Core Glossary
Core Glossary — Philemon (English–Dutch)
A. Terms Reused Exactly from the Romans Baseline
| Term (EN) | Greek | Dutch Rendering | Risk (baseline) | Occurrences in Philemon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gospel | εὐαγγέλιον | evangelie | Low | v.13 | No change from baseline. |
| Grace | χάρις | genade | High | vv.3, 25 (also root of χαρίζομαι v.22, ἐλλογάω echo v.18) | Reinforced by grace-root verb χαρίζομαι in v.22; see High-risk new entry below. |
| Faith | πίστις | geloof | Medium | vv.5, 6 | Personal trust, paired with ἀγάπη (love) throughout. |
| Saints | ἅγιοι | heiligen | High | vv.5, 7 | ”All the saints” = all believers; Catholic canonized-saint misreading risk directly applicable. |
| Church | ἐκκλησία | gemeente | High | v.2 | House-church sense reinforces baseline’s preference for “gemeente” over “kerk.” |
| Fellowship | κοινωνία | gemeenschap | Medium | v.6 (also κοινωνός noun, v.17) | See new entry for κοινωνός (partner) below. |
| Peace | εἰρήνη | vrede | Low | v.3 | Standard greeting formula. |
| Thanksgiving | εὐχαριστία / εὐχαριστέω | dankzegging / danken | Low | v.4 | Standard. |
| Lord | κύριος | Heer | High | vv.3, 5, 16, 20, 25 | Exclusive Lordship register maintained throughout. |
| God | θεός | God | Medium | vv.3, 4 | Secularization risk per baseline. |
| Father | πατήρ | Vader | Medium | v.3 | Standard greeting formula. |
| Jesus / Christ | Ἰησοῦς Χριστός | Jezus Christus | Low | vv.1, 3, 9, 23, 25 | Established transliteration standard. |
| Exhort (admonish sense) | παρακαλέω (admonish sub-sense) | vermanen | Low | not used in this sense in Philemon | Retained for reference only; Philemon’s use of παρακαλέω (vv.9–10) is the DISTINCT “appeal” sub-sense — see new entry below. Do not apply “vermanen” here. |
| Obedience of Faith (compound) | ὑπακοὴ πίστεως | gehoorzaamheid van het geloof | High | compound not used in Philemon | Retained for reference only; v.21 uses bare ὑπακοή — see new entry below. Do not silently substitute the full compound. |
B. New Terms Introduced by Philemon (Add to Translation Memory)
| Term (EN) | Greek / Transliteration | Dutch Rendering | Risk | Doctrine | Occurrences | Rejected Alternatives | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slave / bondservant | δοῦλος / doulos | slaaf | Critical | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.16 | ”knecht” (too soft, erases real social stakes) | The single most Dutch-culturally-loaded term in this book. “Slaaf” is read primarily through the specific, recent national memory of the VOC/WIC slave trades, the 2023 government apology for the “slavernijverleden,” and Keti Koti commemorations — not as neutral ancient-world vocabulary. Mistranslation risks either erasing the real stakes Paul addresses or over/under-claiming the gospel’s demand. Human theologian review required at every occurrence. |
| Appeal (personal plea) | παρακαλέω (appeal sub-sense) / parakaleō | een beroep doen op / verzoeken | High | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | vv.9, 10 | ”vermanen” (baseline admonish sense — wrong register), “aansporen” (baseline build-up sense — also wrong register), “smeken” (too abject/desperate) | Distinct sub-sense from both existing baseline uses of this verb family; explicitly contrasted with command (v.8) in the source text. New sub-entry required in translation memory alongside existing “vermanen” entry, with a disambiguating note. |
| Boldness / authority to command | παρρησία / parrēsia | vrijmoedigheid | High | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.8 | ”moed” (too weak, loses the “right to command” sense) | Elsewhere in the NT carries the weight of confident access before God (Eph 3:12); here Paul deliberately declines to use it. Must preserve the deliberate rhetorical contrast with v.9’s love-based appeal. |
| Voluntary / uncoerced | ἑκούσιος / hekousios | vrijwillig | High | Grace-Motivated Obedience | v.14 | ”gedwongen” (opposite meaning, listed for contrast only) | Central term for this curriculum’s named doctrine. Must be anchored as a grace-enabled free response (linked to ἀγάπη, v.9), not autonomous human merit-earning choice, given Dutch Reformed sensitivity around synergism (cf. baseline “genade” note on the Synod of Dordrecht). |
| Obedience (bare noun) | ὑπακοή / hypakoē | gehoorzaamheid | High | Grace-Motivated Obedience | v.21 | ”gehoorzaamheid van het geloof” (baseline compound — do NOT substitute; different referent) | Must be distinguished from the Romans technical compound term reserved in the baseline for ὑπακοὴ πίστεως. Here it denotes Philemon’s personal, voluntary compliance with Paul’s appeal, linked to ἑκούσιος (v.14). |
| Charge to one’s account / impute | ἐλλογάω / ellogaō | (aan mij) toerekenen / op mijn rekening zetten | High | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another; echoes Salvation/Justification | v.18 | ”verdiende gerechtigheid”-adjacent readings (forbidden per baseline in the imputation context) | Rare commercial-legal accounting term structurally identical to imputation language. Deliberate translation decision point: “toerekenen” (echoing baseline’s Critical “toegerekende gerechtigheid”) makes the imputation typology explicit; a neutral commercial term is safer but loses the resonance. Flag for theologian review. |
