Core Glossary
Core Glossary — Acts 1–28 (English → Dogri)
This glossary cites every load-bearing term identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md, organized in two sections. Section A lists baseline Romans terms that recur in Acts and must be reused exactly, with their Acts chapter citations added. Section B is the full glossary of terms newly required for Acts, with all fields required for Phase 1 term entries.
Section A — Baseline Terms Reused in Acts (No Change Permitted)
| Term | Dogri (exact, from baseline) | Risk (baseline) | Acts chapters where it recurs |
|---|---|---|---|
| gospel | खरी खबर | High | 1, 2, 8, 10, 13, 15, 20 |
| grace | बिना कमाई दित्ती दया | Critical | 4, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20 |
| faith | भरोसा | High | 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 24, 26, 27 |
| righteousness | धरमीपन | Critical | 3, 13, 24 |
| justification | धर्मी ठहराए जाना | Critical | 13 |
| salvation | उद्धार | Critical | 2, 4, 11, 13, 15, 16, 27, 28 |
| apostle | भेजेआ होया | Medium | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 |
| called / calling | सद्देआ होया / सद्द | High | 1, 2, 9, 13, 16, 26 |
| holy | पवित्तर | High | throughout (Holy Spirit, holy ones, holy city) |
| saints | पवित्तर लोक | High | 9, 26 |
| sanctification | पवित्तरता | High | 20, 26 (contrast note re: ch.21 OT purification, see Section B) |
| adoption | गोद लैने आह् पुत्तर बनाना | High | (not directly re-invoked; sonship imagery present at 13:33, cross-referenced) |
| resurrection | मुर्दघरा चा जिंदा होना | Critical | 1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 23, 24, 26 |
| lord | प्रभु | Critical | throughout, esp. 2, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 25 |
| son_of_god | परमेश्वर दा पुत्तर | Critical | 9, 13 |
| incarnation | मानखे दा रूप लैना | Critical | (implicit background to 2:22-24, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God”) |
| peace | शान्ति | Medium | 9, 10, 24 |
| spiritual_gifts | आत्मिक दान | Medium | (contrast term for Section B “gift of the Holy Spirit,” 2:38) |
| thanksgiving | धन्नवाद | Low | 27, 28 |
| fellowship | संगत | Low | 2 |
| church | कलीसिया | Medium | 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20 |
| kingdom_of_god | परमेश्वर दा राज्य | Medium | 1, 8, 14, 19, 20, 28 |
| law | व्यवस्था | High | 6, 7, 13, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25 |
| sin | पाप | High | 2, 3, 5, 22 |
| gentiles | गैर-यहूदी | Medium | 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 26, 28 |
| glory | महिमा | High | 3, 7, 12 |
| obedience_of_faith | भरोसे कन्नै ताल्लुक रखदी मन्नता | High | 6 (implicit, apostles’ obedience under persecution) |
| power_of_god | परमेश्वर दी सामर्थ | High | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 19 |
| messiah | मसीह | Critical | 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 17, 18, 26, 28 |
| prophet | नबी | Low | 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 21 |
| prophecy | भविष्यवाणी | Low | 2, 3, 8, 13, 15 |
| covenant | नियम | High | 3, 7 |
| election | परमेश्वर दी चोन | High | 9, 13 |
| intercession | बिचाल्ले होइयै बिनती | Medium | 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, 20 |
| providence | परमेश्वर दा प्रबन्ध | High | 1, 5, 12, 16, 18, 20, 27 |
| mission | प्रचार दा कम्म | Medium | 1, 13, 20, 26 |
| david | दाऊद | Low | 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 15 |
| israel | इस्राएल | Medium | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13, 28 |
| jesus | यीशु | Critical | throughout |
| god | परमेश्वर | Critical | throughout |
| holy_spirit | पवित्तर आत्मा | Critical | throughout, esp. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20 |
| father | पिता | Critical | 1, 2 |
| abba | अब्बा | High | (not directly re-invoked in Acts narrative) |
| exhort | हौसला देना | Low | 2, 11, 14, 15, 20, 27 |
| seed_of_david | दाऊद दे वंश चा | High | 13 |
| imputed_righteousness | गिनी गेई धरमीपन | Critical | 13 (implicit in justification statement, cross-referenced) |
Section B — New Terms Introduced by Acts
Field key: Term (English) | Greek/Transliteration | Literal meaning | Dogri rendering | Transliteration | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chapters | Notes
B.1 — Pneumatology / Pentecost Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentecost | πεντηκοστή (pentēkostē) | “the fiftieth [day]“ | पिन्तेकुस्त | Pentekust | Medium | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | generic “त्योहार” alone (loses Sinai/covenant background) | 2, 20 | Confirm against BSI Dogri Bible for settled form; gloss on first use. |
| filled with the Holy Spirit | ἐπλήσθησαν πνεύματος ἁγίου | ”were filled with holy spirit” | पवित्तर आत्मा कन्नै भर जाना | pavittar aatma kannai bhar jaana | High | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | possession/trance vocabulary tied to local oracle-mediums, never use | 2, 4, 6, 9, 13 | Must read as settled personal indwelling, not temporary trance-possession. |
| other tongues | ἑτέραις γλώσσαις (heterais glōssais) | “other tongues/languages” | होर बोलियां | hor boliyan | High | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | unintelligible ecstatic-utterance framing, never use without qualification | 2 | Must be explained as real, known human languages (v.6,8,11). |
| poured out (the Spirit) | ἐκχεῶ (ekcheō) | “I will pour out” | डोहलणा / उन्ढेलणा | dohlana / undhelana | High | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | ritual libation/abhishek-pouring on an idol, never use as the operative image | 2 | God as generous personal giver, not a consecration ritual performed on an image. |
| gift of the Holy Spirit | δωρεά τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος (dōrea tou hagiou pneumatos) | “free gift of holy spirit” | पवित्तर आत्मा दा बिना कमाई दित्ता दान | pavittar aatma da bina kamai ditta daan | Critical | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | वरदान (boon granted for devotion/vow), never use | 2, 10 | Deliberately echoes baseline grace phrase; the Spirit himself is unearned. |
| day of the Lord | ἡμέρα Κυρίου (hēmera Kyriou) | “day of the Lord” | प्रभु दा दिन | prabhu da din | Medium | Holy Spirit & Pentecost / eschatology | astrological auspicious-day (muhurat) framing, avoid | 2 | Fixed divine eschatological appointment, not a calculable auspicious date. |
| lying to the Holy Spirit | ψεύσασθαι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον | ”to lie to the holy spirit” | पवित्तर आत्मा कन्नै झूठ बोलना | pavittar aatma kannai jhuth bolna | High | Holy Spirit & Pentecost | lying “to the community/institution” alone, too weak | 5 | Equates lying to the Spirit with lying to God — full personal deity affirmed. |
| spirit of divination (python spirit) | πνεῦμα πύθωνα (pneuma pythōna) | “spirit of Python” | भविष्य बताने वाली दुष्ट आत्मा | bhavishya bataane wali dusht aatma | High | The Holy Spirit and Pentecost (contrast) | treating as a lesser-but-real neutral power, never | 16 | Explicitly demonic and counterfeit; distinct from prophecy (नबी/भविष्यवाणी) and from the Holy Spirit. |
B.2 — Repentance, Baptism, and Salvation Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| repent / repentance | μετανοέω / μετάνοια (metanoeō / metanoia) | “change of mind” | मन फिराव (n.) / मन फिराना (v.) | mana phirav / mana phirana | Critical | Repentance and Baptism | पछतावा (mere regret, no reorientation, avoid as primary term); pilgrimage/vow-based sin-expiation, never | 2, 3, 11, 17, 26 | Whole-person Spirit-enabled turning to God, not remorse or ritual expiation. |
| baptize / baptism | βαπτίζω / βάπτισμα (baptizō / baptisma) | “to dip, immerse” | बपतिस्मा (n.); बपतिस्मा लैना / बपतिस्मा देना (v.) | baptisma; baptisma laina / baptisma dena | Critical | Repentance and Baptism | स्नान करना (ritual purificatory bathing, e.g. before Vaishno Devi darshan), never as primary term | 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 19, 22 | Once-for-all public identification with Christ’s death/resurrection and church entry; never a purity-removal ritual bath. |
