Core Glossary
Core Glossary
translation_memory.json is the enforced glossary for every Phase 2 translation in this curriculum. This document summarizes its shape and the principles behind it; see the Glossary Risk Groups for the full per-term entries.
Composition
The glossary currently holds 47 terms spanning all four risk tiers, drawn from the doctrines identified in Doctrine Analysis and grounded in the cultural risks identified in Culture Analysis. Every term entry records:
- The approved Hindi translation and transliteration
- The doctrine risk tier (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
- Explicitly rejected alternatives, with reasons
- Notes explaining any non-obvious translation choice
Governing principles
- Established usage over invention — where the Bible Society of India’s Old Version already has a settled rendering (परमेश्वर, यीशु, प्रभु, मसीह), this glossary follows it rather than proposing an alternative.
- Explicit rejection, not silent avoidance — every Critical-risk term records why the obvious Hindu-tradition word is wrong (see
alternatives_rejected), so a translator or reviewer understands the reasoning rather than just following a rule. - Version-controlled and append-only in Phase 2 — if a new term is discovered during document translation, it is added to translation memory and the version number incremented, never silently improvised per-document (see the AI Translation Requirements’ Translation Memory Load and Enforcement Instructions).
Relationship to the Doctrine Risk Registry
Every glossary term’s doctrine field links back to an entry in doctrine_risk_registry.json, so a term’s risk tier is always traceable to the specific doctrine it protects — the glossary enforces vocabulary, the doctrine registry explains why that vocabulary matters.
Critical Risk Terms
Father
Approved rendering: पिता
Transliteration: Pitā
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Rejected alternatives: ब्रह्मा, सृष्टिकर्ता
God as personal Father (Abba). Never use Hindu creator deity names.
God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर
Transliteration: Parameśvara
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ईश्वर, भगवान
परमेश्वर (Supreme Lord) is the BSI OV standard. ईश्वर is used in some contexts; both are acceptable but परमेश्वर is preferred for doctrinal precision. भगवान has broad Hindu deity usage — avoid.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: पवित्र आत्मा
Transliteration: Pavitra Ātmā
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: ब्रह्म, परमात्मा, देव-आत्मा
CRITICAL: Never use ब्रह्म (Hindu Brahman) or परमात्मा alone (Hindu universal Self). पवित्र आत्मा is the personal Holy Spirit — third Person of the Trinity.
Imputed Righteousness
Approved rendering: आरोपित धार्मिकता
Transliteration: āropita dhārmikatā
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: अर्जित धार्मिकता
Credited/attributed righteousness from God; NOT achieved righteousness. अर्जित (earned) is explicitly rejected.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: देहधारण
Transliteration: dehadhāraṇa
Doctrine: Incarnation
Rejected alternatives: अवतार, देह प्रकटीकरण
CRITICAL: NEVER use अवतार (Hindu avatar/deity-descent). देहधारण = eternal Son permanently taking human nature. Add note distinguishing from avatar concept.
Jesus
Approved rendering: यीशु
Transliteration: Yīśu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ईसा, ईशू
BSI OV standard form. ईसा is used in Muslim/Urdu contexts; यीशु is the Hindi Christian standard.
Justification
Approved rendering: धर्मी ठहराया जाना
Transliteration: dharmī ṭaharāyā jānā
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: माफी पाना, पुण्य प्राप्त करना
Compound phrase required. Forensic declaration of right standing. No single-word Hindi equivalent. Never abbreviate.
Lord
Approved rendering: प्रभु
Transliteration: Prabhu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: स्वामी, ईश्वर
Established term. In Romans 10:9 the confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ = यीशु प्रभु है. Must convey exclusive, supreme Lordship; add context notes distinguishing from Hindu deity usage.
Messiah
Approved rendering: मसीह
Transliteration: Masīha
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Rejected alternatives: अभिषिक्त व्यक्ति, देव-दूत
Transliterated term; established in all Hindi Bible traditions. The Anointed One fulfilling OT promise. Not one of many divine figures.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: पुनरुत्थान
Transliteration: punaruttāna
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: पुनर्जन्म, पुनर्जीवन
CRITICAL: NEVER use पुनर्जन्म (reincarnation). पुनरुत्थान = bodily resurrection, once-for-all. Always distinguish from Hindu/Buddhist reincarnation cycle in notes.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: धार्मिकता
Transliteration: dhārmikatā
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: धर्म, पुण्य, न्याय
CRITICAL: Never use धर्म (Hindu cosmic duty). धार्मिकता = right standing before God received through faith. Not a duty performed.
