Core Glossary
Core Glossary — Galatians (Προς Γαλάτας) for Greek
Language pair: English → Greek (Modern)
Curriculum: Galatians
Core passage: Galatians 2:15-21 (Γαλάτας 2:15-21)
Baseline authority: language-packages/greek/ Romans Language Package (v1)
Generated: 2026-07-07
Every entry marked [baseline] reuses the Romans package rendering exactly and must not be re-derived. Entries marked [new] are introduced by Galatians and must be seeded into bible_term_registry.json (Step 2) and translation_memory.json (Step 9). Risk tiers follow the baseline convention: Critical/High → mandatory human theologian review; Medium → native speaker review; Low → automated.
Citations use the package’s Greek format (e.g. Γαλάτας 2:16); the book title is Προς Γαλάτας.
A. Justification and grace (the letter’s center)
| English | Original | Translit. | Literal | Semantic range | English variants | Contextual theological meaning | Frequency in Galatians | Modern Greek | Risk | Translation risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| justification / justify [baseline] | δικαιόω | dikaióō | declare righteous | acquit, vindicate, declare right | justify, declare righteous | God’s forensic declaration of right standing through faith in Christ | 8× (2:16 ×3; 2:17; 3:8, 11, 24; 5:4) | δικαιώνω / δικαίωση | Critical | Modern colloquial δικαίωση = personal vindication (“I was proven right”); Orthodox theosis framing absorbs the forensic sense. Anchor per baseline λογιζόμενη δικαιοσύνη entry |
| righteousness [baseline] | δικαιοσύνη | dikaiosýnē | rightness | justice, right standing | righteousness | right standing before God credited to faith | 4× (2:21; 3:6, 21; 5:5) | δικαιοσύνη | Critical | Modern civic/legal sense (Ministry of Justice) dominates; anchor theologically |
| credited / reckoned [baseline] | λογίζομαι | logízomai | count, credit | reckon, credit to an account | counted, credited | Gen 15:6 (LXX) quoted at Γαλάτας 3:6 — righteousness credited to faith | 1× explicit; argument of ch. 3 | λογίστηκε / λογιζόμενη δικαιοσύνη | Critical | Do not let the accounting metaphor collapse into transformation-only theosis reading |
| grace [baseline] | χάρις | cháris | favor | favor, gift, charm | grace | unmerited divine favor — the ground Paul refuses to nullify (2:21; 5:4) | 7× | χάρη | Critical | Modern senses “charm” and “legal pardon”; anchor at every occurrence |
| works of the law [new] | ἔργα νόμου | érga nómou | works of law | Torah observances | works of the law | law-keeping as (non-)ground of justification | 6× (2:16 ×3; 3:2, 5, 10) | έργα του νόμου | High | νόμος defaults to civil law; “works” piety can silently replace Torah-works and turn the argument generic. Keep referent Mosaic |
| in vain / for nothing [new] | δωρεάν | dōreán | gratuitously | freely; without cause; in vain | for nothing, in vain | if righteousness comes by law, “Christ died δωρεάν” (2:21) | 1×, load-bearing | μάταια / χωρίς λόγο — NEVER δωρεάν | Critical | Signature trap: Modern Greek δωρεάν = “free of charge” (positive, commercial). Mechanical reuse produces “Christ died free of charge.” Forbidden substitution; must enter the forbidden-terms rules |
| nullify / set aside [new] | ἀθετέω | athetéō | un-place | annul, reject, break (a promise) | nullify, set aside | refusing to void the grace of God (2:21); annulling a covenant (3:15) | 2× | αθετώ | Medium | Modern collocation is promise-breaking; carries adequately in formal register |
| severed / fallen from grace [new] | καταργέω / ἐκπίπτω | katargéō / ekpíptō | render inoperative / fall out | sever, estrange / fall from | severed from Christ, fallen from grace | law-justification severs from Christ (5:4) | 1× each | αποκόπτομαι από τον Χριστό / ξεπέφτω από τη χάρη | High | Modern καταργώ = “abolish an institution”; personal severance needs αποκόπτομαι |
B. Faith, gospel, and revelation
| English | Original | Translit. | Literal | Semantic range | English variants | Contextual theological meaning | Frequency | Modern Greek | Risk | Translation risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| faith [baseline] | πίστις | pístis | trust | trust, belief, faithfulness | faith | trust in Christ as sole instrument of justification; in 5:22 “faithfulness” as fruit | 22× | πίστη | High | Generic loyalty/self-belief bleaching; at 5:22 the same word means faithfulness — distinguish explicitly |
| gospel [baseline] | εὐαγγέλιον | euangélion | good news | message of salvation | gospel | the one gospel, against the “different gospel” (1:6-7) | 13× | ευαγγέλιο | High | Secular “good news” bleaching |
| a different gospel [new] | ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον | héteron euangélion | another (of a different kind) | different, other | different gospel | the Judaizers’ non-gospel | 1:6-7 | έτερον ευαγγέλιο | High | Preserve ἕτερος (different kind) vs ἄλλος (same kind) — the distinction is Paul’s argument and survives in formal Modern Greek |