| forgiveness of sins | ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν (aphesis hamartiōn) | “release/sending away of sins” | पापां दी माफी | papan di maafi | High | Repentance and Baptism | conflating with justification (धर्मी ठहराए जाना), avoid | 2, 10, 13, 26 | Distinct from, though related to, the forensic declaration of justification. |
| promise (Joel’s promise / New Covenant promise) | ἐπαγγελία (epangelia) | “a promise/announcement” | वादा | vaada | Medium | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | conflating direction with मन्नत (a vow made TO God), avoid | 2 | God’s promise TO people — opposite direction from a vow. |
| ”save yourselves from this crooked generation” | σώθητε ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς τῆς σκολιᾶς ταύτης | — | (reuses उद्धार) | — | Critical | Salvation | — | 2 | Confirms baseline salvation term extends unchanged into Acts. |
B.3 — Gospel to Jews and Gentiles / Comparative-Religion Collision Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| clean / unclean (common) | κοινός / ἀκάθαρτος (koinos / akathartos) | “common” / “unclean” | शुद्ध / अशुद्ध | shuddh / ashuddh | Critical | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | reinforcing caste-purity framing without explicit correction, never | 10 | Highest-value new Critical term in Acts for this culture; directly engages caste-purity categories. Mandatory theologian review every occurrence. |
| God shows no partiality | οὐκ ἔστιν προσωπολήμπτης ὁ θεός | ”God is not a receiver of faces” | परमेश्वर कीह् दा पख्खपात नेईं करदा | Parmeshwar kihh da pakkhpaat nayin karda | High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | any softened reading accommodating lineage/izzat hierarchy, avoid | 10 | Challenges Dogra Rajput lineage-honor stratification directly. |
| the Way | ἡ ὁδός (hē hodos) | “the road/path” | राह् (मसीह दी राह्) | raah (Masih di raah) | High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | generic “one path among many” (sarva-dharma-sama-bhava) framing, never | 9, 19, 22, 24 | Always anchor to Christ by name in context. |
| circumcision | περιτομή (peritomē) | “a cutting around” | खतना | khatna | High | Justification apart from the Law | leaving unexplained the OT-covenant referent (risk of Muslim-practice confusion) | 15, 16, 21 | Requires translator note: OT Mosaic covenant sign, not a Christian-Muslim dispute term. |
| yoke | ζυγός (zygos) | “a yoke” | जुआ | jua | Medium | Justification apart from the Law | — | 15 | Connects directly to baseline law (व्यवस्था) entry. |
| idol food / offered to idols | εἰδωλόθυτα (eidōlothyta) | “things sacrificed to idols” | मूर्तियां अग्गे भेंट कीती चीज़ां | murtiyan agge bhent kiti chizan | High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | treating as a timeless universal food law without pastoral context, avoid | 15 | Direct parallel to prasad-sharing; teach underlying principle plus historical occasion. |
| idol / image | εἴδωλον (eidōlon) | “an image, likeness” | मूर्ति | murti | Critical | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | — (term itself unavoidable; register/framing is the safeguard, not word substitution) | 7 (implicit), 14, 15, 17, 19 | Same word as reverentially used for Hindu temple images; polemic targets the object’s theological status, tone must stay respectful. Mandatory theologian review in doctrinal contexts. |
| unknown god | ἀγνώστῳ θεῷ (agnōstō theō) | “to an unknown god” | अनजाण्या परमेश्वर | anjaanya Parmeshwar | High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | ”fulfillment theology” reading (local deities as unknowing worship of the true God), never | 17 | Historical reference only; Paul corrects, does not affirm, pagan worship. |
| living God | ὁ θεὸς ὁ ζῶν (ho theos ho zōn) | “the living God” | जिंदा परमेश्वर | jinda Parmeshwar | High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | any framing that treats a local deity as “also living,” avoid | 14, 28 | Sharp Creator/creature polemic against actively worshipped local deities. |
| sorcery / magic | μαγεία (mageia) | “magic, sorcery” | जादू-टोणा | jadu-tona | High | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | treating as a lesser-but-real version of the Spirit’s power, never | 8, 13, 19 | Directly parallels regional occult practice (tona-totka, ojhas); explicitly counterfeit. |
| Artemis / Diana | Ἄρτεμις (Artemis) | — (proper noun) | अरतिमिस | Artimis | Medium-High | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | — | 19 | Teaching parallel to the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage economy; use pastorally, not as direct condemnation. |
| vow (Nazirite) | εὐχή (euchē) | “a vow” | मन्नत | mannat | Critical — context-restricted | Justification apart from the Law / cultural sensitivity | using मन्नत for GRACE (forbidden, per baseline); confusing this legitimate context with the forbidden one | 21 | मन्नत is correct HERE for a real OT vow; baseline only forbids it for grace. Mandatory disambiguating translator note and theologian review every occurrence. |
| temple (literal Jerusalem/pagan temple building) | ἱερόν / ναός (hieron / naos) | “temple” | मंदर | mandar | Medium | Context-discipline flag | using मंदर for church/ekklēsia (forbidden, per baseline) | 3, 19, 21, 24, 25 | मंदर is correct HERE for the literal building; forbidden only as a rendering of ekklēsia. |
B.4 — Christology / Witness Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| witness(es) | μάρτυς (martys) | “one who testifies” | गवाह् | gawah | High | Persecution and Bold Witness | generic messenger term, too weak | 1, 2, 7, 22, 26 | Escalates to martyrdom sense in ch.7. |
| witness unto death (martyrdom) | μάρτυς (realized sense) | “testifier sealed by death” | गवाही देंदे-देंदे जान देना | gawahi dende-dende jaan dena | High | Persecution and Bold Witness | equating with Baba Jitto’s folk-martyr protest-sacrifice, never | 7 | Stephen’s death witnesses to Christ’s resurrection/forgiveness — categorically distinct from local folk-martyr cult. |
| Son of Man | ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου (ho huios tou anthrōpou) | “the son of the man” | मनुक्ख दा पुत्तर | mankh da puttar | Critical | Conversion of Paul (Stephen’s vision) / Christology | reading as mere self-deprecating “a human being,” avoid | 7 | Danielic exalted-dominion figure; reinforces sonship/deity of Christ. |
| Servant of God (title) | ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ (ho pais autou) | “his servant” | परमेश्वर दा सेवक | Parmeshwar da sevak | High | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | generic holy-man honorific, avoid | 3 | Isaianic Servant title. |
| Holy and Righteous One (title) | τὸν ἅγιον καὶ δίκαιον | ”the Holy and Righteous One” | पवित्तर ते धरमी जन | pavittar te dharmi jan | High | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | — | 3 | Built on baseline holy + righteousness entries. |
| boldness | παρρησία (parrēsia) | “frankness of speech” | हिम्मत / निडरता | himmat / niddarta | Medium | Persecution and Bold Witness | Dogra Rajput honor/izzat-driven bravado, distinguish | 4, 28 | Spirit-empowered gospel courage, not honor-culture bravery. |
| chosen instrument / vessel | σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς (skeuos eklogēs) | “a vessel of election” | चोन्दा भांडा | chonda bhaanda | High | Conversion of Paul | — | 9 | Inherits baseline election risk. |
| eternal life | ζωὴ αἰώνιος (zōē aiōnios) | “life eternal” | सदा दा जीवन / अनन्त जीवन | sada da jeevan / anant jeevan | Critical | The Great Commission Fulfilled / Salvation | मुक्ति (forbidden); moksha-as-dissolution framing, never | 13 | Unending, personal, resurrection-continuous life with God. |
| ascension | ἀνελήμφθη (anelēmphthē) | “was taken up” | ऊप्पर चुक्केआ गेआ / स्वर्गे चढ़ाया गेआ | uppar chukkea gea / swarge chadhaya gea | Critical | The Great Commission Fulfilled | reincarnation-cycle or repeatable avatar-descent-and-return framing, never | 1 | Unique, historical, bodily completion of the resurrection. |
B.5 — Church Order and Community Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| breaking of bread | κλάσις τοῦ ἄρτου (klasis tou artou) | “breaking of the bread” | रोटी तोड़ना | roti todna | High | The Church as Community | prasad-logic (consecrated temple food consumed for blessing), never | 2 | Covenantal/commemorative fellowship meal, not consecrated-substance consumption. |