Salvation
Approved rendering: उद्धार
Transliteration: uddhāra
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: मुक्ति, मोक्ष, छुटकारा
CRITICAL: NEVER use मुक्ति or मोक्ष — these carry Hindu liberation from samsara meaning. उद्धार = deliverance by God through Christ. छुटकारा may be used for ‘redemption’ in specific contexts.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर का पुत्र
Transliteration: Parameśvara kā putra
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ईश्वर का अंश, देव-पुरुष
CRITICAL: Full phrase required. Never render as ‘godly man’ or ‘divine person’. Conveys eternal, unique Sonship within the Godhead.
High Risk Terms
Abba
Approved rendering: अब्बा
Transliteration: Abbā
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Aramaic term of intimacy preserved in Romans 8:15. Keep the transliteration; it conveys filial intimacy that the formal पिता may not fully capture alone.
Adoption
Approved rendering: दत्तक-पुत्रता
Transliteration: dattaka-putratā
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Rejected alternatives: गोद लेना
गोद लेना is the common word but may imply reduced status. दत्तक-पुत्रता emphasizes full son-status. Add note: adopted children receive full inheritance rights.
Called
Approved rendering: बुलाए हुए
Transliteration: bulāe hue
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Rejected alternatives: निमंत्रित, आमंत्रित
Context-sensitive: in 1:1 = called to apostleship; in 1:7 = called to be saints; in 8:28–30 = effectual calling to salvation.
Calling
Approved rendering: बुलाहट
Transliteration: bulāhaṭ
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Rejected alternatives: आह्वान
Noun form for the act/state of being called. Use बुलाहट for the noun; बुलाए हुए for the adjective/past participle.
Covenant
Approved rendering: वाचा
Transliteration: vācā
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Rejected alternatives: अनुबंध, समझौता
Relational covenant bond; more than a legal contract. Established in BSI OV.
Election
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर का चुनाव
Transliteration: Parameśvara kā cunāva
Doctrine: Effectual Calling
Rejected alternatives: भाग्य, नियति, किस्मत
God’s sovereign personal choice; not karma-determined fate or impersonal destiny.
Faith
Approved rendering: विश्वास
Transliteration: viśvāsa
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: श्रद्धा, आस्था, भरोसा
Trust in a specific person (Christ/God); not generalized religious devotion. Object of faith must always be specified in context. Distinguish from Hindu śraddhā.
Glory
Approved rendering: महिमा
Transliteration: mahimā
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: देव-ज्योति, प्रकाश
God’s radiant presence and honor. Avoid light-metaphors that could conflate with Hindu divine light concepts.
Gospel
Approved rendering: सुसमाचार
Transliteration: susamācar
Doctrine: Gospel
Rejected alternatives: खुशखबरी, शुभ सन्देश
Established BSI OV term. Do not use colloquial alternatives.
Grace
Approved rendering: अनुग्रह
Transliteration: anugraha
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: कृपा, दया, वरदान, भाग्य, कर्म-फल, पुण्य
Must convey unmerited favor apart from any human merit. Directly counters karma worldview. कृपा may be used for mercy/compassion in non-grace contexts only.
Holy
Approved rendering: पवित्र
Transliteration: pavitra
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: शुद्ध, निर्मल
पवित्र = set apart for God; morally pure. शुद्ध has ritual purity connotations. Use पवित्र consistently.
Law
Approved rendering: व्यवस्था
Transliteration: vyavasthā
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rejected alternatives: धर्म, शरीयत, नियम
Torah/Mosaic law. NEVER use धर्म (Hindu dharma). व्यवस्था is established in BSI OV.
Obedience Of Faith
Approved rendering: विश्वास की आज्ञाकारिता
Transliteration: viśvāsa kī ājñākāritā
Doctrine: Obedience of Faith
Rejected alternatives: धार्मिक नियम पालन, धार्मिक कर्तव्य
Romans 1:5 and 16:26. Obedience that flows from faith, not works-based obedience that achieves standing. Distinguish from karma worldview.
Power Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर की सामर्थ्य
Transliteration: Parameśvara kī sāmarthya
Doctrine: Power of God for Salvation
Rejected alternatives: शक्ति, ताकत
Use सामर्थ्य; never शक्ति (Hindu Shakti concept).