| Graciously give / restore (grace-root verb) | χαρίζομαι / charizomai | schenken / geschonken worden | High | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | v.22 | ”teruggeven/terugkomen” (loses grace-root entirely) | Verb cognate of χάρις/genade; elsewhere in the NT the standard verb for “forgive” (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). Preserve the grace-root connection rather than defaulting to a neutral verb. |
| Inmost affections / heart | σπλάγχνα / splanchna | hart (mijn hart) | High | Forgiveness and Reconciliation; Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | vv.7, 12, 20 | ”gevoelens” (feelings — too weak/flattened), literal “ingewanden” (too clinical/archaic in modern register) | Occurs three times; in v.12 Onesimus himself IS identified as Paul’s σπλάγχνα — the letter’s central relational move. Reviewers must confirm relational intensity is preserved at every occurrence. |
| Brotherhood (beloved brother) | ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός / adelphos agapētos | broeder (geliefde broeder) | High | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.16 (also vv.1, 7, 9, 20 for ἀδελφός alone) | none | Must retain full social force: a slave-owner instructed to receive his former slave as an actual brother, not a rhetorical figure of speech. |
| Love | ἀγάπη / agapē | liefde | Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status; Grace-Motivated Obedience | vv.5, 7, 9 | none | Modern secular Dutch “liefde” defaults broadly, often romantically; must be anchored as willed, self-giving, covenantal love. |
| Love (verb form, appeal ground) | see παρακαλέω above | — | — | — | — | cross-reference only | |
| Partner / sharer | κοινωνός / koinōnos | deelgenoot | Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.17 | ”partner” (acceptable but weaker theological register) | Noun cognate of baseline’s κοινωνία/gemeenschap; echo the word family where feasible. |
| Fellow worker | συνεργός / synergos | medearbeider | Low | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | vv.1, 24 | none | Stable. |
| Fellow soldier | συστρατιώτης / systratiōtēs | medestrijder | Low–Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.2 | none | Military metaphor for shared gospel labor. |
| Fellow prisoner | συναιχμάλωτος / synaichmalōtos | medegevangene | Medium | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.23 | none | Intensifies imprisonment-for-Christ theme from δέσμιος. |
| Prisoner (of Christ Jesus) | δέσμιος / desmios | gevangene (van Christus Jezus) | Medium | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | vv.1, 9 | bare “gevangene” (loses “of Christ Jesus” framing) | Must retain the “of Christ Jesus” qualifier; reframes imprisonment as Christ-service, not shame. |
| Bonds / chains | δεσμός / desmos | boeien / gevangenschap | Low–Medium | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | vv.10, 13 | none | Cognate of δέσμιος. |
| Child (spiritual) | τέκνον / teknon | (mijn) kind | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.10 | none | Spiritual, not biological, fatherhood; context must disambiguate. |
| Beget / father spiritually | γεννάω / gennaō | verwekken / het leven geven aan | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.10 | none | Must not be read as a literal biological-paternity claim. |
| Onesimus (name/wordplay) | Ὀνήσιμος / Onēsimos | Onesimus | Medium (comprehension, not doctrinal) | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.10 (pun continues vv.11, 20) | none | Untranslatable name-pun (“Useful”); requires translator’s footnote. |
| Useless | ἄχρηστος / achrēstos | onbruikbaar | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.11 | none | Wordplay with Onesimus’s name; footnote required. |
| Useful / profitable | εὔχρηστος / euchrēstos | nuttig / goed te gebruiken | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.11 | none | Wordplay with Onesimus’s name; ideally echoes “nut” in Dutch to partially preserve the pun. |
| Have joy/benefit from | ὀνίναμαι / oninamai | voordeel/vreugde hebben van | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.20 | none | Second occurrence of the Onesimus name-pun. |
| Serve / minister | διακονέω / diakoneō | dienen | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.13 | ”helpen” (too weak, loses ministry overtone) | Reframes potential slave-labor as gospel ministry/service. |
| Send back | ἀναπέμπω / anapempō | terugzenden | Low | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.12 | none | Neutral. |
| Flesh (social/earthly realm) | σάρξ / sarx | (naar) het vlees | Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.16 | none | NOT the Romans “sinful flesh” sense; must be flagged distinct in notes. |
| Give rest / refresh | ἀναπαύω / anapauō | verkwikken / rust geven aan | Medium | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | vv.7, 20 | none | Paired with σπλάγχνα both occurrences. |
| Voluntary consent / will | γνώμη / gnōmē | instemming / toestemming | Medium | Grace-Motivated Obedience | v.14 | none | Paired with ἑκούσιος. |
| Compulsion / necessity | ἀνάγκη / anagkē | dwang / noodzaak | Medium | Grace-Motivated Obedience | v.14 | none | Contrast term to ἑκούσιος. |
| Wronged / did injustice | ἀδικέω / adikeō | onrecht (aan)doen | Low | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | v.18 | none | Neutral legal-relational term. |
