Core Glossary
08 Core Glossary — Galatians (English ↔ Koine Greek ↔ Malayalam)
This glossary consolidates every load-bearing term identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md, across all six chapters of Galatians. Terms already present in the baseline Romans translation_memory.json are marked REUSED and carry forward their exact recorded Malayalam rendering, risk tier, and rejected alternatives — per the hard rule that established renderings must be reused exactly. Terms new to this curriculum are marked NEW and receive a full risk assessment here for inclusion in the Phase 1 Step 2 translation memory update.
Risk tier definitions follow the baseline doctrine_risk_registry.json: Critical (theologian review, every occurrence) / High (theologian review) / Medium (native speaker review) / Low (automated review).
A. Terms Reused Exactly from the Baseline Romans Package
| English Term | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Chapters (Galatians) | Baseline Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gospel | സുവിശേഷം | suvisesham | High | 1, 2 | translation_memory.json |
| Grace | കൃപ | krupa | High | 1, 2, 5 | translation_memory.json |
| Faith | വിശ്വാസം | vishwasam | Medium | 2, 3, 5 | translation_memory.json |
| Righteousness | നീതി | neethi | High | 2, 3, 5 | translation_memory.json |
| Justification | നീതീകരണം | neetheekaranam | Critical | 2, 3 | translation_memory.json |
| Salvation (conceptual root, “redeemed”) | രക്ഷ | raksha | High | 3, 4 | translation_memory.json |
| Apostle | അപ്പോസ്തലന് | appostalan | Low | 1, 2 | translation_memory.json |
| Called | വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ട | vilikkappetta | Medium | 1 | translation_memory.json |
| Calling (noun, “set apart”) | വിളി | vili | Medium | 1 | translation_memory.json |
| Holy (root sense) | പരിശുദ്ധ | parishudha | High | (contextual, cf. Sanctification doctrine) | translation_memory.json |
| Sanctification | വിശുദ്ധീകരണം | vishudheekaranam | Medium | (implicit, ch. 5 fruit-bearing) | translation_memory.json |
| Adoption | ദത്തുപുത്രത്വം | dattuputhratvam | Medium | 4 | translation_memory.json |
| Lord | കര്ത്താവ് | karthavu | Critical | 1, 6 (epistolary greeting/closing) | translation_memory.json |
| Son of God | ദൈവപുത്രന് | daivaputhran | Critical | 1, 2, 4 | translation_memory.json |
| Peace | സമാധാനം | samadhanam | Low | 1, 5, 6 | translation_memory.json |
| Fellowship (conceptual, cf. koinōnia) | കൂട്ടായ്മ | koottayma | Low | 2 (implicit, “fellowship” of right hand) | translation_memory.json |
| Law | ന്യായപ്രമാണം | nyayapramanam | Medium | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | translation_memory.json |
| Sin | പാപം | papam | Medium | 1, 2, 3 | translation_memory.json |
| Gentiles | ജനതകള് | janathakal | High | 1, 2, 3 | translation_memory.json |
| Glory (implicit doxology, Gal 1:5) | മഹത്വം | mahatvam | Medium | 1 | translation_memory.json |
| Covenant | ഉടമ്പടി | udampadi | Medium | 3 | translation_memory.json |
| Election (conceptual root, cf. “set apart,” “called”) | ദൈവത്തിന്റെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് | daivathinte thiranjeduppu | High | 1 (contextual) | translation_memory.json |
| Messiah / Christ | ക്രിസ്തു | kristu | Critical | 1–6 (throughout) | translation_memory.json |
| David (proper name, via Abrahamic-covenant background) | ദാവീദ് | daveed | Low | (background reference) | translation_memory.json |
| Israel | യിസ്രായേല് | yisrayel | Medium | 6 | translation_memory.json |
| Jesus | യേശു | yeshu | Critical | 1–6 (throughout) | translation_memory.json |
| God | ദൈവം | daivam | Medium | 1–6 (throughout) | translation_memory.json |
| Holy Spirit / Spirit | പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവ് | parishudhathmavu | Critical | 3, 4, 5, 6 | translation_memory.json |
| Father | പിതാവ് | pithavu | Critical | 1, 4 | translation_memory.json |
| Abba | അബ്ബാ | abba | Medium | 4 | translation_memory.json |
| Exhort/Encourage (root sense, restoring gently) | പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുക | prothsahippikkuka | Low | 6 (contextual) | translation_memory.json |
| Imputed Righteousness | ആരോപിതനീതി | aropithaneethi | Critical | 3 | translation_memory.json |
B. New Terms Introduced by Galatians
