Core Glossary
Core Glossary
Gospel of John — Consolidated Term Glossary for Fulfulde Destination Rendering
This glossary consolidates every load-bearing term identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md, covering John chapters 1–21 in full. Terms already established in the baseline Romans translation_memory.json are marked [BASELINE REUSE] and MUST be rendered exactly as recorded there; they are listed here for completeness and cross-curriculum consistency only, not for re-definition. New terms required specifically for John are marked [NEW] and require the same mandatory native-speaker/theologian confirmation workflow the baseline establishes for provisional descriptive compounds.
Risk tiers follow the baseline doctrine_risk_registry.json framework: Critical (human theologian review required, every occurrence), High (human theologian review required), Medium (native speaker review recommended), Low (automated review sufficient).
A. Deity and Pre-existence of Christ
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| the Word (Logos) | λόγος / logos | Konngol (title: Konngol Alla) | Critical | NEW | John 1:1 | Shared vocabulary with Qur’anic “Word from Allah” (Jesus as Kalimatu-Llah) but radically different content (creative command vs. eternal creating Person); must be taught explicitly, never assumed shared. |
| Son of God | υἱὸς θεοῦ | Ɓiɗɗo Alla | Critical | BASELINE REUSE | John 1:34, 3:18, 11:27, 20:31 | Never soften to “a great messenger.” |
| only Son / only-begotten | μονογενής | Ɓiɗɗo bajjo Alla | Critical | NEW | John 1:14, 3:16, 18 | Uniqueness of relationship, NOT physical begetting; pre-empt Qur’an 112 objection explicitly. |
| Word became flesh (Incarnation) | ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο | Alla wontii neɗɗo | Critical | BASELINE REUSE | John 1:14 | God taking human form is shirk in Islamic theology; direct teaching required. |
| equal with God | ἴσον ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν τῷ θεῷ | himo fotondiri e Alla (descriptive) | Critical | NEW | John 5:18 | Hostile-witness confirmation of the deity claim from Jesus’ own opponents. |
| no one has ascended… except he who descended from heaven | οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν… εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς | kono on mo jippii immorde kammu (descriptive) | Critical | NEW | John 3:13 | Explicit pre-existence/heavenly-descent claim. |
| before Abraham was, I AM | πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγὼ εἰμί | Ko Min Woni | Critical | NEW | John 8:58 | Echoes Exodus 3:14 LXX divine self-naming; crowd’s stoning attempt confirms deity claim understood. |
| absolute “I am” (self-identification) | ἐγώ εἰμι | Ko Min Woni | Critical | NEW | John 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28; 13:19; 18:5-6, 8 | Consistent rendering required at every occurrence for cross-reference; never softened to a mundane “it’s me.” |
| glory before the world existed | τὴν δόξαν ἣν εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι | reuse manaango + aduna | Critical | NEW compound (reuses baseline terms) | John 17:5, 24 | Explicit statement of personal pre-existence and shared divine glory prior to creation. |
| My Lord and my God | ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου | Joom am e Alla am | Critical | NEW compound (reuses baseline terms) | John 20:28 | Strongest unqualified deity declaration in the book; spoken to Jesus, accepted without correction. |
| Son of Man | υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου | Ɓiɗɗo Neɗɗanke | High | NEW | John 1:51; 3:13-14; 5:27; 13 occurrences total | Paradoxically combines full humanity (agreed by Islam) with heavenly authority (contested); teach both dimensions explicitly. |
B. New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| born again / born from above | γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν | jibinaa kesam, immorde dow | Critical | NEW | John 3:3, 5, 6, 7, 8 | No Islamic regeneration doctrine exists; must not be softened to moral self-improvement; theologian confirmation required before deployment. |
| born of water and the Spirit | γεννηθῇ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος | jibinaa e ndiyam e Ruuhu Ceniiɗo | High | NEW | John 3:5 | Must be distinguished from ritual ablution (wuduu/laaɓal). |