| Owe (debt) | ὀφείλω / opheilō | schuldig zijn | Low | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | vv.18, 19 | none | Neutral. |
| Repay / make restitution | ἀποτίνω / apotinō | terugbetalen / vergoeden | Low | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | v.19 | none | Neutral. |
| Eternal / permanent (relational, non-eschatological) | αἰώνιος / aiōnios | voorgoed / voor altijd | Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.15 | ”eeuwig” (risks over-theologizing into eschatological claim) | Non-eschatological use; reserve “eeuwig” for strictly eschatological contexts elsewhere in the curriculum. |
| Have back in full / retain fully | ἀπέχω / apechō | terug hebben / voorgoed behouden | Low–Medium | Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power | v.15 | none | Neutral relational-possession term. |
| Ambassador / old man (textual variant) | πρεσβύτης / πρεσβευτής / presbytēs / presbeutēs | oude man / gezant | Medium | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.9 | none | Requires translator’s note on the textual variant regardless of reading chosen. |
| Full/deep knowledge | ἐπίγνωσις / epignōsis | kennis / inzicht (volle inzicht) | Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.6 | none | Intensified form of γνῶσις; experiential, not merely intellectual. |
| Effective / active | ἐνεργής / energēs | werkzaam | Low–Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.6 | none | Describes fellowship-of-faith in active operation. |
| Comfort / encouragement | παράκλησις / paraklēsis | vertroosting / bemoediging | Medium | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | v.7 | ”vermanen”-family terms (wrong sense — admonish, not comfort) | Distinct from both the “appeal” and “admonish” senses of the cognate verb. |
| Joy | χαρά / chara | vreugde | Low | Forgiveness and Reconciliation | v.7 | none | Neutral. |
| Guest room / hospitality | ξενία / xenia | gastenkamer / onderkomen | Low | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.22 | none | Neutral. |
| Hope | ἐλπίζω / elpizō | hopen | Low | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.22 | none | Neutral. |
| Human spirit (not Holy Spirit) | πνεῦμα / pneuma | geest (lowercase) | Low | — | v.25 | none | Must not be capitalized or read as the Holy Spirit here. |
| Remembrance / mention | μνεία / mneia | gedachtenis / vermelding | Low | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.4 | none | Neutral. |
| Prayer | προσευχή / proseuchē | gebed | Low | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | vv.4, 22 | none | Neutral. |
| Command / order | ἐπιτάσσω / epitassō | bevelen / gebieden | Low | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.8 | none | The authority Paul declines to exercise. |
| Fitting / proper duty | ἀνῆκον / anēkon | wat betaamt / wat gepast is | Medium | Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another | v.8 | none | Deliberately left somewhat open by Paul. |
| Take/welcome to oneself | προσλαμβάνω / proslambanō | ontvangen / aannemen | Low–Medium | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.17 | none | Full reconciliation, not mere tolerance. |
| Greet | ἀσπάζομαι / aspazomai | groeten | Low | — | v.23 | none | Neutral epistolary formula. |
| Sister | ἀδελφή / adelphē | zuster | Low | Christian Brotherhood across Social Status | v.2 | none | Feminine form of ἀδελφός. |
| The good (deed) | ἀγαθόν / agathon | het goede | Low | Grace-Motivated Obedience | vv.6, 14 | none | Neutral. |
C. Doctrine-Level Terms Not Directly Lexicalized in Philemon
These curriculum doctrine names require Dutch renderings for lesson titles and teaching materials even though the specific technical Greek vocabulary (ἄφεσις “forgiveness,” καταλλαγή “reconciliation”) does not occur anywhere in the letter’s Greek text. The doctrines are enacted through χαρίζομαι, ἐλλογάω, ἀδικέω, and ὀφείλω (see above) rather than named directly.
| Doctrine (EN) | Dutch Doctrine Label | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forgiveness | vergeving | Medium | Not a lexeme translation; a doctrine-label for teaching materials. Enacted via χαρίζομαι (v.22) and the debt-cancellation logic of vv.18–19. |
| Reconciliation | verzoening | High | ”Verzoening” carries strong substitutionary-atonement connotations in Dutch Reformed dogmatics (cf. Christ’s atoning reconciliation); teaching materials must clarify that Philemon models interpersonal reconciliation flowing from the gospel, not itself a soteriological atonement text, to avoid conflating the two senses. |
D. Summary Risk Counts (Philemon-Specific New Terms)
| Risk Tier | Count (new terms) | Review Routing |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | 1 (δοῦλος / slaaf) | Human theologian — every occurrence |
| High | 9 (παρακαλέω-appeal, παρρησία, ἑκούσιος, ὑπακοή-bare, ἐλλογάω, χαρίζομαι, σπλάγχνα, ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός, verzoening doctrine-label) | Human theologian |
| Medium | 22 | Native speaker review |
| Low | 20 | Automated review |
This glossary extends, and must be read alongside, the baseline Romans translation_memory.json (dutch) and bible_term_registry.json. All new entries above must be formally added to translation_memory.json (version increment) before Phase 2 Philemon segment translation begins, per the protocol in 12_ai_translation_requirements.md.
