Core Glossary
08 Core Glossary — 1 Corinthians (English → Malayalam)
This glossary consolidates all load-bearing theological terms identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md across the entirety of 1 Corinthians, chapters 1-16, organized by the curriculum’s ten Bible Doctrines. Terms already recorded in the baseline Romans translation_memory.json are marked [Baseline Reuse] and carry their baseline rendering and risk tier unchanged. New terms introduced by this curriculum are marked [New] and carry the risk tier assigned in this analysis. This table is the seed input for Phase 1 Step 2’s translation memory update.
Doctrine 1: The Resurrection of Christ and Believers
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| resurrection | ഉയിര്ത്തെഴുന്നേല്പ്പ് | uyirthezhunnelppu | Critical | 15 | Baseline Reuse | NEVER പുനര്ജന്മം. Perfect-tense (ἐγήγερται) abiding-risen-state nuance should be preserved where possible. |
| appeared/was seen (ὤφθη) | പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി / കാണപ്പെട്ടു | prathyakshanayi / kaanappettu | Critical | 15 | New | NEVER ദര്ശനം (darshan) — must denote a real, historical, bodily, eyewitness-verifiable appearance, not a devotional vision. |
| deliver/hand down (tradition, παραδίδωμι) | ഭരമേല്പ്പിച്ചു / കൈമാറി | bharamelppichu / kaimaari | High | 11, 15 | New | Formal, authoritative transmission (creedal tradition and words of institution), not loose legendary retelling. |
| according to the Scriptures (κατὰ τὰς γραφάς) | തിരുവെഴുത്തുകള് പ്രകാരം | thiruvezhuthukal prakaram | High | 15 | New | Ties to baseline’s inspiration_of_scripture/fulfillment_of_prophecy doctrines (High). |
| fallen asleep (κοιμάομαι, death euphemism) | നിദ്ര പ്രാപിച്ചു | nidra praapichu | Medium | 15 | New | Euphemism presupposing future waking (resurrection), not rebirth. |
| spiritual body (σῶμα πνευματικόν) | ആത്മീയശരീരം | atmeeya shareeram | Critical | 15 | New | Must retain bodily/physical ശരീരം sense; never implies a disembodied soul-only state. |
| firstfruits (ἀπαρχή) | ആദ്യഫലം | adyaphalam | Medium | 15 | New | Positive agrarian cultural resonance; guarantee-of-full-harvest logic must be explicit. |
| last Adam (ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδάμ) | അന്ത്യ ആദാം | anthya Adam | High | 15 | New | ”Last/final,” not merely “second,” headship — no further Adam is possible. |
| incorruption/immortality (ἀφθαρσία) | അക്ഷയത്വം | akshayatvam | High | 9, 15 | New | Must denote transformed bodily imperishability, not a pre-existing immortal soul (Vedantic ātman collision risk). |
| mortal (θνητός) | മര്ത്യന് | marthyan | Low | 15 | New | Standard. |
| sting of death (κέντρον τοῦ θανάτου) | മരണത്തിന്റെ വിഷമുള്ള് | maranathinte vishamullu | Medium | 15 | New | Poetic imagery challenge, low doctrinal-collision risk. |
| victory (νῖκος) | ജയം | jayam | Low | 15 | New | Standard. |
Doctrine 2: Christian Unity versus Factionalism
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| division/schism (σχίσμα) | ഭിന്നത | bhinnatha | Medium | 1, 3, 11, 12 | New | Standard; consistency across chapters is the main concern. |
| strife (ἔρις) | കലഹം | kalaham | Low | 1, 3 | New | Standard. |
| body of Christ (σῶμα Χριστοῦ) | ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ശരീരം | Kristuvinte shareeram | Medium | 12 | New | Central unity-in-diversity image countering factionalism. |
| members (μέλη) | അവയവങ്ങള് | avayavangal | Low | 12 | New | Standard anatomical metaphor. |
| church | സഭ | sabha | Medium | 1, 3, 5, 6, 15 | Baseline Reuse | Never അമ്പലം; distinct from പള്ളി (building). |
| universal scope/no distinction language | (context-dependent) | — | High | 1, 12 | Baseline Doctrine Reuse | Kerala’s internal Syrian-Christian/Dalit-convert caste-heritage stratification remains the live internal-church sensitivity per baseline. |
Doctrine 3: The Cross as Wisdom and Power
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wisdom (σοφία) | ജ്ഞാനം | jnanam | High | 1, 2, 3 | New | Must be anchored to “Christ crucified”; risk of drift toward Vedantic jñāna-mārga self-realization framing. |
| foolishness (μωρία) | ഭോഷത്തം | bhoshathvam | Low | 1 | New | Ironic force (worldly-foolish = actually God’s-wise) must be retained. |
| cross (σταυρός) | കുരിശ് | kurishu | Low | 1 | New | Iconic, secure, ecumenically shared term. |
| power of God (δύναμις θεοῦ) | ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ശക്തി | daivathinte shakthi | Medium | 1, 2 | Baseline Reuse | Comparatively low-risk word in Malayalam’s general register. |
| mystery (μυστήριον) | രഹസ്യം | rahasyam | High | 2, 4 | New | Must convey now-openly-proclaimed revelation, not restricted esoteric/occult lore. |
| spiritual person (πνευματικός) | ആത്മീയന് | atmeeyan | Medium | 2 | New | Spirit-indwelt/Spirit-taught, not generic “spiritual” register. |
| natural/unspiritual person (ψυχικός) | പ്രാകൃത മനുഷ്യന് | praakritha manushyan | Medium | 2 | New | Unregenerate outsider category; distinct from σαρκικός. |
| fleshly/carnal (σαρκικός) | ജഡികന് | jadikan | Medium | 3 | New | Immature-but-regenerate insider category; distinct from ψυχικός. |
Doctrine 4: Church Discipline and Holiness
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| temple (ναός, body/church as) | ദൈവാലയം | daivalayam | Critical | 3, 6 | New | NEVER അമ്പലം. New forbidden-substitution addition parallel to incarnation/അവതാരം. |
| building up/edification (οἰκοδομή) | പണിതുയര്ത്തല് / ആത്മീയവളര്ച്ച | paniyuyarthal / atmeeya valarcha | Medium | 3, 14 | New | Cf. baseline mutual_edification doctrine (Low). |
| steward (οἰκονόμος) | കാര്യവിചാരകന് | karyavicharakan | Low-Medium | 4 | New | Accountable-to-master nuance. |
| sexual immorality (πορνεία) | പരസംഗം | parasangam | Medium | 5, 6 | New | Broad NT sense; must not be narrowed to a single act. |
| leaven (ζύμη) | പുളിപ്പ് | pulippu | Medium | 5 | New | Needs brief Passover-background note for readers. |
| Passover/paschal lamb (πάσχα) | പെസഹ | pesaha | Medium | 5 | New | Positive Kerala Pesaha cultural anchor; substitutionary-sacrifice sense must be made explicit. |
| Satan (Σατανᾶς) | സാത്താന് | sathan | High | 5 | New | Must remain the singular, personal adversary, distinct from folk ഭൂതം/പിശാച് possession-spirit categories. |