| English Term | Greek | Malayalam | Transliteration | Risk | Doctrine | Chapters | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works of the law | ἔργα νόμου | ന്യായപ്രമാണത്തിന്റെ പ്രവൃത്തികള് | nyayapramanathinte pravruthikal | Critical | Justification by Faith / Law and Grace | 2, 3 | നല്ല പ്രവൃത്തികള് (“good deeds,” too generic) | Must name Torah-performance specifically, not general ethical works |
| Crucified with Christ | συνεσταύρωμαι | ക്രിസ്തുവിനോടുകൂടെ ക്രൂശിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു | christuvinodukoode krushikkappettirikkunnu | Critical | Crucified with Christ | 2, 5, 6 | സ്വയം ത്യാഗം (“self-sacrifice,” loses union-with-Christ sense) | Perfect-tense continuing effect must be preserved in Malayalam verb aspect |
| Anathema / accursed | ἀνάθεμα | ശപിക്കപ്പെട്ടവന് ആയിരിക്കട്ടെ | shapikkappettavan aayirikkatte | Critical | True Gospel versus False Gospels | 1 | none formally rejected; folk-magical framing flagged as a risk to avoid | Distinguish God’s judicial curse-pronouncement from folk sorcery/black magic (മന്ത്രവാദം) |
| Curse (of the law) | κατάρα | ശാപം | shaapam | Critical | The Law’s Purpose | 3 | none formally rejected; folk-curse framing flagged as a risk to avoid | Same folk-magic collision risk as ἀνάθεμα; must retain covenantal-forensic and substitutionary sense |
| Bewitched | ἐβασκάνατε | കണ്ണേറ്റിയത് / മന്ത്രവാദത്താല് വഴിതെറ്റിച്ചത് | kannettiyathu / manthravadathaal vazhitettichathu | High | The True Gospel versus False Gospels (rhetorical) | 3 | literal “cast a spell” without qualification | Direct parallel to Kerala folk “evil eye” (കണ്ണേറ്) belief; requires note that this is rhetorical, not an endorsement of literal occult causation |
| Elemental spirits / elements of the world | στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου | ലോകത്തിന്റെ മൂലതത്വങ്ങള് / ആദിശക്തികള് | lokathinte moolathathvangal / aadishakthikal | Critical | The Law’s Purpose | 4 | പഞ്ചഭൂതങ്ങള്-style literal “five elements” framing (explicitly rejected — imports Hindu cosmology) | Must not be read through the Hindu Panchabhuta or elemental-deity/theyyam framework |
| Circumcision | περιτομή | പരിച്ഛേദനം | parichchedanam | Critical | Circumcision and the New Creation | 2, 5 | none; established Malayalam Bible term | Requires theologian note distinguishing the rite itself from its wrongful imposition as a justification-requirement; be aware of parallel Islamic (Mappila) and historic Cochin Jewish practice in Kerala’s religious landscape |
| New creation | καινὴ κτίσις | പുതിയ സൃഷ്ടി | puthiya srishti | Critical | Circumcision and the New Creation | 6 | സ്വയം നവീകരണം (“self-renewal,” reduces to self-help) | Ontological new status in Christ, not moral self-improvement |
| Freedom / liberty | ἐλευθερία | സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം | swathanthryam | Critical | Freedom in Christ | 5 | none formally rejected; political-independence register flagged as a risk to distinguish | Must avoid both (a) conflation with political freedom register and (b) a license-to-sin misreading |
| Flesh (ethical sense) | σάρξ | ജഡം | jadam | Critical | Flesh versus Spirit | 5 (also 2:16, 2:20 in a distinct neutral/idiomatic sense — see below) | മാംസം (avoid for ethical sense — collides with baseline’s positive incarnational മാംസധാരണം root) | Must be kept distinct in Malayalam from the positive incarnational use of the same root; ethical/sinful-nature sense only |
| Flesh (neutral/idiomatic sense) | σάρξ | മാംസം / ശരീരം (idiomatic: ഒരു മനുഷ്യനും, “no human being”) | mamsam / shareeram | High | Justification by Faith (Gal 2:16, 2:20) | 2 | ജഡം (would wrongly import the ethical-sinful sense into a neutral statement) | Contextual variant; two distinct Malayalam renderings required for two distinct senses of the same Greek word within this single letter |
| Fruit of the Spirit | καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος | ആത്മാവിന്റെ ഫലം | atmavinte phalam | High | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | ആത്മാവിന്റെ ഫലങ്ങള് (plural, loses the Greek’s deliberate collective singular) | Singular “fruit” conveys unified Spirit-produced character, not a checklist |