Providence
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर का विधान
Transliteration: Parameśvara kā vidhāna
Doctrine: Providence
Rejected alternatives: भाग्य, कर्म का नियम
God’s personal, purposive governance. Never use भाग्य (fate) or karma language.
Saints
Approved rendering: पवित्र जन
Transliteration: pavitra jana
Doctrine: Sainthood
Rejected alternatives: संत, संतजन
संत in Indian culture = ascetic holy man. पवित्र जन = all believers called to holiness. Use पवित्र जन for corporate usage.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: पवित्रीकरण
Transliteration: pavitrikaraṇa
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: सफाई, शुद्धिकरण
Process of being made holy by the Spirit. Distinct from Hindu ritual purification (shuddhi).
Seed Of David
Approved rendering: दाऊद के वंश से
Transliteration: Dāūda ke vaṃśa se
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Romans 1:3; conveys physical lineage and OT covenant fulfillment.
Sin
Approved rendering: पाप
Transliteration: pāpa
Doctrine: Universal Human Accountability
Rejected alternatives: अधर्म, अशुद्धता
Moral transgression before a personal God. Distinguish from ritual impurity (अशुद्धता) and bad karma.
Medium Risk Terms
Apostle
Approved rendering: प्रेरित
Transliteration: prerita
Doctrine: Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: दूत, संदेशवाहक
Established Hindi Christian term. Conveys authorized sent-out messenger with delegated authority.
Church
Approved rendering: कलीसिया
Transliteration: kalīsiyā
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: मंदिर, गिरजाघर
Transliterated term; established in Hindi Christian usage. मण्डली acceptable for congregation. Never use मंदिर (Hindu temple).
David
Approved rendering: दाऊद
Transliteration: Dāūda
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
BSI OV proper name form.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: अन्यजाति
Transliteration: anyajāti
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: विदेशी
Non-Jews; established BSI term. Use राष्ट्र (nations) in mission contexts.
Intercession
Approved rendering: मध्यस्थता
Transliteration: madhyasthatā
Doctrine: Prayer and Intercession
Rejected alternatives: शफाअत
Prayer on behalf of others. शफाअत is Urdu-influenced; use Hindi मध्यस्थता.
Israel
Approved rendering: इस्राएल
Transliteration: Isrāela
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Proper name; BSI established form.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: परमेश्वर का राज्य
Transliteration: Parameśvara kā rājya
Doctrine: Kingdom Mission
Rejected alternatives: ईश्वर का राष्ट्र
God’s sovereign reign. Distinguish from political kingdom concepts.
Mission
Approved rendering: मिशन / सुसमाचार प्रचार
Transliteration: miśana / susamācar pracāra
Doctrine: Mission to the Nations
मिशन retains the term with awareness of colonial connotation; सुसमाचार प्रचार is the Hindi description. Use contextually.
Peace
Approved rendering: शांति
Transliteration: śānti
Doctrine: Peace with God
Rejected alternatives: चैन, सुकून
In Romans 5:1 = relational peace with God through justification; not psychological calm. Add note distinguishing from Hindu meditation-peace.
Spiritual Gifts
Approved rendering: आत्मिक वरदान
Transliteration: ātmika varadāna
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts
Rejected alternatives: वरदान, देवीय शक्तियां
Always use आत्मिक वरदान together. वरदान alone has Hindu boon connotation.
Low Risk Terms
Exhort
Approved rendering: प्रोत्साहित करना
Transliteration: protsāhita karanā
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Context-sensitive: use विनती (entreaty) for beseeching; प्रोत्साहित (encourage) for building up.
Fellowship
Approved rendering: संगति
Transliteration: saṃgati
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: दोस्ती, भाईचारा
Shared participation in Christ. भाईचारा is too civic/political.
Prophecy
Approved rendering: भविष्यवाणी
Transliteration: bhaviṣyavāṇī
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rejected alternatives: भविष्यफल
God-inspired declaration; distinct from astrological predictions (भविष्यफल).
Prophet
Approved rendering: भविष्यद्वक्ता
Transliteration: bhaviṣyadvaktā
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: ज्योतिषी
God’s spokesperson; do not confuse with astrologer/fortune-teller. Use नबी (nabi) for OT prophets in informal/note contexts.
Thanksgiving
Approved rendering: धन्यवाद
Transliteration: dhanyavāda
Doctrine: Thanksgiving
Standard term. No significant risk.
Referenced passages