| holy | പരിശുദ്ധ | parishudha | Medium | throughout | Baseline Reuse | Moral/relational set-apartness, not ritual purity alone. |
| saints | വിശുദ്ധര് | vishudhar | High | 1 | Baseline Reuse | Inverted risk: widen, don’t narrow to a canonized elite. |
| sanctification | വിശുദ്ധീകരണം | vishudheekaranam | Medium | 1, 6 | Baseline Reuse | Standard. |
Doctrine 5: Marriage and Singleness
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| marriage (γάμος) | വിവാഹം | vivaham | Low | 7 | New | Standard, affirmed as good. |
| virgin (παρθένος) | കന്യക | kanyaka | Low | 7 | New | Familiar from Marian usage. |
| unmarried (ἄγαμος) | അവിവാഹിതര് | avivahithar | Low | 7 | New | Standard; singleness affirmed as legitimate calling. |
| divorce/separate (χωρίζω) | വേര്പിരിയുക | verpiriyuka | Medium | 7 | New | Pastoral sensitivity in application. |
| gift (χάρισμα, of marital state) | ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വരം | daivathinte varam | Medium | 7 | New | Distinct application from plural spiritual-gifts sense; always qualify with ദൈവത്തിന്റെ. |
| one flesh (μία σάρξ) / joined (κολλάω) | ഒരു ജഡം / ഒന്നായിത്തീരുക | oru jadam / onnaayitheeruka | Medium | 6 | New | Real spiritual union, not mere figure of speech. |
| calling (κλῆσις, marital/social-state sense) | വിളി | vili | Medium | 7 | Baseline Reuse (context extension) | Extends baseline’s context-sensitivity note to marital/social state at conversion. |
Doctrine 6: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| food offered to idols (εἰδωλόθυτα) | വിഗ്രഹാര്പ്പിതം | vigrahaarpitham | High | 8, 10 | New | NEVER നിവേദ്യം/പ്രസാദം (positive Hindu temple-offering terms). |
| idol (εἴδωλον) | വിഗ്രഹം | vigraham | Medium | 8, 10 | New | Neutral shared word; polemical “has no real existence” framing must be contextual. |
| idolatry (εἰδωλολατρία) | വിഗ്രഹാരാധന | vigrahaaradhana | High | 10 | New | Keep clearly polemical/negative, per Israel’s wilderness warning. |
| right/authority/liberty (ἐξουσία) | സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം / അധികാരം | swatantryam / adhikaram | Medium | 8, 9 | New | Liberty bounded by love, not license. |
| conscience (συνείδησις) | മനസ്സാക്ഷി | manassakshi | Low | 8, 10 | New | Standard. |
| knowledge (γνῶσις) | അറിവ് | arivu | Medium | 8 | New | Distinct from ജ്ഞാനം (σοφία); more neutral/factual register. |
| stumbling block (σκάνδαλον/πρόσκομμα) | ഇടര്ച്ച | idarcha | Medium | 8 | New | Standard Bible term. |
| demon (δαιμόνιον) | ഭൂതം | bhootham | Critical | 10 | New | Highest-caution term: collides with Theyyam/ancestral-spirit veneration and folk possession beliefs; mandatory strong polemical framing. |
| table of the Lord / table of demons (τράπεζα) | കര്ത്താവിന്റെ മേശ / ഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ മേശ | karthaavinte mesha / bhoothangalude mesha | High | 10 | New | Mutual-exclusivity claim must not be softened. |
| cup of blessing (ποτήριον εὐλογίας) | അനുഗ്രഹത്തിന്റെ പാനപാത്രം | anugrahathinte panapathram | Medium | 10 | New | Consistency required with ch. 11 Lord’s Supper vocabulary. |
| self-control (ἐγκράτεια) | ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണം | atmaniyanthranam | Low | 9 | New | Standard. |
| race/prize/crown (ἀγών/βραβεῖον/στέφανος) | മത്സരം / പ്രതിഫലം / കിരീടം | matsaram / prathiphalam / kireedam | Low | 9 | New | Culturally accessible athletic metaphor. |
Doctrine 7: The Lord’s Supper
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord’s Supper (κυριακὸν δεῖπνον) | കര്ത്താവിന്റെ അത്താഴം | karthaavinte athaazham | Critical | 11 | New | Required ecumenical term; കുര്ബാന legitimate Catholic/Orthodox liturgical alternative, not used in this curriculum’s register (parallel to ക്രിസ്തു/മിശിഹാ pattern). |
| new covenant (καινὴ διαθήκη) | പുതിയ ഉടമ്പടി | puthiya udampadi | Critical | 11 | New | Words-of-institution context; verbatim, unqualified rendering required. |
| remembrance (ἀνάμνησις) | ഓര്മ്മ | ormma | Medium | 11 | New | Covenantal-proclamation weight, not mere nostalgia. |
| discerning the body (διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα) | ശരീരത്തെ വിവേചിച്ചറിയുക | shareerathe vivechicharyuka | High | 11 | New | Denominationally sensitive (Real Presence debate); theologian review required. |
| unworthily (ἀναξίως) | അയോഗ്യമായി | ayogyamayi | Medium | 11 | New | Self-examination, not merit-earned worthiness. |
| covenant | ഉടമ്പടി | udampadi | Medium | 11 | Baseline Reuse | Base term extended to “new covenant.” |
| fellowship/communion (κοινωνία, Lord’s Table sense) | കൂട്ടായ്മ | koottayma | High (contextual escalation) | 10, 11 | Baseline Reuse (context extension) | Baseline term is Low; escalated here given Lord’s Supper denominational sensitivity, parallel to baseline’s intercession note re: Catholic/Orthodox emphasis differences. |
Doctrine 8: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| spiritual gifts (χαρίσματα) | ആത്മീയവരങ്ങള് | atmeeya varangal | Medium | 12 | Baseline Reuse | Always pair വരം with ആത്മീയ per baseline guidance. |
| manifestation of the Spirit (φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος) | ആത്മാവിന്റെ പ്രകടനം | atmaavinte prakadanam | Medium | 12 | New | Gifts are for the common good, not private status. |
| body of Christ (σῶμα Χριστοῦ) | ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ശരീരം | Kristuvinte shareeram | Medium | 12 | New | See also Doctrine 2 (Unity). |
| members (μέλη) | അവയവങ്ങള് | avayavangal | Low | 12 | New | See also Doctrine 2. |
| tongues (γλῶσσαι) | ഭാഷകള് | bhashakal | Medium | 12, 13, 14 | New | Strong Kerala Pentecostal-tradition familiarity; denominational-emphasis risk, not interfaith risk. |
| interpretation (ἑρμηνεία) | വ്യാഖ്യാനം | vyakhyanam | Medium | 12, 14 | New | Standard. |
| discernment of spirits (διάκρισις πνευμάτων) | ആത്മാക്കളെ വിവേചിക്കല് | atmaakkale vivechikkal | High | 12 | New | Must not be conflated with folk exorcism/possession-discernment practices. |
| gifts of healing (ἰάματα) | സൗഖ്യവരങ്ങള് | saukhya varangal | Medium | 12 | New | Established Pentecostal Malayalam usage. |
| workings of power/miracles (ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων) | വീര്യപ്രവൃത്തികള് | veeryapravrithikal | Medium | 12 | New | Built on established ശക്തി vocabulary. |