Critical Risk Terms
Imputed Righteousness
Approved rendering: toegerekende gerechtigheid
Transliteration: toegerekende gerechtigheid
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: verdiende gerechtigheid
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Retained here because Philemon 1:18’s ἐλλογάω (‘charge it to my account’) uses the same Dutch dogmatic verb family (‘toerekenen’) and is a deliberate, reviewer-flagged typological echo of this Critical Romans doctrine — see the new term ‘impute_charge_to_account’ below. This entry itself is not directly translated in Philemon; it exists in this file to anchor and constrain that echo decision.
Slave
Approved rendering: slaaf
Transliteration: slaaf
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Rejected alternatives: knecht, dienstknecht
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. δοῦλος, v.16 (contextually vv.10-18). The single most Dutch-culturally-loaded term in this curriculum: ‘slaaf’ is read by modern Dutch audiences primarily through the VOC/WIC transatlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades, the Dutch government’s 2023 formal apology for the ‘slavernijverleden’, and the annual 1 July Keti Koti commemorations — not as neutral ancient-institution vocabulary. Do not soften to ‘knecht’ or the historic Statenvertaling ‘dienstknecht’ (both erase the real social stakes Paul addresses). Preserve the letter’s replacement structure (‘no longer as a slave, but… a brother’), not a status-upgrade structure (‘something better than a slave’). Human theologian review required at every occurrence; accompanying teaching materials must include a historical-context note distinguishing the first-century institution from the specific Dutch colonial association while acknowledging why Dutch readers will still make it.
Jesus Christ
Approved rendering: Jezus Christus
Transliteration: Jezus Christus
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός
Category: Christology
NEW TERM (combined-form entry). Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, vv.1, 3, 9, 23, 25. Always render as the established Dutch Bible forms ‘Jezus’ / ‘Christus’ / combined ‘Jezus Christus’ per the baseline’s transliteration standard. Recorded as a distinct Critical-risk entry from the baseline’s bare ‘jesus’ term because the combined title-name form carries the letter’s full Christological weight at every greeting/benediction occurrence.
High Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: genade
Transliteration: genade
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: gunst
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Dutch Reformed dogmatics has an unusually developed doctrine of sovereign grace, formalized against the Remonstrants at the Synod of Dordrecht (1618-19); must always convey grace as unearned and apart from human cooperation. Occurs in Philemon vv.3, 25 (greeting/benediction formula) and is the semantic root of the new term ‘graciously_restore_forgive’ (χαρίζομαι, v.22) below — reviewers must confirm the grace-root connection is not severed at v.22.
Saints
Approved rendering: heiligen
Transliteration: heiligen
Doctrine: Sainthood
Original: ἅγιοι
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Catholic ‘de heiligen’ (canonized saints) versus the Reformed sense of all believers is a live fault line. Occurs in Philemon vv.5, 7 (‘all the saints’) referring to Philemon’s own house-church congregation — the fault line applies with unusual directness since a concrete, named congregation is the referent. Gloss as ‘alle gelovigen’ for general audiences per the baseline’s forbidden-substitution guidance.
Lord
Approved rendering: Heer
Transliteration: Heer
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: meester
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon vv.3, 5, 16, 20, 25. The ‘in de Heer’ qualifier at v.16 is uniquely load-bearing in this letter: Christ’s exclusive Lordship specifically grounds Onesimus’s reclassification from slave to brother, requiring the same unqualified register the baseline mandates for Romans 10:9.
Church
Approved rendering: gemeente
Transliteration: gemeente
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: kerk (institution-default)
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon v.2 (‘the church that meets in your house’). This house-church referent is the paradigm concrete case for the baseline’s ‘gemeente over kerk’ preference; rendering it as ‘kerk’ would wrongly suggest a building or denominational institution.
Obedience Of Faith
Approved rendering: gehoorzaamheid van het geloof
Transliteration: gehoorzaamheid van het geloof
Doctrine: Obedience of Faith
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Retained here strictly FOR REFERENCE/CONTRAST: this technical compound (ὑπακοὴ πίστεως) is NOT used in Philemon. Philemon 1:21 uses the bare noun ὑπακοή only — see the new term ‘obedience_bare_noun’ below. Phase 2 workers must not substitute this compound for the bare noun at v.21; the referent there is Philemon’s personal compliance with Paul’s specific appeal, not the general doctrine of faith-produced obedience.
Appeal
Approved rendering: een beroep doen op / verzoeken
Transliteration: een beroep doen op / verzoeken
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: vermanen (baseline admonish sense — wrong register), aansporen (baseline build-up sense — wrong register), smeken (too abject/desperate), bidden (devotional-register drift)
Original: παρακαλέω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. παρακαλέω in its personal-plea sub-sense, vv.9-10. Distinct sub-entry from the baseline’s ‘exhort’/‘vermanen’ entry — the same Greek verb, but a different sense, explicitly contrasted with command (ἐπιτάσσω, v.8). Phase 2 workers must not default to ‘vermanen’ by pattern-matching the Greek root; that would wrongly recast Paul’s love-based plea as a rebuke.