| accursed / anathema [new] | ἀνάθεμα | anáthema | devoted (to destruction) | curse, devoted thing | accursed, anathema | God’s curse on false-gospel preachers (1:8-9) | 2× | ανάθεμα | High | Casual imprecation trivializes; conciliar-excommunication reading institutionalizes. Note required both ways |
| revelation [new] | ἀποκάλυψις | apokálypsis | unveiling | disclosure, revelation | revelation | Paul’s gospel received by revelation of Christ (1:12; 2:2) | 2× | αποκάλυψη | Medium | Journalistic “exposé” bleaching; restore theological register |
| calling / called [baseline] | καλέω / κλητός | kaléō / klētós | call | summon | called | God’s effective summons (1:6, 15; 5:8, 13) | 5× | κλήση / καλώ / κλητός | Critical | κλήση = phone call / traffic ticket in everyday speech; reactivate theological sense every occurrence |
| zealot / zealous [new] | ζηλωτής | zēlōtḗs | zealous one | zealot, enthusiast | extremely zealous | Paul’s pre-conversion zeal for tradition (1:14) | 1× | ζηλωτής | Low | Distinguish from ζηλιάρης (envious) |
| traditions [new] | παραδόσεις | paradóseis | things handed down | traditions | ancestral traditions | tradition-zeal that opposed the gospel (1:14) | 1× | παραδόσεις | Medium | παράδοση is a maximally positive word in Greek culture (national + Orthodox); keep Paul’s critique scoped to tradition-as-rival-to-gospel |
| hypocrisy [new] | ὑπόκρισις | hypókrisis | play-acting | hypocrisy | hypocrisy, insincerity | Peter’s withdrawal at Antioch (2:13) | 1× | υποκρισία | Low | Zero-gap |
| walk straight (with the gospel) [new] | ὀρθοποδέω | orthopodéō | walk with straight feet | act consistently | walk in step with the truth | conduct aligned with gospel truth (2:14) | 1× | βαδίζω σύμφωνα με την αλήθεια του ευαγγελίου | Medium | Modern ορθοποδώ = economic recovery (“back on its feet”); use periphrasis |
C. Union with Christ and sonship
| English | Original | Translit. | Literal | Semantic range | English variants | Contextual theological meaning | Frequency | Modern Greek | Risk | Translation risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| crucified with Christ [new] | συσταυρόομαι | systauróomai | co-crucified | crucify together with | crucified with Christ | perfect-tense union with Christ’s death (2:20) | 1×, load-bearing | έχω συσταυρωθεί με τον Χριστό | High | Keep the perfect aspect (continuing state); aorist loses Paul’s point. Theosis accretion legitimate but must not displace faith-union |
| Christ lives in me [new] | ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός | zêi en emoì Christós | Christ lives in me | indwelling | Christ lives in me | Christ as the believer’s operative life (2:20) | 1× | ζει μέσα μου ο Χριστός | Medium | Zero-gap; guard Pauline faith-frame per baseline σωτηρία note |
| Son of God [baseline] | Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ | Huiòs toû Theoû | Son of God | — | Son of God | unique eternal Sonship (2:20) | 1× + Son 4× | Υιός του Θεού | Critical | Full phrase required; distinct from believers’ adoptive sonship |
| adoption [baseline] | υἱοθεσία | huiothesía | son-placing | adoption | adoption as sons | redeemed slaves made sons and heirs (4:5) | 1×, load-bearing | υιοθεσία | Medium | Stable |
| Abba [baseline] | Αββά | Abbá | (Aramaic) father | — | Abba | the Spirit’s cry certifying sonship (4:6) | 1× | Αββά, Πατέρα | Medium | Retain NT’s own transliteration paired with Πατέρα |
| heir [new] | κληρονόμος | klēronómos | inheritor | heir | heirs according to promise | believers as heirs of the Abrahamic promise (3:29; 4:1, 7) | 4× | κληρονόμος | Low | Stable; pairs with the διαθήκη wordplay |
| put on Christ [new] | ἐνδύομαι Χριστόν | endýomai Christón | clothe oneself with Christ | put on, be vested | put on Christ, clothed with Christ | baptismal union (3:27) | 1× | ενδύθηκα/ντύθηκα τον Χριστό | Low | Major liturgical asset: the Orthodox baptismal hymn quotes 3:27 verbatim (“Ὅσοι εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε…“) |
| formed (Christ formed in you) [new] | μορφόω | morphóō | give form | shape, form | until Christ is formed in you | Paul’s goal for the Galatians (4:19) | 1× | λάβει μορφή / μορφοποιηθεί ο Χριστός μέσα σας | High | Never μορφωθεί — Modern Greek μορφώνομαι = “get educated”; mechanical reuse yields “until Christ gets educated in you” |
D. Abraham, covenant, law, and promise (chapters 3-4)
| English | Original | Translit. | Literal | Semantic range | English variants | Contextual theological meaning | Frequency | Modern Greek | Risk | Translation risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| promise [new] | ἐπαγγελία | epangelía | announcement, promise | promise | promise | the Abrahamic promise, prior to law, fulfilled in Christ | 11× in chs. 3-4 | υπόσχεση (anchor) / επαγγελία (formal) | High | Root extinct in everyday speech; survives as επάγγελμα “profession” — mis-derivation risk. Registry forbidden-confusion entry |