| Holy Spirit | പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവ് | parishudhathmavu | Critical | throughout | Baseline Reuse | NEVER ബ്രഹ്മം/പരമാത്മാവ്. |
Doctrine 9: Love as the Greater Way
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| love (ἀγάπη) | സ്നേഹം | sneham | High | 8, 13, 16 | New | Settled term but broad everyday range (romance, family, friendship); Pauline selfless-others-directed sense must be made explicit via 13:4-7’s descriptive list. |
| hope (ἐλπίς) | പ്രത്യാശ | prathyasha | Medium | 13 | New | Confident, promise-grounded expectation, distinct from ordinary ആശ (wish); add to translation memory (absent from Romans baseline). |
| faith | വിശ്വാസം | vishwasam | Medium | 13, throughout | Baseline Reuse | Standard; distinct from ഭക്തി. |
Doctrine 10: Order in Worship
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| order (τάξις) | ക്രമം | kramam | Low | 14 | New | Standard governing principle for regulating gifts. |
| decently and in order (εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν) | മാന്യമായും ക്രമമായും | maanyamaayum kramamaayum | Low-Medium | 14 | New | Standard. |
| keep silent (σιγάω, women in assembly) | മൗനമായിരിക്കുക | maunamayirikkuka | High | 14 | New | Contested interpretation; live contemporary Kerala denominational debate over women’s ministry roles; mandatory theologian review. |
| head covering (κατακαλύπτω) | തലമൂടുപടം | thala mooduppadam | Medium | 11 | New | Positive historical grounding in Malankara/Syrian head-covering practice; contemporary practice variance to flag, not correct. |
| head/headship (κεφαλή) | ശിരസ്സ് | shirass | High | 11 | New | Kerala’s matrilineal (Nair) vs. patrilineal heritage complicates a flattened rendering; theologian-level care required. |
Additional Cross-Cutting Baseline Terms Reused Throughout 1 Corinthians
| Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gospel | സുവിശേഷം | suvisesham | High | Chs. 1, 9, 15. |
| grace | കൃപ | krupa | High | Chs. 1, 3, 15 (Paul’s testimony), 16. |
| salvation | രക്ഷ | raksha | High | Chs. 1, 15. NEVER മോക്ഷം/മുക്തി. |
| called/calling | വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ട / വിളി | vilikkappetta / vili | Medium/High | Chs. 1, 7. Context-sensitive per baseline. |
| apostle | അപ്പോസ്തലന് | appostalan | Low | Chs. 1, 4, 9, 15. |
| church | സഭ | sabha | Medium | Chs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 15. |
| kingdom of God | ദൈവരാജ്യം | daivarajyam | Medium | Ch. 4, 6, 15. |
| glory | മഹത്വം | mahatvam | Medium | Chs. 2, 10, 11. |
| covenant | ഉടമ്പടി | udampadi | Medium | Ch. 11 (extended: new covenant). |
| Jesus / Lord / Christ | യേശു / കര്ത്താവ് / ക്രിസ്തു | yeshu / karthavu / kristu | Critical | Throughout. Confession “Jesus is Lord” consistency required per baseline (Romans 10:9 rendering must match any 1 Corinthians occurrence, e.g. 12:3). |
| God / Holy Spirit / Father | ദൈവം / പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവ് / പിതാവ് | daivam / parishudhathmavu / pithavu | Critical | Throughout. |
Critical Risk Terms
Jesus
Approved rendering: യേശു
Transliteration: yeshu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged.
Lord
Approved rendering: കര്ത്താവ്
Transliteration: karthavu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. The confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ in 1 Corinthians 12:3 must render identically to the baseline’s Romans 10:9 rendering: യേശു കര്ത്താവാകുന്നു.
Messiah
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തു
Transliteration: kristu
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Central to 15:3 (‘Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures’) and throughout.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവ്
Transliteration: parishudhathmavu
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: ബ്രഹ്മം, പരമാത്മാവ്
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. NEVER ബ്രഹ്മം or പരമാത്മാവ്. Source of spiritual gifts throughout chapter 12 and of the body’s status as a temple (3:16-17; 6:19).
Father
Approved rendering: പിതാവ്
Transliteration: pithavu
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged.
Justification
Approved rendering: നീതീകരണം
Transliteration: neetheekaranam
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: ക്ഷമ ലഭിക്കല്
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Used at 6:11 (‘washed… sanctified… justified’); never abbreviate to ക്ഷമ (forgiveness) alone.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: ഉയിര്ത്തെഴുന്നേല്പ്പ്
Transliteration: uyirthezhunnelppu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: പുനര്ജന്മം
Original: ἀνάστασις / ἐγείρω (ἐγήγερται)
Category: Resurrection
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. NEVER പുനര്ജന്മം. This is the theological anchor term of the entire curriculum’s core passage (15:1-58). The Greek perfect tense ἐγήγερται (15:4) signals an abiding, present-tense risen state, not merely a past event; preserve this nuance in verb aspect (ഉയിര്ത്തെഴുന്നേറ്റിരിക്കുന്നു) wherever the perfect tense occurs.
Appeared Witnessed
Approved rendering: പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി / കാണപ്പെട്ടു
Transliteration: prathyakshanayi / kaanappettu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ദര്ശനം
Original: ὁράω (ὤφθη)
Category: Resurrection
For Greek ὤφθη (15:5-8). NEVER ദര്ശനം (darshan), the Hindu temple-worship term for a devotee’s ritual/visionary ‘seeing’ of a deity. Must denote a real, historical, bodily, eyewitness-verifiable appearance, always paired with the named witness (Cephas, the Twelve, 500+ brothers, James, all the apostles, Paul) in the same clause to reinforce the evidentiary register.
Died For Our Sins
Approved rendering: നമ്മുടെ പാപങ്ങള്ക്കായി മരിച്ചു
Transliteration: nammude paapangalkkayi marichu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: പാപം നിമിത്തം മരിച്ചു (died because of sin)
Original: ἀποθνήσκω ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν
Category: Resurrection
For ἀποθνήσκω ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν (15:3). Substitutionary atonement; ὑπέρ must retain substitutionary force. A flattened rendering losing ‘on behalf of’ would lose the atonement doctrine entirely.