Boldness Authority To Command
Approved rendering: vrijmoedigheid
Transliteration: vrijmoedigheid
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: moed (too weak, loses the ‘right to command’ sense)
Original: παρρησία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. παρρησία, v.8. Elsewhere in the NT carries the weighty sense of confident access before God (Eph 3:12, Heb 4:16); here Paul deliberately declines to use the authority it names. Must preserve the deliberate rhetorical contrast with v.9’s love-based appeal — under-translating to ‘moed’ collapses this contrast.
Voluntary
Approved rendering: vrijwillig
Transliteration: vrijwillig
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: gedwongen (opposite meaning, listed for contrast only)
Original: ἑκούσιος
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience
NEW TERM. ἑκούσιος, v.14. Central term for this curriculum’s named doctrine. Must be anchored to ἀγάπη (love, v.9) so it reads as a grace-enabled free response, not autonomous, merit-earning human choice — Dutch Reformed sensitivity around synergism (Synod of Dordrecht vs. the Remonstrants) makes an unanchored ‘vrijwillig’ liable to misreading here even though this verse concerns a specific ethical decision, not soteriology proper.
Obedience Bare Noun
Approved rendering: gehoorzaamheid
Transliteration: gehoorzaamheid
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: gehoorzaamheid van het geloof (baseline compound — do NOT substitute; different referent)
Original: ὑπακοή
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience
NEW TERM. Bare ὑπακοή, v.21. Must be kept distinct from the baseline’s technical compound ‘gehoorzaamheid van het geloof’ (ὑπακοὴ πίστεως, Rom 1:5, 16:26). Here it denotes Philemon’s personal, voluntary compliance with Paul’s specific appeal, linked to ἑκούσιος (v.14) — not the general doctrine of faith-produced obedience. Do not ‘upgrade’ this occurrence to the fuller Romans compound.
Impute Charge To Account
Approved rendering: (aan mij) toerekenen / op mijn rekening zetten
Transliteration: (aan mij) toerekenen / op mijn rekening zetten
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: verdiende gerechtigheid-adjacent readings (forbidden per baseline in the imputation context)
Original: ἐλλογάω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. ἐλλογάω, v.18. Rare commercial-legal accounting term structurally identical to the doctrine of imputation established as Critical in the Romans baseline. ‘Toerekenen’ deliberately echoes ‘toegerekende gerechtigheid’; the neutral commercial alternative ‘op mijn rekening zetten’ is safer but loses the resonance. This is a deliberate, reviewer-confirmed EITHER/OR decision point, not a default lexical choice — flag every occurrence for theologian review to confirm which option is used and that the choice is intentional.
Graciously Restore Forgive
Approved rendering: schenken / geschonken worden
Transliteration: schenken / geschonken worden
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Rejected alternatives: teruggeven / terugkomen (loses grace-root entirely)
Original: χαρίζομαι
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. χαρίζομαι, v.22. Verb cognate of χάρις/genade; the standard NT verb for ‘forgive’ elsewhere (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). Paul’s hope to be ‘graciously given back’ to the church creates a real, secondary resonance with this letter’s Forgiveness and Reconciliation doctrine. Preserve the ‘schenken’ root shared with ‘genade’ rather than defaulting to a neutral verb.
Inmost Affections Heart
Approved rendering: hart (mijn hart)
Transliteration: hart (mijn hart)
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Rejected alternatives: gevoelens (feelings — too weak/flattened), ingewanden (literal — too clinical/archaic in modern register)
Original: σπλάγχνα
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. σπλάγχνα, vv.7, 12, 20. Occurs three times, each carrying visceral, covenantal-family intensity; in v.12 Onesimus himself IS identified as Paul’s σπλάγχνα — the letter’s central relational move. ‘Hart’ is the necessary modern-register compromise (matches HSV/NBV21/WV95 convergence) but is measurably weaker than the Greek; reviewers must confirm relational intensity is not lost at every occurrence, especially v.12.
Brotherhood Beloved Brother
Approved rendering: broeder (geliefde broeder)
Transliteration: broeder (geliefde broeder)
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός / ἀδελφός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός / ἀδελφός, vv.1, 7, 9, 16, 20. Must retain full, non-metaphorical social force: a slave-owner is instructed to receive his former slave as an actual brother in the gathered house-church (v.2), not a rhetorical courtesy. Secularized colloquial Dutch ‘broeder!’ (slang address) must not be allowed to soften the formal, familial-status reading; pair with ‘als een geliefde broeder’ phrasing at v.16 to force the full-kinship sense.
Reconciliation Doctrine Label
Approved rendering: verzoening
Transliteration: verzoening
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM (doctrine-label only — no single Greek lexeme corresponds; καταλλαγή does not occur in this letter). ‘Verzoening’ carries strong substitutionary-atonement connotations in Dutch Reformed dogmatics (Christ’s atoning reconciliation with God, cf. Heidelberg Catechism). Teaching materials must explicitly clarify that Philemon models interpersonal reconciliation flowing from the gospel, not itself a soteriological atonement text, to prevent the two senses collapsing under one Dutch label.
