2 ge3 zoeng3, paau2 jyun4 zo2 lou6 cing4, sau2 zyu6 zo2 seon3 sam1
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering / Assurance of Reward
Original: τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:7. Follows the established CUV phrase pattern; Paul’s climactic summary of a life of faithful perseverance — direct model and ground for the crown of righteousness (4:8).
Approved Worker
Approved rendering: 蒙認可、唔會覺得羞愧嘅工人
Transliteration: mung4 jing6 ho2, m4 wui5 gok3 dak1 sau1 kwai2 ge3 gung1 jan4
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Original: δόκιμος, ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:15 (δόκιμος, ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον). Ties Guarding Sound Doctrine to the recurring ‘not ashamed’ theme.
Repentance Knowledge Of Truth
Approved rendering: 悔改、認識真理
Transliteration: fui3 goi2, jing6 sik1 zan1 lei5
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: μετάνοια εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:25. The hoped-for outcome of gentle correction of opponents; repentance is God-given (‘God may grant’), not humanly coerced.
Firm Foundation Seal
Approved rendering: 堅固嘅根基、印記
Transliteration: gin1 gu3 ge3 gan1 gei1, jan3 gei3
Doctrine: Assurance of Reward
Original: στερεὸς θεμέλιος, σφραγίς
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:19 (στερεὸς θεμέλιος, σφραγίς). God’s foundation stands regardless of individual apostasies, marked by his own seal of ownership — assurance grounded in God’s own faithfulness, not in the stability of any individual believer.
Vessel For Honor Dishonor
Approved rendering: 貴重嘅器皿、卑賤嘅器皿
Transliteration: gwai3 zung6 ge3 hei3 min5, bei1 zin6 ge3 hei3 min5
Doctrine: Guarding Sound Doctrine
Original: σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν / εἰς ἀτιμίαν
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:20-21. A household-vessel metaphor calling Timothy to personal purity so as to be set apart for honorable use; frames self-examination within the church community, not judgment of others’ final destiny.
Profitable For Teaching Reproof Correction Training
Approved rendering: 有益：教導、責備、使人歸正、教養在義
Transliteration: jau5 jik1: gaau3 dou6, zaak3 bei6, sai2 jan4 gwai1 zing3, gaau3 joeng5 hai6 ji6
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:16’s fourfold description of Scripture’s active benefit (διδασκαλία, ἔλεγχος, ἐπανόρθωσις, παιδεία). Distinguish 教養 (Scripture-driven, God-given training) from 修煉 (self-directed cultivation regimen, already flagged under the baseline’s sanctification entry).
Low Risk Terms
Apostle
Approved rendering: 使徒
Transliteration: si2 tou4
Doctrine: Divine Calling to Ministry
Rejected alternatives: 風水師, 大師
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Grounds Paul’s authority throughout 2 Timothy (1:1, 1:11: ‘preacher, apostle, and teacher’).
Exhort
Approved rendering: 勸勉
Transliteration: hyun3 min5
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Inherited from Romans package (copied exactly). Used as the third element of 2 Timothy 4:2’s threefold pastoral charge (責備、譴責、勸勉).
Patience
Approved rendering: 忍耐
Transliteration: jan2 noi6
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: μακροθυμία
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 3:10, 4:2 (μακροθυμία). Standard vocabulary; low risk.
Sober Minded
Approved rendering: 保持清醒
Transliteration: bou2 ci4 cing1 sing2
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: νῆφε
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:5 (νῆφε). Direct contrast to the confused, desire-driven crowd of 4:3-4.
Laying On Of Hands
Approved rendering: 按手
Transliteration: on3 sau2
Doctrine: Divine Calling to Ministry
Original: ἐπίθεσις τῶν χειρῶν
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:6. The visible, communal ordination gesture by which Timothy’s ministry gift was imparted/recognized — church commissioning, not private mystical experience.
Low-Medium Risk Terms
Reprove Rebuke Exhort
Approved rendering: 責備、譴責、勸勉
Transliteration: zaak3 bei6, hin2 zaak3, hyun3 min5
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: ἔλεγξον, ἐπιτίμησον, παρακάλεσον
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:2 threefold pastoral function. 勸勉 reuses baseline exhort entry exactly.
Fulfill Ministry
Approved rendering: 完全做好、盡忠完成
Transliteration: jyun4 cyun4 zou6 hou2, zeon6 zung1 jyun4 sing4
Doctrine: The Charge to Preach the Word
Original: πληροφόρησον
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:5 (πληροφόρησον). Echoes 4:7’s ‘I have finished the race’; demands full, not partial, faithfulness.
Ministry Metaphors
Approved rendering: 兵、比賽、農夫
Transliteration: bing1, bei2 coi3, nung4 fu1
Doctrine: Ministry Devotion and Endurance
Original: στρατιώτης / ἀθλέω / γεωργός
Category: Ministry
NEW. 2 Timothy 2:3-6 (soldier/athlete/farmer). Low collision risk in Cantonese; introduces the crown/reward imagery developed fully in 4:8.
Itching Ears
Approved rendering: 耳仔痕
Transliteration: ji5 zai2 han4
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:3 (κνηθόμενοι τὴν ἀκοήν). Established CUV-tradition idiom (‘耳朵發癢’), adapted colloquially; native speaker review recommended to confirm natural register within a formal written Cantonese Bible-study document.
Heap Up Teachers
Approved rendering: 為自己堆積（教師）
Transliteration: wai6 zi6 gei2 deoi1 zik1
Doctrine: Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days
Original: ἐπισωρεύσουσιν
Category: Apostasy
NEW. 2 Timothy 4:3 (ἐπισωρεύσουσιν). A vivid image of doctrinal instability — endlessly accumulating agreeable teachers rather than holding fast to sound doctrine.
Testimony
Approved rendering: 見證
Transliteration: gin3 zing3
Doctrine: Perseverance under Suffering
Original: μαρτύριον
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:8 (μαρτύριον). The gospel itself framed as a testimony to be unashamedly borne.
Conscience
Approved rendering: 良心
Transliteration: loeng4 sam1
Doctrine: Faithful Transmission of the Gospel
Original: συνείδησις
Category: Character
NEW. 2 Timothy 1:3 (συνείδησις). Distinguish moral standing before God from a merely social ‘clear conscience’ about not losing face (cf. baseline’s 唔衰得 caution under sin).
Referenced passages