Spiritual Body
Approved rendering: ആത്മീയശരീരം
Transliteration: atmeeya shareeram
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Rejected alternatives: ശരീരരഹിതമായ ആത്മാവ് (disembodied soul-only state)
Original: σῶμα πνευματικόν
Category: Resurrection
For σῶμα πνευματικόν (15:44). ശരീരം (body) must never be eclipsed by ആത്മീയ in a way suggesting an ethereal, non-material afterlife; must never resonate with the ātman departing the body rather than the body being transformed and raised.
Temple
Approved rendering: ദൈവാലയം
Transliteration: daivalayam
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Rejected alternatives: അമ്പലം
Original: ναός
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For ναός (3:16-17; 6:19). NEVER അമ്പലം, the statistically dominant Malayalam word for a Hindu temple. A new forbidden-substitution instance parallel to incarnation/അവതാരം in the baseline. Applies to both the church corporately (3:16-17) and the believer’s body individually (6:19).
Demon
Approved rendering: ഭൂതം
Transliteration: bhootham
Doctrine: Idolatry and Spiritual Warfare
Original: δαιμόνιον
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For δαιμόνιον (10:20-21). No safer single word exists in the general Malayalam lexicon. Collides with Kerala’s living Theyyam ancestral/local spirit-veneration tradition and widespread folk possession-spirit belief (mantravadam). MANDATORY strong polemical translator notes at every occurrence, explicitly excluding any implication that these are one respectable spirit-class among several to be ritually managed.
Lords Supper
Approved rendering: കര്ത്താവിന്റെ അത്താഴം
Transliteration: karthaavinte athaazham
Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper
Rejected alternatives: കുര്ബാന (legitimate liturgical alternative, not used in this curriculum’s Bible-study register)
Original: κυριακὸν δεῖπνον
Category: Lord’s Supper
For κυριακὸν δεῖπνον (11:20-26). Required ecumenical Bible-study register term, parallel to the ക്രിസ്തു/മിശിഹാ and യേശു/ഈശോ pattern in the baseline. കുര്ബാന carries denomination-specific sacramental (Real Presence-adjacent) theology many Protestant/Evangelical Malayalam Christians do not share; note it as a legitimate liturgical alternative outside this register.
New Covenant
Approved rendering: പുതിയ ഉടമ്പടി
Transliteration: puthiya udampadi
Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper
Original: καινὴ διαθήκη
Category: Lord’s Supper
For καινὴ διαθήκη (11:25). Words-of-institution context demands verbatim, unqualified rendering with no softening; must remain consistent with every other occurrence.
High Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: കൃപ
Transliteration: krupa
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: പുണ്യം
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul’s own transformation from persecutor to apostle is the letter’s clearest personal illustration of this doctrine; must remain entirely gift, never bhakti-style cumulative merit.
Salvation
Approved rendering: രക്ഷ
Transliteration: raksha
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: മോക്ഷം, മുക്തി
Original: σῴζω / σωτηρία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. NEVER മോക്ഷം/മുക്തി. 1 Corinthians 15:2’s present-tense σῴζεσθε (‘you are being saved’) must not lose its ongoing, present-tense nuance to a purely completed-past rendering.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: ജനതകള്
Transliteration: janathakal
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: ജാതികള്
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. NEVER ജാതികള്. Used in the Jew/Greek contrast running through the letter (1:23; 10:32; 12:2, 13).
Saints
Approved rendering: വിശുദ്ധര്
Transliteration: vishudhar
Doctrine: Sainthood
Original: ἅγιοι
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Inverted risk applies equally in 1 Corinthians 1:2’s address to ‘those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints’; must widen, not narrow, to every believer at Corinth despite their well-documented factionalism and immaturity.
Delivered Tradition
Approved rendering: ഭരമേല്പ്പിച്ചു / കൈമാറിയിരിക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: bharamelppichu / kaimaariyirikkunnu
Doctrine: Gospel as Received Apostolic Tradition
Original: παραδίδωμι
Category: Resurrection
For Greek παραδίδωμι (15:3; 11:2, 23). Must convey formal, verbatim-preserved transmission of a fixed creedal formula and the words of institution, not loose legendary retelling like Malayalam’s itihasa/purana oral-transmission register.
According To Scriptures
Approved rendering: തിരുവെഴുത്തുകള് പ്രകാരം
Transliteration: thiruvezhuthukal prakaram
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Original: κατὰ τὰς γραφάς
Category: Resurrection
For κατὰ τὰς γραφάς (15:3, 4). Ties to baseline inspiration_of_scripture/fulfillment_of_prophecy doctrines; must distinguish God-breathed, historically anchored Scripture from Hindu śruti or generic devotional literature.
Last Adam
Approved rendering: അന്ത്യ ആദാം
Transliteration: anthya Adam
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Rejected alternatives: രണ്ടാം ആദാം (second Adam)
Original: ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδάμ
Category: Resurrection
For ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδάμ (15:45). ‘Last/final,’ not merely ‘another/second’ — no further headship-transition is possible after Christ.
Incorruption
Approved rendering: അക്ഷയത്വം
Transliteration: akshayatvam
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: ἀφθαρσία
Category: Resurrection
For ἀφθαρσία (15:42, 50-54). Must be anchored explicitly to the transformed resurrection body, not a pre-existing immortal ātman that need not be resurrected; require a standing clause keeping ശരീരം (body) grammatically present alongside അക്ഷയത്വം.
Wisdom
Approved rendering: ജ്ഞാനം
Transliteration: jnanam
Doctrine: Cross as Wisdom and Power
Original: σοφία
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For σοφία (1:18-2:16; 3:18-23). ജ്ഞാനം is embedded in Hindu Vedantic/Advaita jñāna-mārga (self-attained liberating knowledge toward moksha). Every doctrinal occurrence MUST be clause-level anchored to ‘ക്രിസ്തുവിനെ ക്രൂശിക്കപ്പെട്ടവനായി’ (Christ crucified), not merely paragraph-level context — this curriculum’s single highest-probability silent-drift risk.
Mystery
Approved rendering: രഹസ്യം
Transliteration: rahasyam
Doctrine: Cross as Wisdom and Power
Original: μυστήριον
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For μυστήριον (2:1, 7; 4:1). Must convey a now-openly-proclaimed revelation, not restricted guru-disciple secret initiation or occult/tantric hidden-knowledge lore. Standing qualifier required: proclaimed openly to all believers, not privately transmitted.
Satan
Approved rendering: സാത്താന്
Transliteration: sathan
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Rejected alternatives: ഭൂതം, പിശാച്
Original: Σατανᾶς
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For Σατανᾶς (5:5). Must remain the singular, personal, non-appeasable, God-opposing adversary of Scripture, distinct from Malayalam folk belief in plural, appeasable evil spirits/ghosts tied to possession and exorcism practices.