| devoted themselves | προσκαρτερέω (proskartereō) | “to persist firmly” | तन-मन कन्नै लगे रैहे | tan-man kannai lage rahe | Low-Medium | The Church as Community | generic bhakti-devotion vocabulary untethered from the four concrete practices | 2 | — |
| one heart and soul / one accord | μία καρδία καὶ μία ψυχή / ὁμοθυμαδόν | ”one heart and one soul” | इक मन ते इक जिंद | ik man te ik jind | Medium | The Church as Community | biradari/clan solidarity framing, distinguish | 4 | Spirit-created unity crossing social/lineage lines. |
| table service / diaconal ministry | διακονία (diakonia) | “service” | सेवा दा कम्म | seva da kamm | Medium | The Church as Community | generic temple/langar volunteer seva-for-merit framing, distinguish | 6 | Christ-centered, gospel-flowing ministry. |
| laying on of hands | ἐπιθέντες τὰς χεῖρας (epithentes tas cheiras) | “having laid on hands” | हथ रखणा | hath rakhna | Medium | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | folk-blessing touch by a sadhu/pir, distinguish | 6, 13 | Apostolic commissioning/impartation rite. |
| elders (church office) | πρεσβύτεροι (presbyteroi) | “elder men” | कलीसिया दे बुजुर्ग | kalisiya de bujurg | Medium | The Church as Community | biradari/panchayat lineage-elder authority, distinguish | 14, 15, 20 | Spiritual, gospel-derived, Scripture-accountable authority. |
| overseer / shepherd (church office) | ἐπίσκοπος / ποιμήν (episkopos / poimēn) | “overseer” / “shepherd” | निगरान / चरवाहा | nigraan / charvaha | Medium | The Church as Community | — | 20 | Accountable to Christ, who “obtained the church with his own blood.” |
| whole counsel of God | πᾶσα ἡ βουλὴ τοῦ θεοῦ (pasa hē boulē tou theou) | “all the counsel of God” | परमेश्वर दी सारी सलाह/मनसा | Parmeshwar di saari salah/mansa | High | The Great Commission Fulfilled | — | 20 | Inherits providence risk. |
| Christian | Χριστιανός (Christianos) | “belonging to Christ” | मसीही | masihi | Low | The Church as Community | — | 11 | Established convention, built on मसीह. |
| household (salvation extends to) | οἶκος (oikos) | “house/household” | घराना / घर | gharana / ghar | Medium | Repentance and Baptism | automatic corporate/kinship salvation reading, avoid | 16 | Gospel moves through family networks; each member responds personally. |
B.6 — Narrative, Legal, and Miscellaneous Terms
| Term | Greek (translit.) | Literal | Dogri | Translit. | Risk | Doctrine | Alternatives rejected | Chs. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| casting lots | κλῆρος (klēros) | “a lot” | पासा सुट्टणा | pasa suttna | Low-Medium | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | ज्योतषी-style fortune-telling/oracle consultation, distinguish | 1 | One-time Scripture-sanctioned discernment, not an ongoing practice. |
| Sanhedrin / Council | συνέδριον (synedrion) | “a sitting-together” | सनहेड्रिन (यहूदी बड्डी सभा) | Sanhedrin | Low-Medium | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | village panchayat-authority framing, distinguish | 4, 5, 6, 22, 23 | — |
| God-fearer | φοβούμενος τὸν θεόν (phoboumenos ton theon) | “one who fears God” | परमेश्वर तो डरने वाला | Parmeshwar to darne wala | Low-Medium | Gospel to Jews and Gentiles | — | 10 | Historical descriptive category. |
| fear [of God] | φόβος (phobos) | “fear/dread” | परमेश्वर दा डर | Parmeshwar da dar | Medium | Apostolic Authority and Miracles | appeasement-fear of a volatile deity (e.g. Kali), distinguish | 5 | Reverential awe within covenant grace, not propitiation. |
| self-control | ἐγκράτεια (enkrateia) | “self-mastery” | आपे उप्पर काबू | aape uppar kaabu | Low-Medium | Justification apart from the Law | — | 24 | — |
| judgment to come | τὸ κρίμα τὸ μέλλον (to krima to mellon) | “the judgment about to be” | आनी वाला न्याय | aani wala nyay | Medium-High | Justification apart from the Law | — | 24 | Inherits universal_human_accountability emphasis. |
| appeal to Caesar | ἐπικαλοῦμαι Καίσαρα (epikaloumai Kaisara) | “I appeal to Caesar” | कैसर कोल अपील करना | Kaisar kol appeal karna | Low | (legal/narrative) | — | 25 | Disambiguate from “calling on the Lord’s name” — same Greek verb, unrelated theological weight. |
| Roman citizen | πολίτης Ῥωμαῖος (politēs Rhōmaios) | “a Roman citizen” | रोमी नागरिक | Romi nagrik | Low | (legal/narrative) | — | 16, 22 | — |
| ceremonial purification (OT rite) | ἁγνίζω (hagnizō) | “to purify ceremonially” | शुद्धीकरण दी रीत | shuddhikaran di reet | Medium-High | Justification apart from the Law | treating as a Christian sanctification template, avoid | 21 | Historical OT-era rite; must not contradict baseline sanctification entry (never शुद्धिकरण for the Spirit’s ongoing work). |
| stiff-necked | σκληροτράχηλος (sklērotrachēlos) | “stiff/hard of neck” | अक्खड़ / जिद्दी | akkhad / ziddi | Low-Medium | Persecution and Bold Witness | — | 7 | — |
| unhindered | ἀκωλύτως (akōlytōs) | “without hindrance” | बिना रोक-टोक | bina rok-tok | Low | The Great Commission Fulfilled | — | 28 | Book’s closing note; gospel’s unstoppable advance. |
Summary Risk Counts (New Acts Terms, Section B)
| Risk Tier | Count | Review Routing |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | 8 | Human theologian (mandatory, every occurrence) |
| High | 22 | Human theologian |
| Medium-High / Medium | 13 | Native speaker review (theologian for medium-high flagged items) |
| Low-Medium / Low | 9 | Automated / native speaker spot-check |
These new terms are pending formal ratification into an updated translation_memory.json (version increment required, per 12_ai_translation_requirements.md §“Translation Memory Load and Enforcement Instructions”) before any Phase 2 segment translation of Acts may begin. Terms marked Critical or High must not be used in Phase 2 translation until a human theologian has signed off on the specific Dogri rendering recorded here.
Critical Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: बिना कमाई दित्ती दया
Transliteration: bina kamai ditti daya
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: मन्नत दा फल (a boon granted in response to a vow, as sought at Vaishno Devi shrine; never use), पुण्य (merit earned through right action, never use)
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. In Acts 15:11 this is the Jerusalem Council’s grace-alone verdict (‘saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus’) and must match exactly, resisting both a merit reading and any residual law-observance requirement.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: धरमीपन
Transliteration: dharmipan
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: धरम (avoid the bare sense of caste/social duty tied to Dogra Rajput lineage-honor expectations)
Original: δικαιοσύνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs in Acts 3, 13, 24; used in the ‘Holy and Righteous One’ christological title.
Justification
Approved rendering: धर्मी ठहराए जाना
Transliteration: dharmi thehrae jana
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: माफी मिलना (forgiveness received, too narrow)
Original: δικαίωσις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Acts 13:38-39 is the book’s explicit justification statement and must reuse this exact compound phrase, never abbreviated to mere forgiveness.
Salvation
Approved rendering: उद्धार
Transliteration: uddhar
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: मुक्ति (liberation from the rebirth cycle, never use), मनोकामना पूरी होना (a wish/boon granted, as through a vow at Vaishno Devi, never use)
Original: σωτηρία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Acts 4:12 (‘no other name… by which we must be saved’) requires this term at full exclusivist force; recurs Acts 2, 4, 11, 13, 15, 16, 27, 28.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: मुर्दघरा चा जिंदा होना
Transliteration: murdaghara cha jinda hona
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: पुनर्जन्म (reincarnation, never use)
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs Acts 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 17, 23, 24, 26; the doctrine is narrated amid mockery (17:32) and intra-Jewish dispute (23:6-8), never softened.