| flesh gives birth to flesh; Spirit gives birth to spirit | ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν | teewu jibina teewu, Ruuhu Ceniiɗo jibina ruuhu | High | NEW | John 3:6 | Distinguish “spirit” (renewed human inner nature) from “Spirit” (the divine Person). |
| wind/Spirit wordplay | τὸ πνεῦμα (πνεῦμα = wind & Spirit) | henndu (wind) vs. Ruuhu (Spirit) | High | NEW | John 3:8 | Wordplay lexically unrecoverable in Fulfulde; requires translator’s explanatory note. |
| sorrow turned to joy (birth imagery) | ἡ γυνὴ ὅταν τίκτῃ… | reuse birth vocabulary (jibinde) | Medium | NEW (reuses root) | John 16:20-22 | Deliberate lexical echo of John 3; flag for cross-reference in teaching notes. |
C. Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| life | ζωή | nguurndam | High | NEW | John 1:4 | Ordinary word for biological life; requires theological qualification throughout. |
| eternal life | ζωὴ αἰώνιος | nguurndam duumiiɗam | Critical | NEW | John 3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 17:3 | Present, relational possession by faith; must not default to a deferred deeds-weighing paradise (aljanna) framework. Confirm with theologian; fix rendering for cross-document consistency. |
| eternal life = knowing God | αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωή, ἵνα γινώσκωσιν σε | nguurndam duumiiɗam + anndude Alla | Critical | NEW compound | John 17:3 | Relational definition, reinforcing present possession. |
| perish | ἀπόλλυμι | halkaa | Medium | NEW | John 3:16 | More than physical death; names eternal ruin, the opposite destiny to eternal life. |
| faith / believe | πίστις / πιστεύω | gomɗinal / gomɗina | High | BASELINE REUSE | John 1:7, 12; 3:15-16, 18, 36; throughout | Object of faith (“in him,” “into his name”) must always be explicit. |
| believe in the name | πιστεύειν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα | gomɗina e innde … | Medium-High | NEW (reuses gomɗinal) | John 1:12; 3:18 | ”Name” = personal trust in identity, not verbal/magical invocation; distinguish from name-amulet practices. |
D. God’s Love for the World
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| loved | ἀγαπάω | yiɗde | High | NEW | John 3:16 | General-purpose love verb; must be taught as deliberate, self-giving, sacrificial love, not assumed from the verb alone. |
| the world (positive sense: object of God’s love) | κόσμος | aduna | High | NEW | John 3:16 | Aduna/dunya is devalued relative to al-Akhira in regional Islamic usage; explicit teaching required to establish the positive sense here. |
| the world (negative sense: hostile world-system) | κόσμος | aduna | High | NEW (same term, distinct sense) | John 15:18-19; 17:14 | Must be explicitly distinguished from 3:16’s positive sense — same Fulfulde word, opposite theological valence; flag in teaching notes. |
| love one another | ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους | yiɗde | High | NEW (reuses agape term) | John 13:34; 15:12, 17 | Christ’s self-giving love as pattern/standard. |
| Do you love me? (agapaō/phileō alternation) | ἀγαπᾷς/φιλεῖς | yiɗde (single verb for both) | Medium-High | NEW — flagged LEXICAL GAP | John 21:15-17 | Fulfulde cannot preserve the Greek two-verb distinction; requires translator’s note, not forced lexical innovation. |
E. Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| condemn / judge | κρίνω / κατακρίνω | ñaawa / ñaaw bone | High | NEW | John 3:17-18; 5:22, 27, 29; 12:31, 48 | Must be distinguished from the deferred, deeds-weighing Islamic Yaumul Qiyaama framework; John presents a present verdict based on belief/unbelief. |
| condemned already (present verdict) | ἤδη κέκριται | ñaawaa mari kaanaa nden-nden | Critical | NEW | John 3:18 | Direct confrontation with the default future-only judgment paradigm; must be taught explicitly. |
| wrath of God | ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ | tikkere Alla | High | NEW | John 3:36 | Righteous, personal, judicial anger against unbelief, not impersonal fate (natal); recommend addition to a shared cross-curriculum registry (also relevant to Romans 1:18). |
| light / darkness | φῶς / σκότος/σκοτία | annoora / niɓe | High / Medium | NEW | John 1:5; 3:19-21; 8:12; 9:5 | Annoora/nur is shared, honored Islamic vocabulary (one of the 99 names of Allah); must be taught as an exclusive personal claim about Christ, not one manifestation of light among others. |