Bought With A Price
Approved rendering: വിലയ്ക്കു വാങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: vilakku vaangiyirikkunnu
Doctrine: Sexual Purity and the Believer’s Body
Original: ἀγοράζω (ἠγοράσθητε)
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For ἀγοράζω/ἠγοράσθητε (6:19-20). Should be cross-referenced to established Malayalam redemption vocabulary (വീണ്ടെടുപ്പ്) so the price paid (Christ’s blood) is not lost to a merely commercial reading.
Food Offered To Idols
Approved rendering: വിഗ്രഹാര്പ്പിതം
Transliteration: vigrahaarpitham
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Rejected alternatives: നിവേദ്യം, പ്രസാദം
Original: εἰδωλόθυτα
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For εἰδωλόθυτα (8:1-13; 10:19-28). NEVER നിവേദ്യം or പ്രസാദം, Kerala’s positive Hindu temple-offering terms carrying a blessing-conferring connotation exactly opposite Paul’s polemical framing.
Idolatry
Approved rendering: വിഗ്രഹാരാധന
Transliteration: vigrahaaradhana
Doctrine: Idolatry and Spiritual Warfare
Original: εἰδωλολατρία
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For εἰδωλολατρία (10:7, 14). Keep clearly polemical/negative; a named sin to flee, not a neutral description of ‘a religious practice.‘
Table Of The Lord Demons
Approved rendering: കര്ത്താവിന്റെ മേശ / ഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ മേശ
Transliteration: karthaavinte mesha / bhoothangalude mesha
Doctrine: Idolatry and Spiritual Warfare
Original: τράπεζα (κυρίου / δαιμονίων)
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For τράπεζα κυρίου / δαιμονίων (10:21). The mutual-exclusivity claim must not be softened.
Discerning The Body
Approved rendering: ശരീരത്തെ വിവേചിച്ചറിയുക
Transliteration: shareerathe vivechicharyuka
Doctrine: Worthy Participation in the Lord’s Supper
Original: διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα
Category: Lord’s Supper
For διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα (11:29). Denominationally sensitive (touches the Real Presence debate); requires careful, theologically-modest, non-reductive phrasing that avoids implicitly taking a denominational side, and mandatory theologian review.
Head Headship
Approved rendering: ശിരസ്സ്
Transliteration: shirass
Doctrine: Gender and Order in Public Worship
Original: κεφαλή
Category: Order in Worship
For κεφαλή (11:3). Kerala’s matrilineal (Nair Tharavadu) heritage alongside patrilineal norms elsewhere complicates a flattened rendering; must hold Paul’s authority/order sense alongside 11:11-12’s mutual-interdependence qualification. Theologian-level care required, not a purely lexical decision.
Discernment Of Spirits
Approved rendering: ആത്മാക്കളെ വിവേചിക്കല്
Transliteration: atmaakkale vivechikkal
Doctrine: The Gift of Discerning Spirits
Original: διάκρισις πνευμάτων
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For διάκρισις πνευμάτων (12:10). Must be framed as Spirit-given, church-exercised, doctrine-testing discernment (cf. 1 John 4:1 pattern), not conflated with Kerala’s folk mantravadam spirit-discernment/exorcism practices, which operate on an appeasement-ritual framework foreign to Paul’s meaning.
Love Agape
Approved rendering: സ്നേഹം
Transliteration: sneham
Doctrine: Love as the Greater Way
Original: ἀγάπη
Category: Love
For ἀγάπη (13:1-13). സ്നേഹം’s everyday range spans romantic, familial, and friendship love indiscriminately; the Pauline sense (deliberate, self-giving, non-reciprocity-dependent) must be made explicit through 13:4-7’s descriptive list in every rendering — this list is functionally the definition Malayalam otherwise lacks a single word for. Must also remain distinct from ഭക്തി (devotional reverence).
Keep Silent Women
Approved rendering: മൗനമായിരിക്കുക
Transliteration: maunamayirikkuka
Doctrine: Gender and Order in Public Worship
Original: σιγάω (σιγάτωσαν)
Category: Order in Worship
For σιγάω/σιγάτωσαν (14:34-35). Subject to significant ongoing interpretive debate (scope and universality) with live contemporary stakes in Kerala, where some denominations ordain women to pastoral leadership and others do not. Mandatory human theologian review; not a purely lexical decision.
Anathema Accursed
Approved rendering: ശപിക്കപ്പെട്ടവന്
Transliteration: shapikkappettavan
Doctrine: Covenantal Exclusion for Rejecting Christ
Rejected alternatives: ശാപം (bare folk-magic curse register)
Original: ἀνάθεμα
Category: Church
For ἀνάθεμα (16:22). Kerala folk religion includes living ritual-cursing traditions (മന്ത്രവാദം, ക്ഷുദ്രപൂജ); must be framed via mandatory translator note as a solemn, forensic, covenantal pronouncement of exclusion from the believing community’s blessing, not an invocation of magical harm.
Fellowship Lords Table
Approved rendering: കൂട്ടായ്മ
Transliteration: koottayma
Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper
For κοινωνία specifically in the Lord’s Table sense (10:16-21; 11:17-34). Escalated from the baseline’s general Low-risk fellowship tier given denominational sensitivity (Real Presence debate) parallel to the baseline’s intercession note regarding Catholic/Orthodox emphasis differences.
Medium Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: സുവിശേഷം
Transliteration: suvisesham
Doctrine: Gospel
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Established across all Malayalam Christian traditions. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 this is the specific content received/delivered as fixed apostolic tradition, of which the resurrection is the core; treat as High-priority for theologian awareness in this curriculum despite the baseline’s Medium tier, given 15:1-11’s doctrinal centrality.
Faith
Approved rendering: വിശ്വാസം
Transliteration: vishwasam
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: ഭക്തി
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. In 1 Corinthians 15:2, 11, 13-19 the object of faith is specifically the resurrection-gospel content, not generic religious sentiment; also named alongside hope and love as an abiding reality in 13:13.
Called
Approved rendering: വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ട
Transliteration: vilikkappetta
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Extended in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 to the specific marital/social state in which a believer was called at conversion, a context-sensitive extension of the baseline note.
Calling
Approved rendering: വിളി
Transliteration: vili
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged.
Church
Approved rendering: സഭ
Transliteration: sabha
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: അമ്പലം
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Addressed directly at 1:2 (‘the church of God at Corinth’); also the object of Paul’s pre-conversion persecution (15:9).
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: ദൈവരാജ്യം
Transliteration: daivarajyam
Doctrine: Kingdom Mission
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Used at 6:9-10 (the unrighteous will not inherit it) and 15:50 (flesh and blood cannot inherit it in its present form).
Glory
Approved rendering: മഹത്വം
Transliteration: mahatvam
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: δόξα
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Used of differing glories of resurrection bodies (15:40-43) and of doing all things for God’s glory (10:31).