| covenant [baseline] | διαθήκη | diathḗkē | disposition, testament | covenant; last will | covenant | ratified covenant that law cannot annul (3:15-17) | 3× | διαθήκη | High | Modern sense = legal will. Unique note: 3:15 deliberately uses the will-sense — the wordplay is native to Greek; exploit at v. 15, return to covenant at vv. 16-17 |
| law [baseline] | νόμος | nómos | law | Torah; law in general | law | the Mosaic law as temporary custodian, not justification-ground | 32× (highest density in NT) | νόμος | High | Civil-law default; keep referent Mosaic. “Ο νόμος του Χριστού” (6:2) is consciously paradoxical — preserve |
| curse / cursed [new] | κατάρα / ἐπικατάρατος | katára / epikatáratos | curse / under-curse | malediction | curse of the law | Christ became a curse for us (3:10-13) | 4× | κατάρα / επικατάρατος | Medium | Lexically stable; guard the substitutionary force of 3:13 |
| redeem [new] | ἐξαγοράζω | exagorázō | buy out | redeem, buy back; (mod.) bribe, buy out | redeemed | Christ’s purchase out of the law’s curse (3:13; 4:5) | 2× | λύτρωση/απολύτρωση vocabulary (anchor); εξαγόρασε with note | Critical | Modern εξαγοράζω = bribe (“bought his silence”) / corporate buyout. Unfiltered, 3:13 reads as bribery. Forbidden-substitution rule required |
| seed / offspring [baseline] | σπέρμα | spérma | seed | seed, offspring | seed | singular σπέρμα = Christ (3:16) — the grammatical-number argument | 5× | σπέρμα | Medium | Formal register retains it; the singular/plural argument works verbatim in Greek — zero-gap asset |
| guardian (the law as) [new] | παιδαγωγός | paidagōgós | boy-leader | custodial slave-escort; (mod.) educator | guardian, tutor, disciplinarian | the law as temporary custodian until Christ (3:24-25) | 2× | παιδαγωγός + mandatory gloss | Critical | Modern sense = honored professional educator — inverts Paul’s restrictive-interim point. Never render δάσκαλος; note obligatory |
| elemental principles [new] | στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου | stoicheîa toû kósmou | elements of the world | ABCs, elements, elemental powers; (mod.) data | elemental principles/spirits | the enslaving pre-Christ order (4:3, 9) | 2× | τα στοιχειώδη του κόσμου / οι στοιχειώδεις αρχές + note | Critical | Modern στοιχεία = data/personal details (“προσωπικά στοιχεία”); unglossed reads as “the world’s data.” Registry entry |
| Gentiles / nations [baseline] | ἔθνη | éthnē | nations | nations, Gentiles | Gentiles | non-Jewish peoples receiving Abraham’s blessing (3:8, 14) | 5× | έθνη / εθνικοί | Medium | Nationalist connotation of έθνος; keep ethnic-religious sense |
| Greek (= Gentile) [new] | Ἕλλην | Héllēn | Greek | Greek; Gentile | Greek | ”neither Jew nor Ἕλλην” (3:28) — Ἕλλην = Gentile, not the modern national identity | 1×, high sensitivity | Έλληνας + mandatory note | High | For this audience uniquely, 3:28 without a note reads as a statement about Greek nationality. Explain Paul’s Jew/Gentile usage |
| observe (days, months…) [new] | παρατηρέω | paratēréō | watch closely | observe scrupulously | you observe days and months | calendar-religion as relapse (4:10) | 1× | τηρείτε ημέρες και μήνες | High | Most pastorally sensitive verse for an audience whose devotional life is calendar-structured (name days, feasts, fasts). Scope Paul’s target to observance-as-justification; human theologian review of curriculum framing |
| allegory [new] | ἀλληγορούμενα | allēgoroúmena | spoken otherwise | allegorize | interpreted allegorically | Hagar/Sarah as two covenants (4:24) | 1× | αλληγορία / αλληγορικά | Low | Stable learned term; note it is Paul’s typology, not a general hermeneutic license |
| Jerusalem above [new] | ἡ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ | hē ánō Ierousalḗm | the above Jerusalem | — | the Jerusalem above | the free mother-city of believers (4:26) | 1× | η άνω Ιερουσαλήμ | Low | Established liturgical phrase — asset |
E. Freedom, flesh and Spirit, ethics (chapters 5-6)
| English | Original | Translit. | Literal | Semantic range | English variants | Contextual theological meaning | Frequency | Modern Greek | Risk | Translation risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freedom [new] | ἐλευθερία | eleuthería | freedom | freedom, liberty | freedom | freedom from law-as-justification, for Spirit-led love — not license (5:1, 13) | 4× + cognates | ελευθερία | Critical | The Greek national word (motto, anthem): default political-liberation resonance. Fence two ways: not national-political; not libertine. New Critical term for this curriculum |
| circumcision [new] | περιτομή | peritomḗ | cutting around | circumcision | circumcision | the Judaizers’ demand; nothing in Christ (5:2-12; 6:12-15) | 13× | περιτομή | Low | Technical, stable |