| exposed / convicted | ἐλέγχω | hollira / feeñina | Medium | NEW | John 3:20; 16:8 | Render consistently across both occurrences (human works exposed; Spirit’s convicting work). |
| resurrection of life / resurrection of judgment | ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς / ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως | reuse immorde e maayde + ñaawaa | Critical / High | NEW compound (reuses baseline term) | John 5:28-29 | Ties eschatological resurrection/judgment to the Son’s given authority. |
F. The Seven “I Am” Statements
| # | English | Greek | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I am the Bread of Life | ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς | Mi ko mburu nguurndam | High | John 6:35 |
| 2 | I am the Light of the World | ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου | Mi ko annoora aduna | High | John 8:12; 9:5 |
| 3 | I am the Door/Gate | ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα | Mi ko damal | High | John 10:9 |
| 4 | I am the Good Shepherd | ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός | Mi ko Gaynaako Moƴƴo | Medium-High | John 10:11, 14 |
| 5 | I am the Resurrection and the Life | ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή | Mi ko immorde e maayde, e nguurndam | Critical | John 11:25 |
| 6 | I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή | Mi ko sila, e goonga, e nguurndam | Critical | John 14:6 |
| 7 | I am the True Vine | ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή | Mi ko lekki inabi goongaɗum | High | John 15:1, 5 |
| — | Absolute “I AM” (unpredicated) | ἐγώ εἰμι | Ko Min Woni | Critical | John 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5-6, 8 |
All seven predicated statements and the absolute form must be rendered with internal consistency (e.g., always “Mi ko…” for the predicated formula) across every document in this curriculum, per the cross-document consistency principle established in the baseline for headline verses.
G. The Holy Spirit as Counselor
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Spirit | πνεῦμα ἅγιον | Ruuhu Ceniiɗo | Critical/High | BASELINE REUSE | John 1:32-33; 3:5-8; 14:26; 20:22 | Never shorten to ruuhu alone; never jinna. |
| Paraclete / Counselor / Helper | παράκλητος | Ruuhu Ceniiɗo, Wallotooɗo | Critical | NEW | John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 | ADDITIONAL John-specific risk beyond baseline Holy Spirit cautions: well-known regional Muslim apologetic identifies the Paraclete with a foretold Muhammad/“Ahmad” (Qur’an 61:6); must be directly addressed in teaching materials, not left to the term alone. |
| Spirit of Truth | τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας | reuse Ruuhu Ceniiɗo + goonga | Critical | NEW compound (reuses baseline term) | John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 | Same Paraclete risk profile. |
| convict concerning sin, righteousness, judgment | ἐλέγξει… περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ περὶ κρίσεως | hollira bakkaatu (reuses bakkaatu, peewal, ñaawaa) | Critical | NEW compound | John 16:8 | Part of Paraclete’s active ministry. |
| guide into all truth | ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν | reuse goonga | High | NEW (reuses term) | John 16:13 | |
| receive the Holy Spirit | λάβετε πνεῦμα ἅγιον | reuse Ruuhu Ceniiɗo | Critical | BASELINE REUSE | John 20:22 |
H. Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamb of God | ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ | Baali Alla | High | NEW | John 1:29, 36 | Distinguish from the Qur’anic Ibrahim/Ismail ram-substitution narrative (Qur’an 37); connect explicitly to Passover/Isaiah 53. |
| lifted up | ὑψόω | yowaa | Critical | NEW | John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-34 | Direct crucifixion typology; must not be softened to mean only “honored,” given Qur’an 4:157’s denial of the crucifixion. |
| one man die for the people | εἷς ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ | gooto maayay wonande yimɓe (descriptive) | High | NEW | John 11:50-52 | Ironic, unwitting prophecy of substitutionary death (Caiaphas). |
| eat my flesh, drink my blood | φάγητε τὴν σάρκα… πίητε τὸ αἷμα | teewu / ƴiiƴam | Critical | NEW | John 6:53-56 | Severe language requiring explicit symbolic/spiritual-union framing; handle with sensitivity. |