Covenant
Approved rendering: ഉടമ്പടി
Transliteration: udampadi
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Rejected alternatives: കരാര്
Original: διαθήκη
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Extended in 1 Corinthians 11:25 to the words-of-institution phrase ‘new covenant’ (see puthiya_udampadi entry below), which requires verbatim, unqualified rendering.
God
Approved rendering: ദൈവം
Transliteration: daivam
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ഭഗവാന്
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged.
Holy
Approved rendering: പരിശുദ്ധ
Transliteration: parishudha
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: ശുദ്ധം
Original: ἅγιος
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: വിശുദ്ധീകരണം
Transliteration: vishudheekaranam
Doctrine: Sanctification
Original: ἁγιασμός
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Used at 1:2 and 6:11 (‘sanctified… justified’).
Spiritual Gifts
Approved rendering: ആത്മീയവരങ്ങള്
Transliteration: atmeeya varangal
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts
Rejected alternatives: വരം
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Central to chapter 12’s plural χαρίσματα; always pair വരം with ആത്മീയ. Must be kept visually and doctrinally distinct from the singular marital-state gift of 7:7 (see gift_marital_state entry below).
Sin
Approved rendering: പാപം
Transliteration: papam
Doctrine: Universal Human Accountability
Original: ἁμαρτία
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. The specific sins for which Christ died ‘according to the Scriptures’ (15:3).
Power Of God
Approved rendering: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ശക്തി
Transliteration: daivathinte shakthi
Doctrine: Power of God for Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Contrasted with worldly wisdom in 1:18, 24 as part of the Cross as Wisdom and Power doctrine.
Buried
Approved rendering: കല്ലറയില് വെക്കപ്പെട്ടു
Transliteration: kallarayil vekkappettu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: θάπτω (ἐτάφη)
Category: Resurrection
For θάπτω/ἐτάφη (15:4). Confirms genuine, physical death, guarding against a docetic reading.
Received Tradition
Approved rendering: സ്വീകരിച്ചു
Transliteration: swikharichu
Doctrine: Gospel as Received Apostolic Tradition
Original: παραλαμβάνω
Category: Resurrection
For παραλαμβάνω (15:1, 3; 11:23). Must convey formal reception of authoritative content, not casual hearing.
In Vain
Approved rendering: വൃഥാ
Transliteration: vrutha
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: εἰκῆ
Category: Resurrection
For εἰκῆ (15:2). Must retain the conditional, argumentative force, not read as a settled accusation.
Hold Fast
Approved rendering: മുറുകെപ്പിടിക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: murukeppidikkunnu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: κατέχω
Category: Resurrection
For κατέχω (15:2). Continuous firm grasp, not passive memory.
Fallen Asleep
Approved rendering: നിദ്ര പ്രാപിച്ചു
Transliteration: nidra praapichu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: κοιμάομαι (ἐκοιμήθησαν)
Category: Resurrection
For κοιμάομαι/ἐκοιμήθησαν (15:6, 18, 20, 51). A death euphemism presupposing future waking (bodily resurrection). Translator note required explaining the logic; avoid any phrase suggesting rebirth into a new body.
Untimely Born
Approved rendering: അകാലത്തു ജനിച്ചവനെപ്പോലെ
Transliteration: akaalathu janichavaneppole
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: ἔκτρωμα
Category: Resurrection
For ἔκτρωμα (15:8). Must retain the sense of unexpected/undeserved calling, not a claim of inferior status among the apostles.
Persecuted The Church
Approved rendering: ദൈവസഭയെ ഉപദ്രവിച്ചു
Transliteration: daivasabhaye upadravichu
Doctrine: Grace
Original: διώκω τὴν ἐκκλησίαν
Category: Resurrection
For διώκω τὴν ἐκκλησίαν (15:9). Standard reuse of established church term സഭ.
I Am What I Am
Approved rendering: ഞാന് ആകുന്നത് ആകുന്നു
Transliteration: njaan aakunnathu aakunnu
Doctrine: Grace
Original: εἰμὶ ὅ εἰμι
Category: Resurrection
For εἰμὶ ὅ εἰμι (15:10). Must preserve the grace-grounded identity claim, not read as mere self-assertion.
Preached
Approved rendering: പ്രസംഗിക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: prasangikkunnu
Doctrine: Gospel as Received Apostolic Tradition
Original: κηρύσσω
Category: Resurrection
For κηρύσσω (15:11). Ties to സുവിശേഷം as its content; underscores unity of apostolic proclamation.
Firstfruits
Approved rendering: ആദ്യഫലം
Transliteration: adyaphalam
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: ἀπαρχή
Category: Resurrection
For ἀπαρχή (15:20, 23). Positive agrarian cultural resonance; the guarantee-of-the-whole-harvest logic should be made explicit.
Sting Of Death
Approved rendering: മരണത്തിന്റെ വിഷമുള്ള്
Transliteration: maranathinte vishamullu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: τὸ κέντρον τοῦ θανάτου
Category: Resurrection
For τὸ κέντρον τοῦ θανάτου (15:55). Vivid poetic image; chiefly a craft challenge, not a doctrinal-collision risk.
Division Schism
Approved rendering: ഭിന്നത
Transliteration: bhinnatha
Doctrine: Christian Unity versus Factionalism
Original: σχίσμα
Category: Unity
For σχίσμα (1:10; 11:18). Standard term; consistency across chs. 1, 3, 11, 12 is the main concern.
Body Of Christ
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ശരീരം
Transliteration: Kristuvinte shareeram
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
Original: σῶμα Χριστοῦ
Category: Unity
For σῶμα Χριστοῦ (12:12-27). Central unity-with-diversity image countering factionalism; consistency with baseline church_as_gods_people doctrine maintained.
Spiritual Person
Approved rendering: ആത്മീയന്
Transliteration: atmeeyan
Doctrine: Spirit-Given Discernment of Truth
Original: πνευματικός
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For πνευματικός (2:15; 3:1). Spirit-indwelt/Spirit-taught, not generic New-Age ‘spiritual person’ register.
Natural Person
Approved rendering: പ്രാകൃത മനുഷ്യന്
Transliteration: praakritha manushyan
Doctrine: Spirit-Given Discernment of Truth
Original: ψυχικός
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For ψυχικός (2:14). The unregenerate outsider category; must be distinguished from σαρκικός (ch. 3).
Fleshly Carnal
Approved rendering: ജഡികന്
Transliteration: jadikan
Doctrine: Spirit-Given Discernment of Truth
Original: σαρκικός
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For σαρκικός (3:1, 3). The immature-but-regenerate insider category, evidenced by Corinthian factionalism; must not be conflated with ψυχικός.
Building Up
Approved rendering: പണിതുയര്ത്തല് / ആത്മീയവളര്ച്ച
Transliteration: paniyuyarthal / atmeeya valarcha
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Original: οἰκοδομή
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For οἰκοδομή (3:9-15; 14:3-26). Cf. baseline mutual_edification doctrine; here applied to ministry/leadership and worship-gift regulation specifically.