Lord
Approved rendering: प्रभु
Transliteration: prabhu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: महाराजा (a title strongly associated with the historic Dogra royal dynasty, avoid as the primary term for Christ’s Lordship)
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Applies with full force at 2:36, 10:36, 16:31, 20:21; never महाराजा.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दा पुत्तर
Transliteration: Parmeshwar da puttar
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: अवतार (an incarnate deity-descent, e.g. Rama as Vishnu’s avatar at Raghunath Mandir, an explicit downgrade and rejected)
Original: υἱὸς θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Affirmed explicitly by Paul in Acts 9:20 and 13:33; must retain full co-equal divine sonship.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: मानखे दा रूप लैना
Transliteration: mankhe da roop laina
Doctrine: Incarnation
Rejected alternatives: अवतार (never use; Raghunath Mandir’s Rama-avatar devotion makes this the single highest-salience wrong word in the Duggar region)
Original: ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Background to Acts 2:22, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God.‘
Messiah
Approved rendering: मसीह
Transliteration: masih
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Original: Χριστός / מָשִׁיחַ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Central to Peter’s, Stephen’s, and Paul’s sermons throughout Acts (chs. 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 17, 18, 26, 28).
Jesus
Approved rendering: यीशु
Transliteration: Yishu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ईसा (used in Muslim/Urdu-influenced contexts; reserve for interfaith-dialogue framing only)
Original: Ἰησοῦς / יֵשׁוּעַ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts.
God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर
Transliteration: Parmeshwar
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: भगवान (broad Hindu deity usage, avoid for doctrinal precision)
Original: θεός / אֱלֹהִים / יהוה
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Preferred over भगवान given risk of evoking Rama, Kali, or the Vaishno Devi goddess.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: पवित्तर आत्मा
Transliteration: pavittar aatma
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: शक्ति (goddess-power, e.g. as embodied at Vaishno Devi and Bahu Fort, never use), परमात्मा alone (Hindu universal Self, never use)
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Acts is the Spirit’s most intensively narrated NT book; must remain sharply distinct from local oracle-possession and impersonal spirit-power concepts throughout, including grammatical personhood (personal pronouns, personal verbs of speech/decision), guarding also against Jehovah’s Witnesses NWT-style impersonal ‘active force’ renderings.
Father
Approved rendering: पिता
Transliteration: pita
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts.
Imputed Righteousness
Approved rendering: गिनी गेई धरमीपन
Transliteration: gini gei dharmipan
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: कमाई गेई धरमीपन (earned righteousness, the explicit rejected opposite)
Original: ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Implicit in the Acts 13:38-39 justification statement.
Repentance
Approved rendering: मन फिराव / मन फिराना
Transliteration: man phirav / man phirana
Doctrine: Repentance and Baptism
Rejected alternatives: पछतावा (mere regret/remorse, too weak, lacks reorientation toward God), तीर्थ-यात्रा राहें पाप धोना (washing away sin through pilgrimage, an active local expiation pattern, explicitly rejected)
Original: μετάνοια / μετανοέω
Category: Repentance and Baptism
New term for Acts. Must never collapse into ritual guilt-expiation or social shame-repair (izzat); a Spirit-enabled whole-person turning to God, extended explicitly to Gentiles (11:18). Chs. 2, 3, 11, 17, 20, 26.
Baptism
Approved rendering: बपतिस्मा
Transliteration: baptisma
Doctrine: Repentance and Baptism
Rejected alternatives: स्नान करना (ritual purificatory bathing, e.g. before Vaishno Devi darshan), never as primary term, अमृत / Amrit Sanchar-adjacent phrasing (the Khalsa Sikh initiation rite), never use
Original: βάπτισμα / βαπτίζω
Category: Repentance and Baptism
New term for Acts. Once-for-all public identification with Christ’s death/resurrection and church entry; never a purity-removal ritual bath. Acts 19:1-7 requires a mandatory note distinguishing John’s baptism from Spirit-accompanied Christian baptism, since both use the same Dogri word. Chs. 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 19, 22.
Gift Of Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: पवित्तर आत्मा दा बिना कमाई दित्ता दान
Transliteration: pavittar aatma da bina kamai ditta daan
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: वरदान (a boon granted by a deity for devotion or a vow), never use
Original: δωρεὰ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Deliberately echoes the baseline grace phrase; Simon the sorcerer’s attempt to purchase this gift (8:18-20) must read as a rebuked error, not a viable transactional model. Chs. 2, 8, 10, 11, 19.
Ascension
Approved rendering: ऊप्पर चुक्केआ गेआ / स्वर्गे चढ़ाया गेआ
Transliteration: uppar chukkea gea / swarge chadhaya gea
Doctrine: The Great Commission Fulfilled
Rejected alternatives: reincarnation-cycle framing, never, repeatable avatar-descent-and-return framing, never
Original: ἀνελήμφθη
Category: The Great Commission Fulfilled
New term for Acts. Christ’s bodily, visible, historical departure into heaven, completing the resurrection. Ch. 1 (1:9-11).
No Other Name
Approved rendering: कोई होर नां नेईं जिसदे राहें उद्धार होंदा
Transliteration: koi hor naan nayin jisde rahen uddhar honda
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: any softened reading accommodating pluralistic religious framing (Rama, Kali, Vaishno Devi, Baba Jitto), never
Original: οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἄλλῳ οὐδενὶ ἡ σωτηρία
Category: Salvation
New term for Acts. Must be stated with full exclusivist force; no softening permitted. Ch. 4 (4:12).
Son Of Man
Approved rendering: मनुक्ख दा पुत्तर
Transliteration: mankh da puttar
Doctrine: Conversion of Paul
Rejected alternatives: mere self-deprecating synonym for ‘a human being’, avoid
Original: ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
Category: Christology
New term for Acts. Must retain the Danielic force of a divine, dominion-receiving figure, confirming Jesus’ exalted, divine-messianic status. Ch. 7 (7:56).
Clean Unclean
Approved rendering: शुद्ध / अशुद्ध
Transliteration: shuddh / ashuddh
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: reinforcing caste-purity framing without explicit correction, never
Original: κοινός / ἀκάθαρτος
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. The single sharpest collision point in this curriculum: शुद्ध/अशुद्ध maps directly onto live caste (jāti) purity-pollution categories historically entangled with untouchability. Must be taught with full force — God abolished the boundary — never trivialized into dietary trivia. Mandatory theologian review every occurrence. Ch. 10 (10:9-16,28,34-35); ch. 11 (11:1-18); ch. 15 (15:6-11).
Eternal Life
Approved rendering: सदा दा जीवन / अनन्त जीवन
Transliteration: sada da jeevan / anant jeevan
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: मुक्ति (liberation from the rebirth cycle, forbidden), moksha-as-dissolution-into-Brahman framing, never
Original: ζωὴ αἰώνιος
Category: Salvation
New term for Acts. Unending, personal, resurrection-continuous life with God, granted by sovereign election. Ch. 13 (13:46-48).
Idol Image
Approved rendering: मूर्ति
Transliteration: murti
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Original: εἴδωλον
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. मूर्ति is also the standard, reverentially-used term for a consecrated temple image (Raghunath Mandir; Vaishno Devi’s pindi form; Bahu Fort’s Kali murti). The word is unavoidable; the polemic targets the object’s theological status, not a sociological insult toward Hindu neighbors. Tone must remain respectful while doctrinal content stays intact. Mandatory theologian review in doctrinal contexts. Chs. 7 (implicit), 14, 15, 17, 19.