| flesh [new] | σάρξ | sárx | flesh | body; mortal humanity; sin-oriented self | flesh | the sin-bent self opposed to the Spirit — NOT the body per se (5:13-24) | 18× | σάρκα | Critical | Greek philosophical heritage reads body-vs-soul dualism; Paul’s vice list includes non-bodily “works of the flesh” (envy, enmity). Concept-level notes obligatory |
| Spirit [baseline] | Πνεῦμα | Pneûma | breath, spirit | Spirit | the Holy Spirit | the Spirit as source of life, fruit, and freedom (chs. 3-6) | 18× | Πνεύμα / Άγιο Πνεύμα | Critical | Capitalize and anchor as the person of the Holy Spirit, not the human spiritual faculty |
| fruit of the Spirit [new] | καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος | karpòs toû Pneúmatos | fruit of the Spirit | produce, harvest | fruit of the Spirit | ninefold Spirit-produced character, singular καρπός (5:22-23) | 1× list | ο καρπός του Πνεύματος | Medium | Keep singular; the nine members are living Greek words. πίστη at 5:22 = faithfulness — same word as justifying faith; distinguish |
| works of the flesh [new] | ἔργα τῆς σαρκός | érga tês sarkós | works of the flesh | — | works of the flesh | the vice catalogue (5:19-21) | 1× list | έργα της σάρκας | Medium | Catalogue mostly living words; see φαρμακεία below |
| sorcery [new] | φαρμακεία | pharmakeía | drug-craft | sorcery, magic | sorcery, witchcraft | vice-list item (5:20) | 1× | μαγεία / μαγγανεία — never φαρμακεία | High | Modern φαρμακεία = pharmacy. Forbidden substitution |
| leaven [new] | ζύμη | zýmē | leaven | yeast | a little leaven | small compromise corrupts the whole (5:9) | 1× | ζύμη / προζύμι | Low | Proverbially alive |
| faith working through love [new] | πίστις δι᾽ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη | pístis di’ agápēs energouménē | faith operating through love | be at work | faith working through love | the letter’s positive thesis (5:6) | 1× | πίστη που ενεργείται μέσω της αγάπης | Medium | ενεργώ stable; avoid drifting into the technical Orthodox “ενέργειες” register |
| burdens / load [new] | βάρη / φορτίον | bárē / phortíon | weights / load | burden / pack | bear one another’s burdens / each his own load | mutual care (6:2) vs. personal responsibility (6:5) | 1× each | βάρη / φορτίο | Low | Both alive; the distinction survives naturally |
| sow / reap [new] | σπείρω / θερίζω | speírō / therízō | sow / reap | — | whatever one sows he will reap | eschatological harvest, Spirit vs. flesh (6:7-9) | 3× | σπέρνω / θερίζω | Low | Living proverb in near-identical wording; add non-karma note (personal divine judgment) |
| new creation [new] | καινὴ κτίσις | kainḕ ktísis | new creation | creation, creature | new creation | what alone counts (6:15) | 1×, load-bearing | καινή δημιουργία (anchor) / καινή κτίση (liturgical) | High | Modern κτίση/κτίζω gravitates to building/construction; καινός needs its “new-in-kind” gloss |
| marks / brand-marks [new] | στίγματα | stígmata | brands | brand, tattoo, mark | the marks of Jesus | Paul’s scars as slave-brands of his Master — badge of honor (6:17) | 1× | τα σημάδια του Ιησού (anchor); στίγματα with note | High | Modern στίγμα = social disgrace (near-opposite); also Catholic-stigmata confusion. Registry entry |
| boast [new] | καυχάομαι | kaucháomai | boast | boast, glory in | never boast except in the cross | boasting relocated to the cross (6:14) | 4× | καυχώμαι / καύχημα | Low | Alive in church register |
| transgressor [new] | παραβάτης | parabátēs | over-stepper | violator | transgressor | rebuilding law makes one its transgressor (2:18) | 1× | παραβάτης | Medium | Traffic-offender bleaching; reactivate covenantal weight |
| agent/servant (of sin) [new] | διάκονος | diákonos | servant | servant, minister; (mod.) deacon | servant of sin (rejected charge) | 2:17 | 1× | υπηρέτης (here) — not διάκονος | Medium | Modern διάκονος = the clerical office; generic sense needs υπηρέτης |
| certainly not! [new] | μὴ γένοιτο | mē génoito | may it never be | emphatic denial | God forbid! | Paul’s strongest denial (2:17; 3:21; 6:14) | 3× | μη γένοιτο | Low | Living set phrase — reuse verbatim; zero-gap asset |
Chapter coverage check
| Chapter | Represented by (selection) | New terms contributed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον, ἀνάθεμα, ἀποκάλυψις, ζηλωτής, παραδόσεις | 5 |
| 2 | core passage (2:15-21) verse-by-verse; ψευδάδελφοι, ὀρθοποδέω, ὑπόκρισις, δεξιὰς κοινωνίας, παραβάτης, διάκονος, συσταυρόομαι, δωρεάν | 8+ |
| 3 | ἐπαγγελία, ἐξαγοράζω, κατάρα, παιδαγωγός, σπέρμα-argument, διαθήκη-wordplay, ἐνδύομαι Χριστόν, Ἕλλην, κληρονόμος | 9 |
| 4 | υἱοθεσία, Αββά, στοιχεῖα, παρατηρέω (4:10), μορφόω, ἀλληγορούμενα, ἡ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ | 7 |
| 5 | ἐλευθερία, περιτομή, σάρξ/Πνεῦμα, καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος, φαρμακεία, ζύμη, πίστις δι᾽ ἀγάπης | 7 |
| 6 | βάρη/φορτίον, σπείρω/θερίζω, καινὴ κτίσις, στίγματα, καυχάομαι, ὁ νόμος τοῦ Χριστοῦ | 6 |
No chapter of Galatians is without glossary representation; no chapter was found to contribute zero new terms.