| It is finished | τετέλεσται | Timmii | Critical | NEW | John 19:30 | Presupposes the historical crucifixion actually occurred and accomplished a completed, sufficient work; direct anti-4:157 apologetic import. |
| blood and water from his side | ἐξῆλθεν αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ | reuse ƴiiƴam, ndiyam | High | NEW (reuses terms) | John 19:34 | Physical evidence of genuine death; apologetically significant. |
| resurrection | ἀνάστασις (implied; narrated) | immorde e maayde | Critical | BASELINE REUSE | John 2:19-22; 11:25; 20:1-18 | State the historical claim plainly; direct engagement with Qur’an 4:157 required. |
| Scripture fulfilled (bones not broken) | ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ | reuse annabaawo, Baali Alla | High | NEW (reuses terms) | John 19:36 | Passover Lamb typology fulfilled. |
I. Unity of the Father and the Son
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I and the Father are one | ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν | Min e Baaba, en ko gootum | Critical | NEW | John 10:30 | Greek neuter “one thing” (essence/nature/purpose unity), not “one person”; must preserve this distinction against a moral-agreement-only counter-reading; crowd’s stoning attempt (10:31-33) confirms a deity claim was understood. |
| Son honors Father; does as Father does | ὁ υἱὸς… καθὼς ἂν ὁ πατὴρ ποιῇ | reuse Baaba, Ɓiɗɗo Alla | Critical | NEW (reuses terms) | John 5:19-23 | Perfect unity of will/action/honor. |
| that they may be one as we are one | ἵνα ὦσιν ἕν καθὼς ἡμεῖς ἕν ἐσμεν | reuse gootum | Critical | NEW (reuses term) | John 17:11, 21-22 | Extends Father-Son unity to model believers’ unity. |
| Father | πατήρ | Baaba | High | BASELINE REUSE | throughout |
J. Supporting Terms (Titles, Worship, Testimony, Imagery)
| English term | Greek / Translit. | Fulfulde rendering | Risk | Status | First occurrence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| testify / witness | μαρτυρέω / μαρτυρία | seedaa / seede | High | NEW | John 1:7-8, 15, 19; 3:11; 5:31-39; throughout | Shares a root with Islamic shahada vocabulary; John’s forensic-evidentiary usage must be distinguished from the shahada’s fixed creedal content, while noting positive common ground (truthful testimony). |
| Messiah / Christ | Χριστός / Μεσσίας | Almasiihu | Critical | BASELINE REUSE | John 1:20, 25, 41; 4:25-26; 11:27 | Shared Qur’anic title (al-Masih); different content — divinity, atoning death, resurrection all denied in Islamic theology. |
| Rabbi | Ῥαββί | Rabbi (retain) | Low | NEW (transliteration) | John 1:38, 49; 3:2 | Retain as honorific title. |
| ruler of the Jews / teacher of Israel | ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων / διδάσκαλος τοῦ Ἰσραήλ | jom-laamu Yahuudiyankooɓe / jannginoowo Israa’iila | Medium | NEW | John 3:1, 10 | Avoid Karamoko (Islamic Quranic-teacher title) for “teacher.” |
| sign | σημεῖον | maandi | Medium | NEW | John 2:11; throughout | Distinguish from barke-associated wonder-working. |
| worship | προσκυνέω | sujjude | Critical | NEW | John 4:20-24; 9:38; 20:28 (implied) | Identical term to the Islamic ritual prostration (sujud), reserved for Allah alone; worship of Jesus personally is maximally confrontational to Tawhid and must be directly taught, never softened. |
| truth | ἀλήθεια | goonga | Medium | NEW | John 1:14; 3:21; 8:32; 14:6; throughout | Personal, relational, even salvific weight in John beyond mere factual accuracy. |
| freedom | ἐλευθερία/ἐλευθερόω | danewal | Medium | NEW | John 8:32, 36 | Confirm regional currency. |
| slave (to sin) | δοῦλος | maccuɗo | High | NEW | John 8:34; 15:15 | Real social-caste sensitivity in Fulani society (historic riimaybe caste); handle metaphorical usage with pastoral care. |
| the devil / Satan | ὁ διάβολος | seytaane / Ibliisa | Medium | NEW | John 8:44 | Well-attested, cross-traditionally compatible vocabulary; comparatively low collision risk. |
| Good Shepherd / sheep / flock | ποιμὴν καλός / πρόβατα / ποίμνη | Gaynaako Moƴƴo / baali / waɗudu | Medium-High | NEW | John 10:1-16; 21:15-17 | Strong positive Pulaaku cultural resonance (herding = core Fulani identity); ensure dignity is preserved. |