Vow Nazirite
Approved rendering: मन्नत
Transliteration: mannat
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Rejected alternatives: using मन्नत for GRACE (forbidden per baseline ‘मन्नत दा फल’); confusing this legitimate OT context with the forbidden grace-context, never
Original: εὐχή
Category: Justification apart from the Law
SPECIAL HANDLING, new term for Acts. The baseline forbids मन्नत only as a rendering for grace, given its Vaishno Devi vow-for-boon association. That rejection does not forbid मन्नत itself — here ‘vow’ genuinely is a real OT Nazirite vow (Num. 6), and मन्नत is correct. MANDATORY disambiguating translator note every occurrence, distinguishing this legitimate historical practice from the forbidden grace-context usage. Escalate every occurrence to human theologian review. Ch. 21 (21:17-26).
High Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: खरी खबर
Transliteration: khari khabar
Doctrine: Gospel
Rejected alternatives: सुसमाचार (a Hindi Christian loanword; avoid as the default rendering so this curriculum reads as Dogri, not Hindi with Devanagari spelling)
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs across Acts 1, 2, 8, 10, 13, 15, 20. Must convey an authoritative announcement, not generic good news among many, including the news of a wish granted at a shrine.
Faith
Approved rendering: भरोसा
Transliteration: bharosa
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: श्रद्धा (generalized devotional reverence, too broad)
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs across Acts 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 24, 26, 27. Object of faith must always be named in context.
Called
Approved rendering: सद्देआ होया
Transliteration: saddea hoya
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Rejected alternatives: सद्दा दित्ता (invited, too weak)
Original: κλητός
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Context-sensitive across Acts 1, 2, 9, 13, 16, 26.
Calling
Approved rendering: सद्द
Transliteration: sadd
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Original: κλῆσις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts.
Holy
Approved rendering: पवित्तर
Transliteration: pavittar
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: शुद्ध (ritual purity, e.g. before temple darshan, avoid as a substitute)
Original: ἅγιος
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Used throughout Acts in Holy Spirit, holy ones, and holy city references.
Saints
Approved rendering: पवित्तर लोक
Transliteration: pavittar lok
Doctrine: Sainthood
Rejected alternatives: साधु (an ascetic holy man, never use for the corporate sense)
Original: ἅγιοι
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs Acts 9, 26.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: पवित्तरता
Transliteration: pavittarta
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: शुद्धिकरण (ritual purification rites, avoid as a substitute)
Original: ἁγιασμός
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Must not be confused with the OT ceremonial purification (ceremonial_purification_ot, Acts 21:24-26), a distinct, historical, non-repeatable rite.
Adoption
Approved rendering: गोद लैने आह् पुत्तर बनाना
Transliteration: god laine aah puttar banana
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: υἱοθεσία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Not directly re-invoked as a stand-alone term in Acts narrative but cross-referenced at 13:33’s sonship declaration.
Sin
Approved rendering: पाप
Transliteration: paap
Doctrine: Universal Human Accountability
Rejected alternatives: भिट्ट (ritual impurity/pollution, avoid as a substitute)
Original: ἁμαρτία
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Distinguished from भिट्ट; relevant background to the Acts 10 clean/unclean doctrine. Recurs Acts 2, 3, 5, 22.
Glory
Approved rendering: महिमा
Transliteration: mahima
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: δόξα
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Avoid metaphors that could conflate with aarti/ceremonial lamp-lighting ritual imagery, relevant background to Acts 13:47’s ‘light to the Gentiles.‘
Obedience Of Faith
Approved rendering: भरोसे कन्नै ताल्लुक रखदी मन्नता
Transliteration: bharose kannai tallukh rakhdi mannata
Doctrine: Obedience of Faith
Rejected alternatives: धार्मिक रीत-रिवाज निभाना (ritual/social duty-keeping, a works-based misreading tied to Dogra Rajput custom)
Original: ὑπακοὴ πίστεως
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Illustrated implicitly by the apostles’ obedience under persecution (Acts 5:29).
Power Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दी सामर्थ
Transliteration: Parmeshwar di samarth
Doctrine: Power of God for Salvation
Rejected alternatives: शक्ति (associated with goddess-power devotion, as at Bahu Fort’s Kali shrine and Vaishno Devi, avoid as the primary term)
Original: δύναμις θεοῦ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Never शक्ति; relevant across Acts’ healing and empowerment narratives (chs. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 19).
Covenant
Approved rendering: नियम
Transliteration: niyam
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Rejected alternatives: समझौता (a negotiated deal/contract, too transactional)
Original: διαθήκη
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Relevant to Stephen’s covenant-history speech in Acts 7.
Election
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दी चोन
Transliteration: Parmeshwar di chon
Doctrine: Effectual Calling
Rejected alternatives: किस्मत (fate, never use), मन्नत दा नतीजा (a boon-outcome, never use)
Original: ἐκλογή
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Grounds Paul’s calling as a ‘chosen instrument’ (9:15) and Gentiles’ appointment to eternal life (13:48).
Providence
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दा प्रबन्ध
Transliteration: Parmeshwar da prabandh
Doctrine: Providence
Rejected alternatives: किस्मत (fate, never use)
Original: πρόνοια
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Illustrated in Gamaliel’s counsel (5:38-39), Peter’s deliverance (ch.12), and the storm at sea (ch.27).
Abba
Approved rendering: अब्बा
Transliteration: Abba
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: אַבָּא
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Not directly re-invoked in Acts narrative but retained for cross-curriculum consistency.
Seed Of David
Approved rendering: दाऊद दे वंश चा
Transliteration: Daud de vansh cha
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Original: σπέρμα Δαυίδ
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs in Paul’s Antioch sermon (13:22-23).
Filled With Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: पवित्तर आत्मा कन्नै भर जाना
Transliteration: pavittar aatma kannai bhar jaana
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: possession/trance vocabulary tied to local oracle-mediums (masani/devi-possession), never use
Original: ἐπλήσθησαν πνεύματος ἁγίου
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Must read as settled personal indwelling, not temporary trance-possession. Chs. 2, 4, 6, 9, 13.
Other Tongues
Approved rendering: होर बोलियां
Transliteration: hor boliyan
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: unintelligible ecstatic-utterance framing, never use without qualification
Original: ἑτέραις γλώσσαις
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Must be explained as real, known human languages (v.6, 8, 11), never shamanistic trance-speech. Ch. 2.
Poured Out Spirit
Approved rendering: अपनी आत्मा डोहलणी / उन्ढेलणी
Transliteration: apni aatma dohlani / undhelni
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: abhishek-style ritual pouring/anointing performed upon a deity’s image at temple consecration rites, never use as the operative image
Original: ἐκχεῶ ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματός μου
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. God as generous personal giver, not a consecration ritual performed on an image; grammatical subject/object must always show God giving to people, never people acting upon a divine image. Ch. 2.
Call On The Name Of The Lord
Approved rendering: प्रभु दा नां लैना
Transliteration: prabhu da naan laina
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: invoking a deity’s name for a granted boon, the mannat vow-economy logic already flagged Critical for grace, never use
Original: ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου
Category: Salvation
New term for Acts. Trusting appeal to the only Lord who saves, not transactional petition. Ch. 2 (2:21, 2:38).
Witness
Approved rendering: गवाह्
Transliteration: gawah
Doctrine: Persecution and Bold Witness
Rejected alternatives: generic messenger term, too weak
Original: μάρτυς
Category: Persecution and Bold Witness
New term for Acts. Programmatic term for the whole book (1:8); escalates to the ‘witness unto death’ sense at Stephen’s martyrdom (ch.7). Chs. 1, 2, 7, 22, 26.
Exalted Right Hand
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दे सज्जे हत्थै उच्चा कीता गेआ
Transliteration: Parmeshwar de sajje hatthai uccha kita gea
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: merely honored royal-court position analogous to Dogra courtier rank, avoid
Original: τῇ δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ ὑψωθείς
Category: Christology
New term for Acts. Extends lordship_of_christ; must retain unique divine enthronement, not political-historical honor. Ch. 2 (2:33-36).
Forgiveness Of Sins
Approved rendering: पापां दी माफी
Transliteration: papan di maafi
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: conflating with justification (धर्मी ठहराए जाना), avoid
Original: ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν
Category: Salvation
New term for Acts. Distinct from, though related to, the forensic declaration of justification; both appear in Acts and must not be flattened into synonyms. Chs. 2, 10, 13, 26.