Seeding note (Step 9)
All [new] terms above must be seeded into translation_memory.json, and all [baseline] terms copied exactly with the note “inherited from Romans package.” The five forbidden-substitution rules this letter introduces — δωρεάν→μάταια (2:21), φαρμακεία→μαγεία (5:20), μορφωθεί→λάβει μορφή (4:19), εξαγοράζω→λύτρωση-vocabulary (3:13), δάσκαλος-for-παιδαγωγός (3:24) — must also be carried into 12_ai_translation_requirements.md (Step 10) as enforcement rules.
Critical Risk Terms
Calling
Approved rendering: κλήση
Transliteration: kaleō / klētos
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: κλήση με την καθημερινή έννοια μιας τηλεφωνικής κλήσης ή δικαστικής κλήσης/κλήσης τροχαίας
Original: καλέω / κλητός
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (CRITICAL): Modern Greek κλήση overwhelmingly means a phone call or traffic summons; the theological sense must be deliberately reactivated at every occurrence.
Justification
Approved rendering: δικαίωση
Transliteration: dikaioō / dikaiōsis
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: δικαίωση με τη σύγχρονη καθημερινή έννοια του ‘να αποδειχθεί κανείς σωστός’ (προσωπική δικαίωση)
Original: δικαιόω / δικαίωσις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (CRITICAL): Modern δικαίωση colloquially means personal vindication; Orthodox theosis framing absorbs the forensic sense. Anchor to Paul’s own λογίζομαι argument (Galatians 3:6 quoting Genesis 15:6 LXX).
Righteousness
Approved rendering: δικαιοσύνη
Transliteration: dikaiosynē
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: δικαιοσύνη αποκλειστικά με τη σύγχρονη έννοια της νομικής ή κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης
Original: δικαιοσύνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package: Modern civic/legal sense (Ministry of Justice) dominates everyday usage; anchor theologically.
In Vain
Approved rendering: μάταια
Transliteration: dōrean
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: δωρεάν με τη σύγχρονη εμπορική έννοια του ‘χωρίς χρέωση’ (free of charge)
Original: δωρεάν
Category: Salvation
FORBIDDEN SUBSTITUTION — the signature Galatians trap. Modern Greek δωρεάν means ‘free of charge’ (positive, commercial); mechanical reuse yields ‘Christ died free of charge.’ Always render μάταια or χωρίς λόγο at 2:21.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: Υιός του Θεού
Transliteration: Huios tou Theou
Doctrine: Christology
Rejected alternatives: Υιός του Θεού με τη γενική έννοια που αποδίδεται σε κάθε πιστό
Original: Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package: full phrase required; distinct from believers’ adoptive sonship (Galatians 4:5-7).
Credited
Approved rendering: λογίστηκε
Transliteration: logizomai
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: δικαιοσύνη ως αποκλειστικά εσωτερική μεταμόρφωση μέσω της θέωσης, χωρίς καμία δικανική διάσταση
Original: λογίζομαι
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (λογιζόμενη δικαιοσύνη): the accounting metaphor is transparent in Modern Greek and the LXX wording is directly readable — anchor the forensic sense against a transformation-only reading.
Redeem
Approved rendering: λυτρώνω / απολύτρωση
Transliteration: exagorazō
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: εξαγοράζω με τη σύγχρονη έννοια της δωροδοκίας (‘εξαγόρασε τη σιωπή του’), εξαγοράζω ως εταιρική εξαγορά (corporate buyout)
Original: ἐξαγοράζω
Category: Salvation
FORBIDDEN SUBSTITUTION: Modern εξαγοράζω dominantly means to bribe/buy off (‘εξαγόρασε τη σιωπή του’) or a corporate buyout. Anchor with λύτρωση/απολύτρωση vocabulary; retain εξαγόρασε only with an explanatory note.
Guardian
Approved rendering: παιδαγωγός (με υποχρεωτική επεξήγηση)
Transliteration: paidagōgos
Doctrine: Covenant
Rejected alternatives: παιδαγωγός με τη σύγχρονη έννοια του τιμώμενου επαγγελματία εκπαιδευτικού, δάσκαλος (teacher) ως απόδοση
Original: παιδαγωγός
Category: Covenant
FORBIDDEN INVERSION: Modern παιδαγωγός is the honored professional educator, which inverts Paul’s restrictive-interim point. Keep the word only with a mandatory gloss; never render δάσκαλος (teacher).
Elemental Principles
Approved rendering: τα στοιχειώδη του κόσμου
Transliteration: stoicheia tou kosmou
Doctrine: Sin
Rejected alternatives: στοιχεία με τη σύγχρονη έννοια των προσωπικών στοιχείων/δεδομένων ταυτότητας
Original: στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου
Category: Sin
FORBIDDEN CONFUSION: Modern στοιχεία overwhelmingly means data/personal details (‘προσωπικά στοιχεία’); unglossed, the phrase reads as ‘the world’s data.’ Render ‘τα στοιχειώδη του κόσμου / οι στοιχειώδεις αρχές’ with an explanatory note.
Freedom
Approved rendering: ελευθερία
Transliteration: eleutheria
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: ελευθερία αποκλειστικά με την εθνικοπολιτική έννοια της εθνικής ανεξαρτησίας, ελευθερία ως ασυδοσία/άνομη ζωή
Original: ἐλευθερία
Category: Salvation
Zero lexical gap, maximal cultural load: ελευθερία is the Greek national word (motto ‘Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος,’ the national anthem). Fence on two sides: against the default national-political liberation reading, and against libertine misreading (5:13).