| hired hand | μισθωτός | surga | Low-Medium | NEW | John 10:12-13 | Contrast term to shepherd. |
| door/gate | θύρα | damal | High | NEW | John 10:9 | Exclusivity claim (see Seven I Am table). |
| kingdom not of this world | ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου | reuse laamu Alla, aduna | Medium-High | NEW (reuses terms) | John 18:36 | Direct textual support for distinguishing God’s kingdom from any political Islamic-state structure (Sokoto Caliphate caution). |
| hour (appointed time of the cross) | ὥρα | waktu | Medium | NEW | John 2:4; 7:30; 12:23; 17:1 | Also denotes Islamic prayer times; context must disambiguate. |
| living water | ὕδωρ ζῶν | ndiyam nguurndam | High | NEW | John 4:10-14; 7:38 | Distinguish from ritual ablution water (wuduu/laaɓal). |
| Feast of Tabernacles / Dedication (Jewish feasts) | ἑορτή | descriptive: ñalaande sallaha Yahuudiyankooɓe | High | NEW | John 5:1; 7:2; 10:22 | Avoid Juulde (reserved for Islamic Eid festivals in regional usage). |
| grain of wheat dies | ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου ἀποθάνῃ | haaɓe alkamaa | Low-Medium | NEW | John 12:24 | Agricultural metaphor; may need supplemental explanation for pastoralist audience. |
| vine / branches | ἄμπελος / κλῆμα | lekki inabi / gorol | High | NEW | John 15:1-6 | Viticulture is not primary in Fulani pastoralist life; supplemental explanation recommended. |
| abide | μένω | ñiiɓde | Medium | NEW | John 15:4 | |
| I have overcome the world | νενίκηκα τὸν κόσμον | foolde aduna | Medium | NEW | John 16:33 | Avoid framing echoing historic regional political-military “victory” (Sokoto Caliphate) language. |
| beloved disciple | ὁ μαθητὴς ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς | taalibaajo mo Yeesu yiɗi | Low | NEW | John 21:20, 24 | |
| purpose statement of the Gospel | ταῦτα γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε… | reuse gomɗinal, nguurndam duumiiɗam | Critical | NEW compound (reuses baseline/John terms) | John 20:31 | Thesis verse; fix rendering for cross-document consistency (parallel to Romans 1:16-17 rule). |
Summary Statistics
| Risk Tier | Count of distinct new/compound John-specific terms | Review routing |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | 24 | Human theologian, every occurrence |
| High | 27 | Human theologian |
| Medium | 18 | Native speaker review |
| Low | 8 | Automated review |
Cross-cutting collision categories identified across the whole book (for Phase 2 attention):
- Tawhid/deity objections — Word, Son of God, only Son, I AM (absolute), equal with God, unity statements (10:30, 17:11), My Lord and my God, incarnation.
- Crucifixion-denial (Qur’an 4:157) — lifted up, It is finished, blood and water, resurrection, Lamb of God typology fulfillment.
- Paraclete/Ahmad apologetic — Counselor, Spirit of Truth (unique to John; not present in the Romans baseline).
- Shared-but-different vocabulary — Word (Kalimatu-Llah), Messiah (al-Masih), light (An-Nur), worship/sujud, testimony/shahada, feast days (Juulde).
- Pulaaku/social-structure sensitivity — shepherd/gaynaako (positive resonance), slave/maccuɗo (caste sensitivity), semteende/fear of confessing (12:42-43).
- Thinner-tradition lexical gaps requiring descriptive compounds — born again, Paraclete/Wallotooɗo, only Son/bajjo, eternal life/duumiiɗam, I AM/Ko Min Woni, unity/gootum, agapaō-phileō distinction (ch. 21).
This glossary must be loaded alongside 07_semantic_analysis.md, the baseline translation_memory.json, bible_term_registry.json, and doctrine_risk_registry.json before any Phase 2 translation of John curriculum materials. All NEW terms listed here are provisional pending the mandatory native-speaker and theologian confirmation workflow established in the baseline 12_ai_translation_requirements.md.
Critical Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: Arjunde
Transliteration: Arjunde
Doctrine: Grace and Truth in Christ
Rejected alternatives: yurmeende (reserve for mercy generally), barke (marabout-associated blessing, NEVER use)
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Primary John anchor is 1:14, 1:16-17 (‘grace and truth… grace upon grace’); the contrast between the grace given through Moses and the fuller grace/truth given through Christ must be stated explicitly, and the ‘apart from works’ framing preserved even in this narrative (non-argumentative) context.