Breaking Of Bread
Approved rendering: रोटी तोड़ना
Transliteration: roti todna
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Rejected alternatives: prasad-logic (consecrated temple food distributed after puja at Raghunath Mandir, Bahu Fort, or Vaishno Devi and consumed for blessing), never
Original: κλάσις τοῦ ἄρτου
Category: Church
New term for Acts. A memorial/covenantal fellowship act commemorating Christ’s death, not a substance made holy by ritual offering. Ch. 2 (2:42,46); recurring weekly practice, requires consistent fencing every occurrence.
Servant Of God Title
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दा सेवक
Transliteration: Parmeshwar da sevak
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: generic holy-man honorific, avoid
Original: ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ
Category: Christology
New term for Acts. Isaianic Suffering Servant title; must not read as a generic honorific applicable to any holy man or guru figure. Ch. 3 (3:13,26).
Holy And Righteous One
Approved rendering: पवित्तर ते धरमी जन
Transliteration: pavittar te dharmi jan
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Original: τὸν ἅγιον καὶ δίκαιον
Category: Christology
New term for Acts. Built directly on the holy and righteousness baseline entries; inherits the Critical caution that धरमीपन never carry the धरम/lineage-duty sense. Ch. 3 (3:14).
Times Of Refreshing
Approved rendering: ताजगी दे दिन / सब चीज़ां दी बहाली
Transliteration: taazgi de din / sab chizan di bahaali
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rejected alternatives: cyclical cosmic-renewal (recurring yuga cycles) framing, never
Original: ἀνάψυξις / ἀποκατάστασις
Category: Eschatology
New term for Acts. A single, final, once-for-all restoration, not a repeating pattern. Ch. 3 (3:19-21).
Lying To Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: पवित्तर आत्मा कन्नै झूठ बोलना
Transliteration: pavittar aatma kannai jhuth bolna
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: lying to ‘the community/institution’ alone, too weak
Original: ψεύσασθαι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Reinforces the Critical holy_spirit entry: the Spirit is not an impersonal institutional power but God himself, personally lied to. Ch. 5 (5:3-4).
Witness Unto Death
Approved rendering: गवाही देंदे-देंदे जान देना
Transliteration: gawahi dende-dende jaan dena
Doctrine: Persecution and Bold Witness
Rejected alternatives: equating with Baba Jitto’s folk-martyr protest-sacrifice (Aghar Jitto shrine, Bua Kauri), never
Original: μάρτυς (realized sense)
Category: Persecution and Bold Witness
New term for Acts. Stephen’s death witnesses to Christ’s resurrection and forgives his killers — categorically distinct from a folk-martyr’s protest-sacrifice. Ch. 7.
Sorcery Magic
Approved rendering: जादू-टोणा
Transliteration: jadu-tona
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: treating as a lesser-but-real version of the Spirit’s power, never
Original: μαγεία / μάγος
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. Directly parallels regional occult practice (tona-totka, jadu, ojha/faqir consultation); explicitly condemned as counterfeit, not a real neutral power. Chs. 8, 13, 19.
The Way
Approved rendering: राह् (मसीह दी राह्)
Transliteration: raah (Masih di raah)
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: generic ‘one path among many’ (sarva-dharma-sama-bhava) framing, never
Original: ἡ ὁδός
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. ‘Path’ (marg) language is pervasive across Indian religious traditions; must always be anchored to Christ by name. Chs. 9, 19, 22, 24.
Chosen Instrument
Approved rendering: चोन्दा भांडा
Transliteration: chonda bhaanda
Doctrine: Conversion of Paul
Original: σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς
Category: Conversion of Paul
New term for Acts. Paul’s calling is God’s sovereign choice, not his own merit or spiritual achievement; inherits the election risk profile. Ch. 9 (9:15).
Gods Impartiality
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर कीह् दा पख्खपात नेईं करदा
Transliteration: Parmeshwar kihh da pakkhpaat nayin karda
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: any softened reading accommodating lineage/izzat hierarchy, avoid
Original: οὐκ ἔστιν προσωπολήμπτης ὁ θεός
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Directly challenges Dogra Rajput lineage-honor stratification and caste hierarchy; retain full force. Chs. 10, 15.
Living God
Approved rendering: जिंदा परमेश्वर
Transliteration: jinda Parmeshwar
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: framing any local deity (Rama-Vishnu, Kali) as ‘also living’, avoid
Original: ὁ θεὸς ὁ ζῶν
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Sharp Creator/creature polemic delivered to a pagan audience mistaking Paul and Barnabas for gods. Chs. 14, 28.
Idols Vain Things
Approved rendering: बेकार चीज़ां
Transliteration: bekaar chizan
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Original: τὰ μάταια
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Paul’s Lystra sermon directly denies the reality/power of the local pantheon. Ch. 14.
Circumcision
Approved rendering: खतना
Transliteration: khatna
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Original: περιτομή
Category: Justification apart from the Law
New term for Acts. This Perso-Arabic-derived word carries a strong contemporary association with Islamic practice in North Indian usage. MANDATORY translator note every occurrence clarifying this is the OT Mosaic covenant sign under first-century dispute, not a Christian-Muslim controversy. Chs. 15, 16, 21.
Idol Food
Approved rendering: मूर्तियां अग्गे भेंट कीती चीज़ां
Transliteration: murtiyan agge bhent kiti chizan
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: treating as a timeless universal food law without pastoral context, avoid
Original: εἰδωλόθυτα
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Direct parallel to prasad; teach the underlying principle plus the decree’s specific pastoral occasion (protecting Jew-Gentile table fellowship). Ch. 15.
Spirit Of Divination
Approved rendering: भविष्य बताने वाली दुष्ट आत्मा
Transliteration: bhavishya bataane wali dusht aatma
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: treating as a lesser-but-real neutral power, never
Original: πνεῦμα πύθωνα
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Explicitly demonic and counterfeit; directly relevant given regional oracle/spirit-medium consultation (masani/devi-aana). Ch. 16.
Unknown God
Approved rendering: अनजाण्या परमेश्वर
Transliteration: anjaanya Parmeshwar
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: ‘fulfillment theology’ reading (local deities as unknowing worship of the true God), never
Original: ἀγνώστῳ θεῷ
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Historical reference only; Paul corrects, does not affirm, pagan worship. Ch. 17 (17:23).
Whole Counsel Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दी सारी सलाह/मनसा
Transliteration: Parmeshwar di saari salah/mansa
Doctrine: The Great Commission Fulfilled
Original: πᾶσαν τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: The Great Commission Fulfilled
New term for Acts. Inherits the providence risk profile; deliberate, complete, purposive divine revelation, not a partial or convenient selection. Ch. 20 (20:27).
Ceremonial Purification Ot
Approved rendering: शुद्धीकरण दी रीत
Transliteration: shuddhikaran di reet
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Rejected alternatives: treating as a Christian sanctification template, avoid
Original: ἁγνίζω
Category: Justification apart from the Law
New term for Acts. A described, historical OT-era practice, not a template for Christian sanctification; must not contradict the baseline sanctification entry (never शुद्धिकरण for the Spirit’s ongoing work). Ch. 21 (21:24-26).
Medium Risk Terms
Apostle
Approved rendering: भेजेआ होया
Transliteration: bhejea hoya
Doctrine: Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: दूत (generic messenger, too weak)
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Distinguish from a generic religious teacher/guru role; recurs Acts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16.
Peace
Approved rendering: शान्ति
Transliteration: shanti
Doctrine: Peace with God
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs Acts 9, 10, 24.
Spiritual Gifts
Approved rendering: आत्मिक दान
Transliteration: aatmik daan
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts
Rejected alternatives: वरदान (boon, carries the sense of a wish granted by a deity, avoid as the primary term)
Original: χαρίσματα
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Contrast term for the distinct ‘gift of the Holy Spirit’ (δωρεά) at Acts 2:38; keep the two terms visibly distinct.
Church
Approved rendering: कलीसिया
Transliteration: kalisiya
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: मंदर (temple, e.g. Raghunath Mandir/Bahu Fort, never use)
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs Acts 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20. Never मंदर; मंदर is correctly reserved in Acts for the literal Jerusalem/pagan temple building (see temple_literal below) — never interchange.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दा राज्य
Transliteration: Parmeshwar da rajya
Doctrine: Kingdom Mission
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Corrects the disciples’ political-restorationist question at Acts 1:6-8; recurs Acts 8, 14, 19, 20, 28.