Medium Risk Terms
Faith
Approved rendering: geloof
Transliteration: geloof
Doctrine: Faith
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. ‘Geloof’ increasingly reads as a generic, pluralistic term rather than assumed Christian content in secularized Dutch society. Occurs in Philemon vv.5, 6, paired with ‘liefde’ (love) as the twin marks of Philemon’s character.
Fellowship
Approved rendering: gemeenschap
Transliteration: gemeenschap
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon v.6 (‘the fellowship of your faith’). Also the root of the distinct new noun ‘partner_sharer’ (κοινωνός, v.17) below — should visibly connect to that word family where feasible.
God
Approved rendering: God
Transliteration: God
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Secularization risk per baseline applies unchanged. Occurs in Philemon vv.3, 4.
Father
Approved rendering: Vader
Transliteration: Vader
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon v.3, standard Pauline greeting formula. God as personal Father, distinct from Paul’s own metaphorical spiritual fatherhood of Onesimus (v.10) — see the new term ‘beget_spiritually’ below, which must not be confused with this term.
Intercession
Approved rendering: voorbede
Transliteration: voorbede
Doctrine: Prayer and Intercession
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Dutch usefully distinguishes ‘voorbede’ (general intercessory prayer) from ‘voorspraak’ (specifically saints’/Mary’s advocacy in Catholic devotion). Relevant to Philemon vv.4, 22 (Paul’s requests for and confidence in prayer) and as a conceptual backdrop to the curriculum’s named doctrine ‘Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another’ — Paul’s own advocacy for Onesimus (vv.8-21) must be framed as fraternal, pastoral appeal ‘in the Lord’, never as a mediatorial or saint-like intercessory function reserved for ‘voorspraak’.
Love
Approved rendering: liefde
Transliteration: liefde
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ἀγάπη
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ἀγάπη, vv.5, 7, 9. The explicit ground of Paul’s appeal, contrasted with command (vv.8-9). Modern secular Dutch ‘liefde’ defaults broadly, often romantically; must be contextually anchored as willed, self-giving, covenantal love, not sentiment.
Partner Sharer
Approved rendering: deelgenoot
Transliteration: deelgenoot
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: partner (acceptable but weaker theological register)
Original: κοινωνός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. κοινωνός, v.17: ‘if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.’ Noun cognate of κοινωνία/gemeenschap; should visibly echo that word family where feasible without conflating the corporate-fellowship sense (v.6) with this personal-partnership sense (v.17).
Fellow Soldier
Approved rendering: medestrijder
Transliteration: medestrijder
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: συστρατιώτης
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. συστρατιώτης, v.2. Military metaphor for shared gospel struggle; must be read figuratively, not as literal militancy.
Fellow Prisoner
Approved rendering: medegevangene
Transliteration: medegevangene
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: συναιχμάλωτος
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. συναιχμάλωτος, v.23. Intensifies the imprisonment-for-Christ theme already established by δέσμιος (v.1, v.9); should visibly connect to the ‘gevangene’ word family.
Prisoner Of Christ
Approved rendering: gevangene (van Christus Jezus)
Transliteration: gevangene (van Christus Jezus)
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: bare ‘gevangene’ (loses ‘of Christ Jesus’ framing)
Original: δέσμιος
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. δέσμιος, vv.1, 9. Paul’s characteristic self-designation. The qualifying phrase ‘of Christ Jesus’ must always be retained; a bare ‘gevangene’ could read as ordinary criminal status and lose the authority-through-weakness framing that shapes the letter’s appeal-not-command strategy.
Bonds Chains
Approved rendering: boeien / gevangenschap
Transliteration: boeien / gevangenschap
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: δεσμός
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. δεσμός, vv.10, 13. Cognate of δέσμιος; keep distinct from that term and from συναιχμάλωτος to preserve the letter’s escalation across all three related words.
Child Spiritual
Approved rendering: (mijn) kind
Transliteration: (mijn) kind
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: τέκνον
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. τέκνον, v.10. Onesimus’s conversion under Paul’s ministry; context must disambiguate this spiritual-fatherhood sense from biological parentage and from the baseline’s ‘Vader’ (God as Father).
Beget Spiritually
Approved rendering: verwekken / het leven geven aan
Transliteration: verwekken / het leven geven aan
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: γεννάω
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. γεννάω, v.10. Paul claims spiritual paternity over Onesimus through the gospel; must not be read as a literal biological-paternity claim.
Onesimus Name Wordplay
Approved rendering: Onesimus
Transliteration: Onesimus
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: Ὀνήσιμος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. Ὀνήσιμος, v.10 (pun continues vv.11, 20). Proper name meaning ‘useful/profitable’ — the seed of an untranslatable Greek wordplay. Risk is comprehension, not doctrine. Retain the established transliteration ‘Onesimus’; supply a mandatory translator’s footnote at v.11 and v.20 explaining the pun.