Salvation
Approved rendering: kisal
Transliteration: kisal
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Rejected alternatives: dancal (never a stand-alone substitute), aljanna (never a stand-alone gloss)
Original: σωτηρία / σῴζω
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. John 3:17’s ‘saved through him’ (διὰ αὐτοῦ) must retain exclusive, Christ-mediated instrumentality, not a deeds-weighing framework. Closely related to, but not identical with, the new John-specific term ‘eternal_life’, which must not collapse into the same deferred-aljanna default risk already flagged for kisal.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: immorde e maayde
Transliteration: immorde e maayde
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: immorde ka maayde (dialectal variant, confirm regionally)
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from Romans package. John adds apologetically significant detail (empty tomb, Thomas’s physical examination, blood-and-water evidence of genuine death) that must be highlighted against the mainstream Sunni reading of Qur’an 4:157 denying the crucifixion. Anchored at John 2:19-22 (foreshadowing), 11:25 (I Am statement), 20:1-18, 20:28.
Lord
Approved rendering: Joom
Transliteration: Joom
Doctrine: Lordship and Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: Laamiiɗo (reserve for political rulership; avoid as the primary term for divine Lordship, given Sokoto Caliphate resonance)
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Central John anchor is 20:28’s unqualified ‘My Lord and my God’ (Joom am e Alla am), the strongest deity confession in the book.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: Ɓiɗɗo Alla
Transliteration: Ɓiɗɗo Alla
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: nulaaɗo mawɗo (a great messenger, explicit downgrade, rejected)
Original: υἱὸς θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Anchored in John at 1:34, 3:18, 11:27, 20:31 (the Gospel’s own thesis verse). Never soften to ‘a great messenger’; the Qur’an 112 objection must be anticipated and directly addressed, not avoided.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: Alla wontii neɗɗo
Transliteration: Alla wontii neɗɗo
Doctrine: Incarnation
Original: ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. John 1:14 is this curriculum’s primary Incarnation anchor, intensified by John 6:51-56’s ‘eat my flesh, drink my blood’ discourse. God taking human form is shirk in Islamic theology; must be taught with direct explanation, never sidestepped.
Messiah
Approved rendering: Almasiihu
Transliteration: Almasiihu
Doctrine: Messianic Identity of Jesus
Original: Χριστός / Μεσσίας
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Shared directly with the Qur’anic al-Masih title for Isa. John repeatedly stacks this shared title with Critical Sonship/deity claims (e.g. 11:27, 20:31), intensifying the need to teach the very different content John gives it.
Jesus
Approved rendering: Yeesu
Transliteration: Yeesu
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: Iisa (Quranic form, NEVER use in doctrinal exposition)
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Used throughout John; never substitute the Quranic Iisa.
God
Approved rendering: Alla
Transliteration: Alla
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. John’s Gospel presses this term into explicitly Trinitarian, Christ-including territory (1:1 ‘the Word was God’; 20:28) beyond standard regional Islamic usage of Alla.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: Ruuhu Ceniiɗo
Transliteration: Ruuhu Ceniiɗo
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: ruuhu (NEVER use alone), jinna (NEVER use; jinn spirit being)
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Must always be used in full at every John occurrence (1:32-33; 3:5-8; 14:26; 20:22), including all Paraclete titles.
High Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: Linjiila
Transliteration: Linjiila
Doctrine: Gospel
Rejected alternatives: kabaaru moƴƴo (acceptable only as an explanatory gloss)
Inherited from Romans package. Term currency must be reconfirmed against the specific dialect translation in local use. Relevant to John’s own stated purpose (20:30-31) and to the doctrine ‘The Purpose of John’s Gospel’.
Faith
Approved rendering: gomɗinal
Transliteration: gomɗinal
Doctrine: Faith and Belief in Christ
Rejected alternatives: hoolaare (trust, acceptable supporting synonym)
Original: πίστις / πιστεύω
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package. John’s distinctive preposition ‘believing INTO him’ (eis + accusative) requires the object of faith to be made explicit at every occurrence (1:7,12; 3:15-18,36; 6:29,35; 11:25-27; 20:31), given the risk of defaulting to general confessional religious identity.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: peewal
Transliteration: peewal
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: nunɗal (too civic)
Inherited from Romans package. Reused in John 16:8’s compound (‘convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment’) as part of the Paraclete’s active ministry.