Law
Approved rendering: व्यवस्था
Transliteration: vyavastha
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rejected alternatives: धरम (avoid Dogra Rajput lineage-duty associations)
Original: νόμος
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Central to the circumcision and yoke debates in Acts 15; recurs Acts 6, 7, 13, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: गैर-यहूदी
Transliteration: gair-yahudi
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: विदेशी (foreigner, too broad)
Original: ἔθνη
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Central to the Jew-Gentile inclusion trajectory running through Acts 10-15, 28.
Intercession
Approved rendering: बिचाल्ले होइयै बिनती
Transliteration: bichalle hoiyai binti
Doctrine: Prayer and Intercession
Original: ὑπερεντυγχάνει / ἔντευξις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. The church’s earnest prayer for Peter (12:5,12) is a key illustrative passage.
Mission
Approved rendering: प्रचार दा कम्म
Transliteration: prachar da kamm
Doctrine: Mission to the Nations
Original: ἀποστολή / πέμπω
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Be sensitive to colonial-era mission-school associations in the Jammu region; the programmatic mandate of 1:8 and Paul’s missionary journeys.
Israel
Approved rendering: इस्राएल
Transliteration: Israel
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Original: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Be aware of contemporary political sensitivity; theological usage should remain unambiguous.
Pentecost
Approved rendering: पिन्तेकुस्त
Transliteration: Pentekust
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: generic त्योहार alone (loses the Sinai/covenant background)
Original: πεντηκοστή
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Transliterated and glossed on first use as ‘पंजाह्वें दिन दा त्योहार’ (the festival of the fiftieth day) with explicit Sinai/covenant background; without this anchor it risks being heard as a generic regional harvest mela (e.g. Baisakhi, Jitto Da Mela). Chs. 2, 20.
Theophany Wind
Approved rendering: तेज हवा जेह्ी अवाज़
Transliteration: tez hava jehi awaz
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Original: πνοή
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. Must not be flattened into ordinary storm/weather description; keep tied to the Spirit’s manifest, personal arrival. Ch. 2.
Last Days
Approved rendering: आखरी दिनां च
Transliteration: aakhri dinan ch
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: cyclical cosmic age (yuga) framing, avoid
Original: ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις
Category: Eschatology
New term for Acts. Linear, historical inbreaking of the end times. Ch. 2.
Day Of The Lord
Approved rendering: प्रभु दा दिन
Transliteration: prabhu da din
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: astrological auspicious-day (muhurat) framing, avoid
Original: ἡμέρα Κυρίου
Category: Eschatology
New term for Acts. A fixed divine eschatological appointment, not a calculable auspicious date. Ch. 2.
Wonders And Signs
Approved rendering: अचम्भे ते निशान
Transliteration: achambhe te nishaan
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: framing as parallel to shrine-deity miracle claims (Vaishno Devi, Baba Jitto shrine), avoid
Original: τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. These signs specifically and exclusively authenticate Jesus and apostolic proclamation. Chs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 19, 28.
Loosed Pangs Of Death
Approved rendering: मौत उसदे उप्पर काबू नेईं रख्खी सकी
Transliteration: maut usde uppar kaabu nayin rakkhi saki
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: λύσας τὰς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θανάτου
Category: Christology
New term for Acts. Idiom rendered for meaning per idiom-handling rule; theological content (death could not hold him) must survive even though the birth-pang image does not transfer. Ch. 2.
Cut To The Heart
Approved rendering: दिल च चुभ गेआ / मन विच्च चोट लग्गी
Transliteration: dil ch chubh gea / man vichch chot laggi
Doctrine: Repentance and Baptism
Rejected alternatives: mere emotional guilt or social shame (izzat-loss), avoid
Original: κατενύγησαν τὴν καρδίαν
Category: Repentance and Baptism
New term for Acts. Spirit-produced inward conviction of sin preceding repentance. Ch. 2 (2:37).
Promise Of The Spirit
Approved rendering: वादा
Transliteration: vaada
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: conflating direction with मन्नत (a vow made TO God), avoid
Original: ἐπαγγελία
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. God’s promise TO people — the opposite direction from a vow. Ch. 2 (2:39).
Devoted Themselves
Approved rendering: तन-मन कन्नै लगे रैहे
Transliteration: tan-man kannai lage rahe
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Rejected alternatives: generic bhakti-style devotional vocabulary untethered from the four concrete practices, avoid
Original: προσκαρτερέω
Category: Church
New term for Acts. Ch. 2 (2:42).
Casting Lots
Approved rendering: पासा सुट्टणा
Transliteration: pasa suttna
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: ज्योतषी-style fortune-telling/oracle consultation, distinguish
Original: κλῆρος
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. A one-time, Scripture-sanctioned discernment method, not an ongoing practice modeled for believers today. Ch. 1 (1:26).
Boldness
Approved rendering: हिम्मत / निडरता
Transliteration: himmat / niddarta
Doctrine: Persecution and Bold Witness
Rejected alternatives: Dogra Rajput martial/honor-driven bravado (izzat-defending bravery), distinguish
Original: παρρησία
Category: Persecution and Bold Witness
New term for Acts. Must be anchored to Spirit-empowered gospel testimony, not honor-culture bravado. Chs. 4, 28.
Sanhedrin Council
Approved rendering: सनहेड्रिन (यहूदी बड्डी सभा)
Transliteration: Sanhedrin (yahudi baddi sabha)
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: village panchayat-authority framing, distinguish
Original: συνέδριον
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. A specific historical institution; avoid conflating its authority with clan-lineage panchayat authority. Chs. 4, 5, 6, 22, 23.
One Heart And Soul
Approved rendering: इक मन ते इक जिंद
Transliteration: ik man te ik jind
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Rejected alternatives: biradari/clan solidarity framing, distinguish
Original: μία καρδία καὶ μία ψυχή / ὁμοθυμαδόν
Category: Church
New term for Acts. Spirit-created unity crossing, not reinforcing, social/lineage boundaries. Ch. 4 (4:32).
Fear Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दा डर
Transliteration: Parmeshwar da dar
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: superstitious, appeasement-driven fear of a volatile deity (e.g. propitiating an angry Kali at Bahu Fort), distinguish
Original: φόβος
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. Reverent awe within covenant relationship, not placation. Chs. 5, 9, 19.
Table Service Ministry
Approved rendering: सेवा दा कम्म
Transliteration: seva da kamm
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Rejected alternatives: generic temple/langar volunteer seva-for-merit framing, distinguish
Original: διακονία
Category: The Church as Community
New term for Acts. Must be anchored to Christ-centered church ministry flowing from the gospel; सेवा is also the standard word for Hindu/Sikh temple and langar volunteer service. Ch. 6.
Laying On Of Hands
Approved rendering: हथ रखणा
Transliteration: hath rakhna
Doctrine: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
Rejected alternatives: folk-blessing touch by a sadhu/pir, distinguish
Original: ἐπιθέντες τὰς χεῖρας
Category: Apostolic Authority and Miracles
New term for Acts. A specific act of apostolic commissioning/impartation, not a generic charismatic blessing gesture. Chs. 6, 13.
Blasphemy
Approved rendering: निन्दा
Transliteration: ninda
Doctrine: Sin
Rejected alternatives: mere social insult/honor-violation (izzat slander), distinguish
Original: βλασφημία
Category: Sin
New term for Acts. The false charge brought against Stephen. Ch. 7.
Light To Gentiles
Approved rendering: गैर-यहूदियां आस्तै जोति
Transliteration: gair-yahudiyan aastai joti
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: aarti/ceremonial lamp-lighting temple ritual imagery, avoid
Original: φῶς ἐθνῶν
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Isaianic Servant-mission mandate for Paul’s ministry; revelatory-missional light, not devotional lamp ritual. Ch. 13 (13:47).
Elders Church Office
Approved rendering: कलीसिया दे बुजुर्ग
Transliteration: kalisiya de bujurg
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Rejected alternatives: biradari/panchayat lineage-elder authority, distinguish
Original: πρεσβύτεροι
Category: The Church as Community
New term for Acts. Spiritual, gospel-derived, Scripture-accountable authority, not clan seniority. Chs. 14, 15, 20.