Steward
Approved rendering: കാര്യവിചാരകന്
Transliteration: karyavicharakan
Doctrine: Apostolic Ministry and Stewardship
Original: οἰκονόμος
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For οἰκονόμος (4:1-2). Must preserve the accountable-to-the-master nuance, not a generic ‘worker’ reading.
Sexual Immorality
Approved rendering: പരസംഗം
Transliteration: parasangam
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Original: πορνεία
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For πορνεία (5:1; 6:13, 18). Established Malayalam Bible term; the broad NT sense (any sexual immorality) must not be narrowed to a single act.
Leaven
Approved rendering: പുളിപ്പ്
Transliteration: pulippu
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Original: ζύμη
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For ζύμη (5:6-8). Needs a brief Passover-background translator note for readers unfamiliar with the OT festival calendar.
Passover
Approved rendering: പെസഹ
Transliteration: pesaha
Doctrine: Church Discipline and Holiness
Original: πάσχα
Category: Church Discipline and Holiness
For πάσχα (5:7). Positive Kerala Pesaha cultural anchor (Saint Thomas Christian Maundy Thursday observance); ensure the substitutionary sacrificial-lamb typology is made explicit, since popular observance emphasizes the meal more than the lamb-sacrifice image.
One Flesh
Approved rendering: ഒന്നായിത്തീരുക / ഒരു ജഡം
Transliteration: onnaayitheeruka / oru jadam
Doctrine: Sexual Purity and the Believer’s Body
Original: κολλάω / μία σάρξ
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For κολλάω/μία σάρξ (6:16-17). Standard, drawn from Genesis 2:24 usage familiar from Malayalam wedding liturgy; must retain the real spiritual-union weight, not a mere figure of speech.
Separate Divorce
Approved rendering: വേര്പിരിയുക
Transliteration: verpiriyuka
Doctrine: Marriage and Singleness
Original: χωρίζω
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For χωρίζω (7:10-15). Pastoral sensitivity required in application.
Gift Marital State
Approved rendering: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വരം
Transliteration: daivathinte varam
Doctrine: Marriage and Singleness
Rejected alternatives: വരം (unqualified)
Original: χάρισμα (7:7)
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For singular χάρισμα in 7:7 applied to one’s marital/celibate state. Always qualify with ദൈവത്തിന്റെ to avoid the generic ‘boon’ reading; must be kept visually distinct from the plural ആത്മീയവരങ്ങള് (ministry-enablement sense, ch. 12).
Idol
Approved rendering: വിഗ്രഹം
Transliteration: vigraham
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Original: εἴδωλον
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For εἴδωλον (8:4, 7; 10:19). The standard, shared, neutral Malayalam word for any religious idol; polemical framing (‘an idol has no real existence’) must be supplied by context.
Right Liberty
Approved rendering: സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം / അധികാരം
Transliteration: swatantryam / adhikaram
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Original: ἐξουσία
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For ἐξουσία. സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം for the ‘liberty’ sense (chs. 8-10), അധികാരം for the ‘right/authority’ sense (ch. 9); either must be qualified so liberty is bounded by love, not license.
Knowledge
Approved rendering: അറിവ്
Transliteration: arivu
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Original: γνῶσις
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For γνῶσις (8:1, 7, 10-11). Kept distinct from ജ്ഞാനം (σοφία); more neutral/factual register.
Stumbling Block
Approved rendering: ഇടര്ച്ച
Transliteration: idarcha
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Original: σκάνδαλον / πρόσκομμα
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For σκάνδαλον/πρόσκομμα (8:9, 13).
Cup Of Blessing
Approved rendering: അനുഗ്രഹത്തിന്റെ പാനപാത്രം
Transliteration: anugrahathinte panapathram
Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper
Original: ποτήριον (τῆς) εὐλογίας
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For ποτήριον (τῆς) εὐλογίας (10:16). Consistency required with ch. 11 Lord’s Supper vocabulary.
Remembrance
Approved rendering: ഓര്മ്മ
Transliteration: ormma
Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper
Original: ἀνάμνησις
Category: Lord’s Supper
For ἀνάμνησις (11:24-25). Covenantal-proclamation weight (cf. 11:26) should be reinforced by context, not read as mere nostalgia.
Unworthily
Approved rendering: അയോഗ്യമായി
Transliteration: ayogyamayi
Doctrine: Worthy Participation in the Lord’s Supper
Original: ἀναξίως
Category: Lord’s Supper
For ἀναξίως (11:27-28). Must not be misread as merit-earned worthiness rather than a call to self-examination and repentance.
Head Covering
Approved rendering: തലമൂടുപടം
Transliteration: thala mooduppadam
Doctrine: Gender and Order in Public Worship
Original: κατακαλύπτω
Category: Order in Worship
For κατακαλύπτω (11:5-6, 13). Positive historical grounding in Malankara/Syrian head-covering practice; contemporary practice variance across denominations/generations should be flagged for reviewers, not treated as a syncretism risk.
Manifestation Of Spirit
Approved rendering: ആത്മാവിന്റെ പ്രകടനം
Transliteration: atmaavinte prakadanam
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts: Diversity and Purpose
Original: φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος (12:7). Gifts are for the common good, not private status.
Tongues
Approved rendering: ഭാഷകള്
Transliteration: bhashakal
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts: Diversity and Purpose
Original: γλῶσσαι
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For γλῶσσαι (12:10, 28, 30; ch. 14). Strong positive familiarity from Kerala’s large, long-established Pentecostal tradition; risk is denominational-emphasis variance, not interfaith syncretism.
Interpretation
Approved rendering: വ്യാഖ്യാനം
Transliteration: vyakhyanam
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts: Diversity and Purpose
Original: ἑρμηνεία
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For ἑρμηνεία (12:10; 14:13, 27).
Gifts Of Healing
Approved rendering: സൗഖ്യവരങ്ങള്
Transliteration: saukhya varangal
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts: Diversity and Purpose
Original: ἰάματα
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For ἰάματα (12:9, 28, 30). Established term in Malayalam Pentecostal/charismatic usage.
Workings Of Power
Approved rendering: വീര്യപ്രവൃത്തികള്
Transliteration: veeryapravrithikal
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts: Diversity and Purpose
Original: ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων
Category: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
For ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων (12:10, 28). Built on established ശക്തി vocabulary.
Hope
Approved rendering: പ്രത്യാശ
Transliteration: prathyasha
Doctrine: Love as the Greater Way
Original: ἐλπίς
Category: Love
For ἐλπίς (13:13). Newly seeded into translation memory (absent from the Romans baseline glossary). Confident, promise-grounded expectation, distinct from ordinary ആശ (wish/desire, lacking the certainty dimension).