Apostle
Approved rendering: nulaaɗo
Transliteration: nulaaɗo
Doctrine: Mission and Sending
Rejected alternatives: rasuulu (NEVER use; reserved in Islamic usage for Muhammad)
Inherited from Romans package. Used generically in John 13:16 (‘nor is a messenger [nulaaɗo-root] greater than the one who sent him’). Consistency with the deliberate avoidance of rasuulu must be maintained.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: ceniinde
Transliteration: ceniinde
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: laaɓal (ritual/ceremonial purification, avoid)
Inherited from Romans package. John 17:17 (‘sanctify them in truth’) reuses this term; must be kept distinct from laaɓal (ritual purification, e.g. wuduu).
Sin
Approved rendering: bakkaatu
Transliteration: bakkaatu
Doctrine: Universal Human Sinfulness
Rejected alternatives: fenaande (too weak)
Original: ἁμαρτία
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package. John 9:2-3’s rejection of a simple sin-causes-suffering equation offers a pastorally significant corrective to retribution-only causal frameworks common in regional folk and Islamic (qadar) thought.
Election
Approved rendering: suɓagol
Transliteration: suɓagol
Doctrine: Faith and Belief in Christ
Rejected alternatives: natal (fate/al-qadar, use only with explicit definition)
Inherited from Romans package. Reused at John 6:44,65 (‘drawn by the Father’) and 15:16,19 (‘I chose you’); must remain personal/relational, not fatalistic natal.
Father
Approved rendering: Baaba
Transliteration: Baaba
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Central to John’s Unity of Father and Son doctrine throughout (5:19-23; 10:30; 14:9-11; 17:11,21-22).
Medium Risk Terms
Holy
Approved rendering: ceniiɗo
Transliteration: ceniiɗo
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: laaɓɗo (reserve for ritual/physical cleanliness only)
Inherited from Romans package. Root of Ruuhu Ceniiɗo (Holy Spirit) and of ceniinde (sanctify), used at John 17:17.
Peace
Approved rendering: jam
Transliteration: jam
Doctrine: Peace Given by the Risen Christ
Rejected alternatives: deeƴre (too passive/psychological)
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. John’s resurrection greeting (14:27; 20:19,21,26) must be distinguished from jam’s everyday high-frequency Sahelian greeting-register sense.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: laamu Alla
Transliteration: laamu Alla
Doctrine: God’s Kingdom Not of This World
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. John 3:3-5 ties entry to the kingdom directly to the new birth; John 18:36 (‘my kingdom is not of this world’) gives explicit textual support for distinguishing it from any historic or contemporary political Islamic-state structure (Sokoto Caliphate caution).
Law
Approved rendering: sariya
Transliteration: sariya
Doctrine: Grace and Truth in Christ
Original: νόμος
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Referenced at John 1:17 (grace/truth surpassing the Law given through Moses) and 7:19.
Glory
Approved rendering: manaango
Transliteration: manaango
Doctrine: Signs as Revelation of Christ’s Glory / Pre-existence of Christ
Rejected alternatives: teddungal (reserve for human Pulaaku honor/dignity)
Original: δόξα
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. John’s signs consistently reveal Christ’s glory (2:11); 17:5,24 give the pre-existent glory anchor text (‘the glory I had with you before the world existed’).
Prophet
Approved rendering: annabi
Transliteration: annabi
Doctrine: Messianic Identity of Jesus
Original: προφήτης
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Debated of both John the Baptist and Jesus (1:21,25; 6:14; 7:40); guard against a Quranic prophetology (each superseding the last) rather than unified covenant history.
Prophecy
Approved rendering: annabaawo
Transliteration: annabaawo
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death
Inherited from Romans package. Reused at John 19:36 (‘Scripture fulfilled… bones not broken’), tied to Lamb of God typology.
Intercession
Approved rendering: torgol wonande
Transliteration: torgol wonande
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Inherited from Romans package. John 17 (the High Priestly Prayer) is a sustained act of intercession; must be kept distinct from salaa (Islamic ritual prayer) and from marabout-mediated petition.
Mission
Approved rendering: yamiroore Linjiila
Transliteration: yamiroore Linjiila
Doctrine: Mission and Sending
Inherited from Romans package. Anchored at John 17:18 and 20:21-22 (‘as the Father sent me, I send you’); use proclamation/relational-witness framing, not confrontational campaign language.
Israel
Approved rendering: Israa’iila
Transliteration: Israa’iila
Doctrine: Jewish Covenant Background and Feasts
Original: Ἰσραήλ
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Used of Nicodemus as ‘teacher of Israel’ (3:10) and in the title ‘King of Israel’ (1:49).
Referenced passages