Yoke
Approved rendering: जुआ
Transliteration: jua
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Original: ζυγός
Category: Justification apart from the Law
New term for Acts. Vivid agrarian metaphor connecting directly to the law entry; reinforces the grace-versus-law-works contrast. Ch. 15.
Household Salvation
Approved rendering: घराना / घर
Transliteration: gharana / ghar
Doctrine: Repentance and Baptism
Rejected alternatives: automatic corporate/kinship salvation reading, avoid
Original: σωθῇς σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου
Category: Repentance and Baptism
New term for Acts. Resonates with joint-family/biradari social structure, but each household member personally hears and believes. Ch. 16 (16:31-34).
In Him We Live And Move
Approved rendering: उसदे च ही असां जीणा, हिलणा-चलणा ते होणा है
Transliteration: usde ch hi asaan jeena, hilna-chalna te hona hai
Doctrine: God
Rejected alternatives: pantheistic identification of God with creation, avoid
Original: ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν καὶ κινούμεθα καὶ ἐσμέν
Category: God
New term for Acts. Must be paired with the Creator/creature distinction Paul draws elsewhere in the same speech. Ch. 17 (17:28).
Overseer Shepherd
Approved rendering: निगरान / चरवाहा
Transliteration: nigraan / charvaha
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Original: ἐπίσκοπος / ποιμήν
Category: The Church as Community
New term for Acts. Accountable to Christ, ‘who obtained the church with his own blood,’ not generic leadership authority. Ch. 20 (20:28).
Temple Literal
Approved rendering: मंदर
Transliteration: mandar
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: using मंदर for church/ekklēsia (forbidden per baseline), never
Original: ἱερόν / ναός
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Context-discipline flag, new term for Acts. मंदर is correct and required here for the literal Jerusalem Temple building and, by extension, pagan temple buildings (e.g. Artemis’s temple at Ephesus, ch.19); forbidden only as a rendering of ekklēsia/church. Chs. 3, 19, 21, 24, 25.
Judgment To Come
Approved rendering: आनी वाला न्याय
Transliteration: aani wala nyaay
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Original: τὸ κρίμα τὸ μέλλον
Category: Justification apart from the Law
New term for Acts. Inherits universal_human_accountability emphasis; must not be softened for a high-status official given izzat-conscious deference risk. Ch. 24 (24:25).
Kicking Against The Goads
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर दे खिलाफ अक्खड़पन दिखाना
Transliteration: Parmeshwar de khilaaf akkhadpan dikhaana
Doctrine: Conversion of Paul
Rejected alternatives: literal ox-goad image, likely unfamiliar to urban readers, avoid
Original: σκληρόν σοι κεντρίζειν
Category: Conversion of Paul
New term for Acts. Idiom per idiom-handling rule; Christ’s rebuke of Saul’s resistance to his sovereign call. Ch. 26.
Low Risk Terms
Thanksgiving
Approved rendering: धन्नवाद
Transliteration: dhannvaad
Doctrine: Thanksgiving
Original: εὐχαριστία
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Recurs Acts 27:35, 28:15.
Fellowship
Approved rendering: संगत
Transliteration: sangat
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: यारी-दोस्ती (casual friendship, too weak)
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. One of the four marks of the church at Acts 2:42.
Prophet
Approved rendering: नबी
Transliteration: nabi
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: ज्योतषी (astrologer/fortune-teller, never use)
Original: προφήτης
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Relevant contrast for Acts 16’s spirit of divination.
Prophecy
Approved rendering: भविष्यवाणी
Transliteration: bhavishyavani
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Original: προφητεία
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Democratized across social rank at Acts 2:17-18.
David
Approved rendering: दाऊद
Transliteration: Daud
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Original: דָּוִד
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts.
Exhort
Approved rendering: हौसला देना
Transliteration: hausla dena
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: παρακαλέω
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package baseline; unchanged for Acts. Used across Acts 2, 11, 14, 15, 20, 27.
Theophany Fire
Approved rendering: अग्ग
Transliteration: agg
Doctrine: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
Rejected alternatives: ritual fire-offering (havan/yajna) framing, avoid
Original: πῦρ
Category: Holy Spirit and Pentecost
New term for Acts. A sign of the Spirit’s descent, not an offering made to a deity. Ch. 2.
Added To Their Number
Approved rendering: रली गे / गिनतरी च रली गे
Transliteration: rali ge / gintri ch rali ge
Doctrine: Church
Original: προσετέθησαν
Category: Church
New term for Acts. Should read as the Spirit’s own gathering work, not mere social recruitment. Ch. 2 (2:41,47).
Ignorance
Approved rendering: अज्ञानता
Transliteration: agyaanta
Doctrine: Sin
Original: κατὰ ἄγνοιαν
Category: Sin
New term for Acts. Mitigates but does not excuse guilt; sets up the call to repent. Ch. 3 (3:17).
Stiff Necked
Approved rendering: अक्खड़ / जिद्दी
Transliteration: akkhad / ziddi
Doctrine: Persecution and Bold Witness
Original: σκληροτράχηλος
Category: Persecution and Bold Witness
New term for Acts. OT idiom charging Israel’s historic pattern of resisting God’s messengers. Ch. 7.
Scales Fell From Eyes
Approved rendering: अख्खां थमां पर्दा हट्टणा
Transliteration: akkhan thamaan parda hattna
Doctrine: Conversion of Paul
Rejected alternatives: literal fish-scale image, likely to confuse readers, avoid
Original: ὡς λεπίδες
Category: Conversion of Paul
New term for Acts. Idiomatic Dogri equivalent for restored sight paired with spiritual illumination. Ch. 9.
God Fearer
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर तो डरने वाला
Transliteration: Parmeshwar to darne wala
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Original: ὁ φοβούμενος τὸν θεόν
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Historical descriptive category for a Gentile devoted to Israel’s God without full proselyte conversion (Cornelius). Ch. 10.
Christian
Approved rendering: मसीही
Transliteration: masihi
Doctrine: The Church as Community
Original: Χριστιανός
Category: The Church as Community
New term for Acts. Built directly on मसीह; established convention, first applied at Antioch. Ch. 11 (11:26).
Roman Citizen
Approved rendering: रोमी नागरिक
Transliteration: romi naagrik
Doctrine: Narrative/Legal
Original: πολίτης Ῥωμαῖος
Category: Narrative/Legal
New term for Acts. Legal-historical term with no significant doctrinal weight. Chs. 16, 22.
Self Control
Approved rendering: आपे उप्पर काबू
Transliteration: aape uppar kaabu
Doctrine: Justification apart from the Law
Original: ἐγκράτεια
Category: Justification apart from the Law
New term for Acts. Part of Paul’s reasoning with Felix about righteousness and coming judgment. Ch. 24.
Appeal To Caesar
Approved rendering: कैसर कोल अपील करना
Transliteration: Kaisar kol appeal karna
Doctrine: Narrative/Legal
Original: ἐπικαλοῦμαι Καίσαρα
Category: Narrative/Legal
New term for Acts. Doctrinally low-weight legal term, but the same Greek verb underlies ‘calling on the name of the Lord’ (Acts 2:21); a disambiguating translator note is required. Ch. 25 (25:11).
Unhindered
Approved rendering: बिना रोक-टोक
Transliteration: bina rok-tok
Doctrine: The Great Commission Fulfilled
Original: ἀκωλύτως
Category: The Great Commission Fulfilled
New term for Acts. The book’s deliberately open-ended, hopeful close: the gospel’s advance cannot be stopped. Ch. 28.
Medium-High Risk Terms
Artemis Diana
Approved rendering: अरतिमिस
Transliteration: Artimis
Doctrine: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
Original: Ἄρτεμις
Category: Gospel to Jews and Gentiles
New term for Acts. Proper noun; a striking real-world parallel to the pilgrimage economy surrounding Vaishno Devi (offerings, tourism, associated trades) — use pastorally, not as direct condemnation of the destination culture’s own shrine economy. Ch. 19.
Referenced passages