Useless
Approved rendering: onbruikbaar
Transliteration: onbruikbaar
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: ἄχρηστος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. ἄχρηστος, v.11. Wordplay with Onesimus’s name (‘Useful’); footnote required, cross-referenced with ‘useful’ and ‘onesimus_name_wordplay’ above.
Useful
Approved rendering: nuttig / goed te gebruiken
Transliteration: nuttig / goed te gebruiken
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: εὔχρηστος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. εὔχρηστος, v.11. Wordplay with Onesimus’s name; ideally rendered so the Dutch visibly echoes ‘nut’ to partially preserve the pun’s flavor, since ‘Onesimus’ carries no such meaning for a Dutch reader.
Have Joy Benefit
Approved rendering: voordeel/vreugde hebben van
Transliteration: voordeel/vreugde hebben van
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: ὀνίναμαι
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. ὀνίναμαι, v.20. Second occurrence of the Onesimus name-pun; requires a translator’s note connecting it to the wordplay of vv.11 and 20.
Serve Minister
Approved rendering: dienen
Transliteration: dienen
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Rejected alternatives: helpen (too weak, loses ministry overtone)
Original: διακονέω
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. διακονέω, v.13. Reframes Onesimus’s potential service to Paul as gospel ministry (root of ‘diaken’/deacon), not slave labor — dignifies the relationship as fellow-service rather than ownership.
Flesh Social Realm
Approved rendering: (naar) het vlees
Transliteration: (naar) het vlees
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: σάρξ
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. σάρξ, v.16. Neutral ‘in the earthly/social realm’, contrasted with ‘in the Lord’ — NOT the morally-freighted ‘sinful flesh’ sense of Romans 7-8. Must be flagged distinct in notes at every occurrence in this letter; reviewers must not import the Romans connotation here.
Give Rest Refresh
Approved rendering: verkwikken / rust geven aan
Transliteration: verkwikken / rust geven aan
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ἀναπαύω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. ἀναπαύω, vv.7, 20. Paired with σπλάγχνα in both occurrences.
Consent Will
Approved rendering: instemming / toestemming
Transliteration: instemming / toestemming
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: γνώμη
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience
NEW TERM. γνώμη, v.14. Philemon’s own willing agreement, which Paul insists on securing rather than bypassing; paired with ἑκούσιος.
Compulsion Necessity
Approved rendering: dwang / noodzaak
Transliteration: dwang / noodzaak
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ἀνάγκη
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience
NEW TERM. ἀνάγκη, v.14. Contrast term to ἑκούσιος (voluntary).
Eternal Permanent Relational
Approved rendering: voorgoed / voor altijd
Transliteration: voorgoed / voor altijd
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Rejected alternatives: eeuwig (risks over-theologizing into an eschatological claim)
Original: αἰώνιος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. αἰώνιος, v.15. Non-eschatological relational use (‘for good’, permanently), distinct from the word’s more common eternal-life NT sense. Reserve ‘eeuwig’ for strictly eschatological contexts elsewhere in the curriculum.
Have Back Fully
Approved rendering: terug hebben / voorgoed behouden
Transliteration: terug hebben / voorgoed behouden
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: ἀπέχω
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
NEW TERM. ἀπέχω, v.15. Neutral relational-possession term.
Ambassador Old Man Variant
Approved rendering: oude man / gezant
Transliteration: oude man / gezant
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: πρεσβύτης / πρεσβευτής
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. πρεσβύτης / πρεσβευτής, v.9 (one-letter textual variant: ‘old man’ vs. ‘ambassador’). Requires a translator’s note flagging the variant regardless of which reading is followed, since the two readings carry different rhetorical force.
Full Deep Knowledge
Approved rendering: kennis / inzicht (volle inzicht)
Transliteration: kennis / inzicht (volle inzicht)
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Original: ἐπίγνωσις
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ἐπίγνωσις, v.6. Intensified form of γνῶσις — experiential, relational knowing, not merely intellectual awareness; ideally qualified in Dutch to preserve the intensifying prefix.
Effective Active
Approved rendering: werkzaam
Transliteration: werkzaam
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Original: ἐνεργής
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ἐνεργής, v.6. Describes the fellowship of faith in active operation.
Comfort Encouragement
Approved rendering: vertroosting / bemoediging
Transliteration: vertroosting / bemoediging
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Rejected alternatives: vermanen-family terms (wrong sense — admonish, not comfort)
Original: παράκλησις
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. παράκλησις, v.7. Comfort/consolation sense, distinct from both the ‘appeal’ sense (vv.9-10, see ‘appeal’ above) and the baseline ‘admonish’ sense (vermanen).
Fitting Proper Duty
Approved rendering: wat betaamt / wat gepast is
Transliteration: wat betaamt / wat gepast is
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἀνῆκον
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. ἀνῆκον, v.8. What is proper/fitting/one’s duty — deliberately left somewhat open by Paul rather than stated as an explicit command.
Welcome Receive
Approved rendering: ontvangen / aannemen
Transliteration: ontvangen / aannemen
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: προσλαμβάνω
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. προσλαμβάνω, v.17. Hospitality/welcome language used similarly for receiving fellow believers (cf. Rom 14:1, 15:7); denotes full reconciliation, not mere tolerance.