Flesh
Approved rendering: σάρκα
Transliteration: sarx
Doctrine: Sin
Rejected alternatives: σάρκα αποκλειστικά με τη φιλοσοφική δυϊστική έννοια σώματος εναντίον ψυχής
Original: σάρξ
Category: Sin
The critical risk is conceptual, not lexical: Greek philosophical heritage reads σάρκα/πνεύμα as body-versus-soul dualism, but Paul’s vice list includes non-bodily works (envy, enmity). Explanatory notes are obligatory since the words themselves cannot disambiguate.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: Άγιο Πνεύμα / Πνεύμα
Transliteration: Pneuma
Doctrine: God
Original: Πνεῦμα
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Anchor as the person of the Holy Spirit, never the human spiritual faculty; capitalization carries load in the σάρκα/Πνεύμα contrast.
High Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: ευαγγέλιο
Transliteration: euangelion
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Must convey an authoritative announcement, not generic good news or a religious teaching among others.
Different Gospel
Approved rendering: έτερον ευαγγέλιο
Transliteration: heteron euangelion
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Preserve the ἕτερος (‘another of a different kind’) vs ἄλλος (‘another of the same kind’) distinction — it carries Paul’s argument and survives in formal Modern Greek as έτερον.
Anathema
Approved rendering: ανάθεμα
Transliteration: anathema
Doctrine: Sin
Rejected alternatives: ανάθεμα με την καθημερινή έννοια της τετριμμένης κατάρας, ανάθεμα αποκλειστικά ως επίσημη συνοδική διαδικασία αφορισμού
Original: ἀνάθεμα
Category: Sin
Modern Greek ανάθεμα is both a casual imprecation and the formal conciliar excommunication. Guard both directions: not trivial, and God-pronounced rather than an institutional church procedure.
Works Of The Law
Approved rendering: έργα του νόμου
Transliteration: erga nomou
Doctrine: Covenant
Rejected alternatives: έργα νόμου γενικευμένα ως οποιαδήποτε καλά έργα, αποσυνδεδεμένα από τον Μωσαϊκό Νόμο
Original: ἔργα νόμου
Category: Covenant
Modern νόμος defaults to civil law, and generic ‘good works’ piety can silently replace Torah-works, flattening Paul’s argument into a generic works-religion polemic. Keep the referent Mosaic.
Faith
Approved rendering: πίστη
Transliteration: pistis
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: πίστη με τη γενική έννοια της αφοσίωσης σε οποιαδήποτε ιδέα ή πρόσωπο
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package. At Galatians 5:22 the same word means ‘faithfulness’ as fruit of the Spirit — the two senses must be explicitly distinguished.
Grace
Approved rendering: χάρη
Transliteration: charis
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: χάρη με την καθημερινή έννοια της γοητείας ή ομορφιάς, χάρη ως νομική/προεδρική χάρη (απονομή χάριτος)
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package: Modern χάρη means personal charm or a legal pardon in everyday use; anchor the theological sense at every occurrence.
Crucified With Christ
Approved rendering: έχω συσταυρωθεί με τον Χριστό
Transliteration: synestaurōmai
Doctrine: Christology
Original: συνεσταύρωμαι
Category: Christology
Keep the perfect aspect (έχω συσταυρωθεί — continuing state); the aorist loses the standing-union force. Orthodox theosis resonance is legitimate but must not displace Paul’s faith-union frame.
Promise
Approved rendering: υπόσχεση (επαγγελία)
Transliteration: epangelia
Doctrine: Covenant
Rejected alternatives: επαγγελία συγχεόμενη με το σύγχρονο ‘επάγγελμα’ (profession)
Original: ἐπαγγελία
Category: Covenant
The Koine word is near-extinct in everyday Modern Greek, where the root survives as επάγγελμα (profession) — a live mis-derivation risk. Anchor with υπόσχεση; retain επαγγελία in formal/liturgical register.
Covenant
Approved rendering: διαθήκη
Transliteration: diathēkē
Doctrine: Covenant
Rejected alternatives: διαθήκη με τη σύγχρονη κυρίαρχη έννοια της κληρονομικής διαθήκης (legal will), εκτός από τη σκόπιμη λογοπαικτική χρήση στο 3:15
Original: διαθήκη
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package: modern sense is a legal will. Unique to Galatians: 3:15 deliberately trades on the will-sense — the wordplay is native to Greek; exploit it at v. 15 and return to the covenantal sense for vv. 16-17.
Law
Approved rendering: νόμος
Transliteration: nomos
Doctrine: Covenant
Original: νόμος
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package: Modern νόμος defaults to civil law; keep the referent Mosaic. ‘Ο νόμος του Χριστού’ (6:2) is consciously paradoxical after chapters 3-5 — preserve the paradox.
Greek Gentile
Approved rendering: Έλληνας (= εθνικός, μη Ιουδαίος)
Transliteration: Hellēn
Doctrine: Church
Rejected alternatives: Έλληνας με τη σύγχρονη εθνική/πολιτισμική έννοια της ελληνικότητας
Original: Ἕλλην
Category: Church
Uniquely sensitive for this audience: without a note, 3:28 reads as a statement about Greek nationality. Explain the NT’s Jew/Gentile sense explicitly.