Maranatha
Approved rendering: മറാനാഥാ
Transliteration: maraanaatha
Doctrine: Covenantal Exclusion for Rejecting Christ
Original: μαράνα θά
Category: Eschatology
For μαράνα θά (16:22). Following the baseline’s ἀββά precedent, preserve as a transliteration with an explanatory note (‘നമ്മുടെ കര്ത്താവേ, വരേണമേ’ — our Lord, come).
Holy Kiss
Approved rendering: പരിശുദ്ധചുംബനം
Transliteration: parishudha chumbanam
Doctrine: Cross-Congregational Fellowship and Giving
Original: φίλημα ἅγιον
Category: Church
For φίλημα ἅγιον (16:20). Not a customary Malayalam church greeting; translator note should clarify this as a first-century cultural convention expressing warmth a Malayalam congregation might convey through a handshake, embrace, or spoken blessing — a cultural-adaptation issue, not a doctrinal-collision risk.
Low Risk Terms
Apostle
Approved rendering: അപ്പോസ്തലന്
Transliteration: appostalan
Doctrine: Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: ഗുരു
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, unchanged. Used throughout 1 Corinthians 1, 4, 9, 15 (the Twelve, all the apostles, Paul’s own apostleship defended in ch. 9 and 15:9-10).
Fellowship
Approved rendering: കൂട്ടായ്മ
Transliteration: koottayma
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: സൗഹൃദം
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, baseline tier Low retained for general fellowship contexts (16:3-16 greetings). ESCALATED to High risk when used for κοινωνία in the specific Lord’s Table sense (10:16-21), given denominational sensitivity parallel to the baseline’s intercession note; see fellowship_lords_table entry below for that specific context.
Stand Firm
Approved rendering: ഉറച്ചു നില്ക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: urachu nilkkunnu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: ἵστημι (ἑστήκατε)
Category: Resurrection
For ἵστημι/ἑστήκατε (15:1).
Cephas
Approved rendering: കേഫാ
Transliteration: kepha
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: Κηφᾷ
Category: Resurrection
For Κηφᾷ (15:5). Established proper-name transliteration; translator note may clarify Κηφᾶς = Peter/പത്രോസ്.
The Twelve
Approved rendering: പന്ത്രണ്ടു പേര്
Transliteration: panthrandu perr
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: οἱ δώδεκα
Category: Resurrection
For οἱ δώδεκα (15:5).
James
Approved rendering: യാക്കോബ്
Transliteration: yaakob
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: Ἰάκωβος
Category: Resurrection
For Ἰάκωβος (15:7). Established Malayalam Bible proper-name form.
All The Apostles
Approved rendering: സകല അപ്പോസ്തലന്മാരും
Transliteration: sakala appostalanmarum
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Original: ἀπόστολοι πάντες
Category: Resurrection
For ἀπόστολοι πάντες (15:7).
Least Of Apostles
Approved rendering: ഏറ്റവും ചെറിയവന്
Transliteration: ettavum cheriyavan
Doctrine: Grace
Original: ἐλάχιστος
Category: Resurrection
For ἐλάχιστος (15:9).
Labored
Approved rendering: അദ്ധ്വാനിച്ചു
Transliteration: addhwaanichu
Doctrine: Grace
Original: κοπιάω (ἐκοπίασα)
Category: Resurrection
For κοπιάω/ἐκοπίασα (15:10).
Mortal
Approved rendering: മര്ത്യന്
Transliteration: marthyan
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: θνητός
Category: Resurrection
For θνητός (15:53-54).
Victory
Approved rendering: ജയം
Transliteration: jayam
Doctrine: Resurrection of Believers
Original: νῖκος
Category: Resurrection
For νῖκος (15:57).
Strife
Approved rendering: കലഹം
Transliteration: kalaham
Doctrine: Christian Unity versus Factionalism
Original: ἔρις
Category: Unity
For ἔρις (1:11; 3:3).
Members
Approved rendering: അവയവങ്ങള്
Transliteration: avayavangal
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ
Original: μέλη
Category: Unity
For μέλη (12:14-26).
Foolishness
Approved rendering: ഭോഷത്തം
Transliteration: bhoshathvam
Doctrine: Cross as Wisdom and Power
Original: μωρία
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For μωρία (1:18, 21, 23). Preserve the ironic force (worldly-foolish = actually God’s-wise).
Cross
Approved rendering: കുരിശ്
Transliteration: kurishu
Doctrine: Cross as Wisdom and Power
Original: σταυρός
Category: Wisdom of the Cross
For σταυρός (1:17-18). One of the most secure, ecumenically shared, iconic terms in Malayalam Christianity.
Marriage
Approved rendering: വിവാഹം
Transliteration: vivaham
Doctrine: Marriage and Singleness
Original: γάμος
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For γάμος (7:2, 9). Affirmed as good and normal, not a lesser spiritual state than celibacy.
Virgin
Approved rendering: കന്യക
Transliteration: kanyaka
Doctrine: Marriage and Singleness
Original: παρθένος
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For παρθένος (7:25-38). Familiar from Marian usage (കന്യകാമറിയം).
Unmarried
Approved rendering: അവിവാഹിതര്
Transliteration: avivahithar
Doctrine: Marriage and Singleness
Original: ἄγαμος
Category: Marriage and Singleness
For ἄγαμος (7:8, 32-34).
Conscience
Approved rendering: മനസ്സാക്ഷി
Transliteration: manassakshi
Doctrine: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
Original: συνείδησις
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For συνείδησις (8:7, 10, 12; 10:25-29).
Self Control
Approved rendering: ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണം
Transliteration: atmaniyanthranam
Doctrine: Apostolic Ministry and Stewardship
Original: ἐγκράτεια
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For ἐγκράτεια (9:25-27).
Race Prize Crown
Approved rendering: മത്സരം / പ്രതിഫലം / കിരീടം
Transliteration: matsaram / prathiphalam / kireedam
Doctrine: Apostolic Ministry and Stewardship
Original: ἀγών / βραβεῖον / στέφανος
Category: Christian Liberty and Idol Meat
For ἀγών/βραβεῖον/στέφανος (9:24-25). Culturally accessible athletic metaphor; perishable/imperishable contrast should be retained (cf. ἀφθαρσία, ch. 15).
Order Worship Principle
Approved rendering: ക്രമം
Transliteration: kramam
Doctrine: Order in Worship
Original: τάξις
Category: Order in Worship
For τάξις (14:40).
Decently And In Order
Approved rendering: മാന്യമായും ക്രമമായും
Transliteration: maanyamaayum kramamaayum
Doctrine: Order in Worship
For εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν (14:40). The governing principle for regulating tongues and prophecy in public worship.
Collection
Approved rendering: ധനശേഖരണം
Transliteration: dhanashekharanam
Doctrine: Cross-Congregational Fellowship and Giving
Original: λογεία
Category: Church
For λογεία (16:1-4). Practical, administrative term with minimal doctrinal weight.
Referenced passages