Forgiveness Doctrine Label
Approved rendering: vergeving
Transliteration: vergeving
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM (doctrine-label only — no single Greek lexeme corresponds; ἄφεσις does not occur in this letter). Use only as a teaching-material section header for the debt-cancellation logic of vv.18-19 and the χαρίζομαι of v.22; never insert as a translation of any specific verse-level Greek word, since no such substitution point exists in the text.
Low Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: evangelie
Transliteration: evangelie
Doctrine: Gospel
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Shared, stable term across Reformed (Statenvertaling) and Catholic (Willibrordvertaling) Dutch Bibles. Occurs in Philemon v.13, describing Paul’s imprisonment ‘for the gospel’ — Onesimus’s potential service to Paul is reframed as gospel ministry rather than slave labor.
Peace
Approved rendering: vrede
Transliteration: vrede
Doctrine: Peace with God
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon v.3 in the standard Pauline greeting formula.
Thanksgiving
Approved rendering: dankzegging
Transliteration: dankzegging
Doctrine: Thanksgiving
Original: εὐχαριστέω / εὐχαριστία
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Occurs in Philemon v.4 (‘I thank my God’). No significant risk in this occurrence.
Jesus
Approved rendering: Jezus
Transliteration: Jezus
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Stable across all Dutch traditions. Occurs standalone and within the combined form ‘Jezus Christus’ — see the new term ‘jesus_christ’ below for the combined-form Critical-risk entry specific to this letter’s Christological framing.
Exhort
Approved rendering: vermanen
Transliteration: vermanen
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Inherited from Romans package, fields unchanged. Retained strictly FOR REFERENCE/CONTRAST: this admonish/warn sense is NOT used in Philemon. Philemon vv.9-10 use παρακαλέω in its distinct personal-appeal sense, explicitly contrasted with command (v.8) — see the new term ‘appeal’ below. Phase 2 workers must not default to ‘vermanen’ when they pattern-match the Greek root παρακαλέω in Philemon; doing so would wrongly recast Paul’s love-based plea as a rebuke.
Fellow Worker
Approved rendering: medearbeider
Transliteration: medearbeider
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: συνεργός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. συνεργός, vv.1, 24. Stable, co-laborer term; no significant risk.
Send Back
Approved rendering: terugzenden
Transliteration: terugzenden
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἀναπέμπω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. ἀναπέμπω, v.12. Neutral term; no significant risk.
Wronged Did Injustice
Approved rendering: onrecht (aan)doen
Transliteration: onrecht (aan)doen
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ἀδικέω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. ἀδικέω, v.18. Neutral legal-relational term.
Owe Debt
Approved rendering: schuldig zijn
Transliteration: schuldig zijn
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ὀφείλω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. ὀφείλω, vv.18, 19. Neutral term.
Repay Restitution
Approved rendering: terugbetalen / vergoeden
Transliteration: terugbetalen / vergoeden
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ἀποτίνω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. ἀποτίνω, v.19. Neutral term.
Joy
Approved rendering: vreugde
Transliteration: vreugde
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: χαρά
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
NEW TERM. χαρά, v.7. Neutral term.
Guest Room Hospitality
Approved rendering: gastenkamer / onderkomen
Transliteration: gastenkamer / onderkomen
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ξενία
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ξενία, v.22. Neutral hospitality term.
Hope
Approved rendering: hopen
Transliteration: hopen
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἐλπίζω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. ἐλπίζω, v.22. Neutral term.
Human Spirit
Approved rendering: geest
Transliteration: geest
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: πνεῦμα
Category: God
NEW TERM. πνεῦμα, v.25. Here the human spirit (‘your spirit’), NOT the Holy Spirit. Must not be capitalized or otherwise implied as a Trinitarian reference; keep distinct from the baseline’s ‘Heilige Geest’ entry, which does not otherwise occur in this letter.
Remembrance Mention
Approved rendering: gedachtenis / vermelding
Transliteration: gedachtenis / vermelding
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: μνεία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. μνεία, v.4. Neutral term, in the context of prayer.
Prayer
Approved rendering: gebed
Transliteration: gebed
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: προσευχή
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. προσευχή, vv.4, 22. Neutral term.
Command Order
Approved rendering: bevelen / gebieden
Transliteration: bevelen / gebieden
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἐπιτάσσω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
NEW TERM. ἐπιτάσσω, v.8. The authority Paul has but declines to exercise.
Greet
Approved rendering: groeten
Transliteration: groeten
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Original: ἀσπάζομαι
Category: Church
NEW TERM. ἀσπάζομαι, v.23. Standard epistolary formula.
Sister
Approved rendering: zuster
Transliteration: zuster
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ἀδελφή
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
NEW TERM. ἀδελφή, v.2. Feminine form of ἀδελφός, addressed to Apphia.
The Good Deed
Approved rendering: het goede
Transliteration: het goede
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ἀγαθόν
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience
NEW TERM. ἀγαθόν, vv.6, 14. Neutral term.
Referenced passages