Observe Days
Approved rendering: τηρείτε ημέρες και μήνες
Transliteration: paratēreisthe hēmeras
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: τηρώ ημέρες ερμηνευμένο ως γενική πολεμική κατά της χριστιανικής εορτολογικής ζωής, αντί για παρατήρηση-ως-δικαίωση
Original: παρατηρεῖσθε ἡμέρας
Category: Sanctification
The most pastorally sensitive verse for an audience whose devotional life is structured by the heortological calendar (name days, feasts, fasts). Scope Paul’s target precisely: observance-as-justification, not festivity as such. Human theologian review of curriculum framing required.
Formed In You
Approved rendering: να λάβει μορφή ο Χριστός
Transliteration: morphōthē Christos
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: μορφώνομαι με τη σύγχρονη έννοια του ‘αποκτώ μόρφωση/εκπαίδευση’
Original: μορφωθῇ Χριστός
Category: Sanctification
FORBIDDEN SUBSTITUTION: Modern μορφώνομαι means ‘to get educated’; a mechanical rendering yields ‘until Christ gets educated in you.’ Render ‘μέχρι να λάβει μορφή ο Χριστός μέσα σας.‘
Severed From Christ
Approved rendering: αποκοπήκατε από τον Χριστό
Transliteration: katērgēthēte apo Christou
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: καταργώ με τη σύγχρονη θεσμική έννοια της κατάργησης νόμου/θεσμού
Original: κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ
Category: Salvation
Modern καταργώ means ‘abolish (an institution)’; the personal sense needs αποκόπτομαι. Keep χάρη anchored per the baseline entry.
Sorcery
Approved rendering: μαγεία
Transliteration: pharmakeia
Doctrine: Sin
Rejected alternatives: φαρμακεία με τη σύγχρονη έννοια του φαρμακείου (pharmacy)
Original: φαρμακεία
Category: Sin
FORBIDDEN SUBSTITUTION: Modern φαρμακεία means ‘pharmacy.’ Always render μαγεία or μαγγανεία.
New Creation
Approved rendering: καινή δημιουργία (καινή κτίση)
Transliteration: kainē ktisis
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: καινή κτίση με τη σύγχρονη έννοια της οικοδομικής κατασκευής
Original: καινὴ κτίσις
Category: Salvation
Modern κτίση/κτίζω gravitates to building/construction (‘new construction’ misreading), and καινός needs its ‘new-in-kind’ gloss. Anchor with ‘καινή δημιουργία’; retain ‘καινή κτίση’ liturgically.
Marks Of Jesus
Approved rendering: τα σημάδια του Ιησού
Transliteration: stigmata tou Iēsou
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: στίγματα με τη σύγχρονη έννοια του κοινωνικού στίγματος/ντροπής, στίγματα αποκλειστικά ως καθολικά στίγματα (stigmata) ενός αγίου
Original: στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Category: Sanctification
FORBIDDEN CONFUSION: Modern στίγμα means social disgrace (near-opposite of Paul’s badge of honor), with secondary Catholic-stigmata confusion. Anchor with ‘τα σημάδια του Ιησού’; στίγματα only with note.
Medium Risk Terms
Revelation
Approved rendering: αποκάλυψη
Transliteration: apokalypsis
Doctrine: God
Original: ἀποκάλυψις
Category: God
Modern αποκάλυψη is bleached to journalistic disclosure/exposé; restore the divine-unveiling register.
Traditions
Approved rendering: παραδόσεις
Transliteration: paradoseis
Doctrine: Church
Original: παραδόσεις
Category: Church
παράδοση is a maximally positive word in Greek culture (national and Orthodox alike). Keep Paul’s critique scoped to tradition functioning as a rival to the revealed gospel, not tradition as such.
Servant Of Sin
Approved rendering: υπηρέτης της αμαρτίας
Transliteration: hamartias diakonos
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ἁμαρτίας διάκονος
Category: Sin
Modern διάκονος is almost exclusively the ordained deacon; use υπηρέτης for the generic agent sense here to avoid an ecclesiastical misreading.
Transgressor
Approved rendering: παραβάτης
Transliteration: parabatēs
Doctrine: Sin
Original: παραβάτης
Category: Sin
Modern παραβάτης is primarily a traffic/regulatory offender; reactivate the covenantal weight.
Curse
Approved rendering: κατάρα
Transliteration: katara / epikataratos
Doctrine: Sin
Original: κατάρα / ἐπικατάρατος
Category: Sin
Lexically stable and weighty in Modern Greek; preserve the substitutionary force of 3:13.
Seed
Approved rendering: σπέρμα
Transliteration: sperma
Doctrine: Covenant
Original: σπέρμα
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Paul’s grammatical-number argument at 3:16 works verbatim in Greek — a zero-gap asset unavailable to any other language in the pipeline.
Adoption
Approved rendering: υιοθεσία
Transliteration: huiothesia
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: υἱοθεσία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package; standard modern legal-and-theological term, zero-gap.
Abba
Approved rendering: Αββά, Πατέρα
Transliteration: Abba ho patēr
Doctrine: God
Original: Αββά ὁ πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package: the NT itself transliterates the Aramaic for its Greek audience; retain ‘Αββά, Πατέρα’ exactly.
Faith Working Through Love
Approved rendering: πίστη που ενεργείται μέσω της αγάπης
Transliteration: pistis di’ agapēs energoumenē
Doctrine: Faith
Original: πίστις δι᾽ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη
Category: Faith
ενεργώ is stable; avoid drifting into the technical Orthodox ‘ενέργειες’ (uncreated energies) register in surrounding prose.
Fruit Of The Spirit
Approved rendering: ο καρπός του Πνεύματος
Transliteration: karpos tou Pneumatos
Doctrine: Sanctification
Original: καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος
Category: Sanctification
Keep καρπός singular; the nine members are all living Modern Greek words. πίστη at 5:22 means faithfulness — same word as justifying faith; distinguish explicitly.
Works Of The Flesh
Approved rendering: έργα της σάρκας
Transliteration: erga tēs sarkos
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ἔργα τῆς σαρκός
Category: Sin
Catalogue items are mostly living words; see the sorcery entry for the φαρμακεία trap; κῶμοι → ‘ξέφρενα γλέντια’ in explanatory prose.
Sow And Reap
Approved rendering: ό,τι σπείρει ο άνθρωπος, αυτό και θα θερίσει
Transliteration: speirō / therizō
Doctrine: Eschatology
Original: σπείρω / θερίζω
Category: Eschatology
Living proverb in near-identical wording — asset. Add a note that this is personal divine judgment, not karma-like impersonal retribution.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: έθνη
Transliteration: ethnē
Doctrine: Church
Rejected alternatives: εθνικοί με σύγχρονη εθνικιστική χροιά
Original: ἔθνη
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package: Modern έθνος carries nationalist connotation; keep the NT’s ethnic-religious sense distinct from nation-state identity.
Church
Approved rendering: εκκλησία
Transliteration: ekklēsia
Doctrine: Church
Rejected alternatives: Εκκλησία αποκλειστικά ως ο θεσμός/η ιεραρχική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία, ή αποκλειστικά το κτίριο
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package: distinguish the gathered-congregation sense from the institutional national Church and the building.
Peace
Approved rendering: ειρήνη
Transliteration: eirēnē
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: ειρήνη με την ησυχαστική έννοια της εσωτερικής ή νοερής ησυχίας (μυστικιστική παράδοση)
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package: distinguish from the Hesychast contemplative sense of inner stillness.
Low Risk Terms
Zealot
Approved rendering: ζηλωτής
Transliteration: zēlōtēs
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ζηλωτής
Category: Sin
Stable; distinguish from ζηλιάρης (envious), a different word on the same root.
False Brothers
Approved rendering: ψευδάδελφοι
Transliteration: pseudadelphoi
Doctrine: Church
Original: ψευδάδελφοι
Category: Church
Transparent compound, fully intelligible in Modern Greek.
Hypocrisy
Approved rendering: υποκρισία
Transliteration: hypokrisis
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ὑπόκρισις
Category: Sin
Zero-gap; υποκρισία is fully stable.
Put On Christ
Approved rendering: ενδύθηκα τον Χριστό
Transliteration: endyomai Christon
Doctrine: Sanctification
Original: ἐνδύομαι Χριστόν
Category: Sanctification
Major liturgical asset: the Orthodox baptismal hymn quotes this verse verbatim (‘Ὅσοι εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε’) and is universally known.
Heir
Approved rendering: κληρονόμος
Transliteration: klēronomos
Doctrine: Covenant
Original: κληρονόμος
Category: Covenant
Fully alive in inheritance law; pairs naturally with the διαθήκη wordplay.
Allegory
Approved rendering: αλληγορικά
Transliteration: allēgoroumena
Doctrine: Covenant
Original: ἀλληγορούμενα
Category: Covenant
Stable learned term. Note that this is Paul’s typology, not a license for unlimited allegorical method.
Jerusalem Above
Approved rendering: η άνω Ιερουσαλήμ
Transliteration: hē anō Ierousalēm
Doctrine: Eschatology
Original: ἡ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ
Category: Eschatology
Established liturgical phrase in Greek — an asset.
Circumcision
Approved rendering: περιτομή
Transliteration: peritomē
Doctrine: Covenant
Original: περιτομή
Category: Covenant
Technical and stable. ακροβυστία (uncircumcision) is opaque to modern ears; render ‘μη περιτμημένοι’ in explanatory prose.
Leaven
Approved rendering: ζύμη
Transliteration: zymē
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ζύμη
Category: Sin
Proverbially alive in Modern Greek (προζύμι).
Burdens
Approved rendering: βάρη / φορτίο
Transliteration: barē / phortion
Doctrine: Church
Original: βάρη / φορτίον
Category: Church
Both words alive; the βάρη/φορτίο distinction survives naturally in Modern Greek — preserve it.
Boast In The Cross
Approved rendering: καυχώμαι στον σταυρό
Transliteration: kauchaomai
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: καυχάομαι
Category: Salvation
Alive in church register; ‘το καύχημά μου ο σταυρός’ is idiomatic.
Certainly Not
Approved rendering: μη γένοιτο
Transliteration: mē genoito
Doctrine: Faith
Original: μὴ γένοιτο
Category: Faith
Living set phrase in liturgical and colloquial Modern Greek — reuse verbatim; zero-gap asset.
Apostle
Approved rendering: απόστολος
Transliteration: apostolos
Doctrine: Church
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package; identical to the NT word, stable.