| Faith working through love | πίστις δι᾽ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη | സ്നേഹത്തിലൂടെ പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കുന്ന വിശ്വാസം | snehathiloode pravarthikkunna vishwasam | High | Faith Working through Love | 5 | none formally rejected | Love is faith’s expression, not an added requirement alongside faith |
| Love | ἀγάπη | സ്നേഹം | sneham | Low | Faith Working through Love / Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | കാമം (erotic, rejected); ഇഷ്ടം (mere liking, too weak) | Standard established Malayalam Christian love term |
| Promise | ἐπαγγελία | വാഗ്ദാനം | vaagdaanam | High | The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise | 3 | none formally rejected | Distinct from ഉടമ്പടി (covenant, the broader relational bond); this is the specific pledged content |
| Seed / offspring (of Abraham) | σπέρμα | സന്തതി | santhathi | Critical | The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise | 3 | none formally rejected | Preserve singular/collective ambiguity for Paul’s Christ-as-seed argument (Gal 3:16); distinct from baseline’s seed_of_david |
| Redeemed | ἐξηγόρασεν | വീണ്ടെടുത്തു | veendedutthu | High | The Law’s Purpose / Salvation | 3, 4 | രക്ഷിച്ചു (“saved,” too generic — loses substitutionary-purchase sense) | Retain slave-market purchase/substitution imagery |
| Adoption / sonship (context: slave vs. son contrast) | υἱός / δοῦλος (contrast pair) | പുത്രന് / അടിമ | puthran / adima | Medium | Adoption and Sonship | 4 | none formally rejected | Sensitive to Kerala’s own historic caste/bondage associations; keep metaphor theological, not social commentary |
| Heir | κληρονόμος | അവകാശി | avakaashi | Low | Adoption and Sonship | 4 | none | Standard inheritance term |
| Guardian / tutor (paidagōgos) | παιδαγωγός | സൂക്ഷിപ്പുകാരന് | sookshippukaaran | High | The Law’s Purpose | 3 | ഗുരു (“teacher/guru” — rejected per baseline apostle-term precedent of avoiding guru-framing for authority roles); “രക്ഷാധികാരി” (guardian, too benign/legal-modern) | No exact Malayalam social equivalent for the Greco-Roman slave-tutor role; explanatory phrase required |
| Mediator | μεσίτης | മധ്യസ്ഥന് | madhyasthan | Medium | The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise | 3 | none; distinguish from baseline’s intercession (മധ്യസ്ഥത) | Covenantal go-between role (Moses), distinct from intercessory prayer sense |
| Elemental/cosmic curse-bearing (“Christ became a curse”) | κατάρα (Χριστὸς…γενόμενος) | ക്രിസ്തു ശാപമായി | christu shaapamaayi | Critical | Crucified with Christ / The Law’s Purpose | 3 | none | Substitutionary atonement language; escalate per baseline atonement-language review rule |
| Yoke of slavery | ζυγῷ δουλείας | അടിമത്തത്തിന്റെ നുകം | adimathathinte nukam | Medium | Freedom in Christ | 5 | none | Agricultural bondage metaphor |
| Bear one another’s burdens | ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε | അന്യോന്യം ഭാരങ്ങള് ചുമക്കുവിന് | anyonyam bhaarangal chumakkuvin | Medium | Bearing One Another’s Burdens | 6 | none | Corporate mutual-care ethic |
| Law of Christ | ὁ νόμος τοῦ Χριστοῦ | ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ന്യായപ്രമാണം | christuvinte nyayapramanam | Medium | Bearing One Another’s Burdens / Law and Grace | 6 | none | Not a reintroduction of legalism; Christ’s love-ethic as rule of life |
| Boast / boasting | καυχάομαι | അഭിമാനിക്കുക / പ്രശംസ | abhimaanikkuka / prashamsa | Medium | Crucified with Christ (Gal 6:14 positive sense) | 6 | none | Context-sensitive: negative self-glory vs. positive glorying in the cross |
| Cross of Christ | ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ | ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശ് | christuvinte krush | Critical | Crucified with Christ | 6 | none | Directly tied to core passage doctrine |
| Brand-marks | τὰ στίγματα | മുറിവടയാളങ്ങള് | murivadayaalangal | Medium | Paul’s Apostleship (authenticity) | 6 | none | Note partial parallel to South Indian Vaishnava branding devotion (chakrankitam); ensure no conflation |
| Different gospel (heteron) | ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον | മറ്റൊരു (വ്യത്യസ്തമായ) സുവിശേഷം | mattoru (vyathyasthamaaya) suvisesham | High | True Gospel versus False Gospels | 1 | ആള് സുവിശേഷം (literal “another,” loses qualitative-distinction force) | Distinguish ἕτερον (qualitatively different) from ἄλλο (another of the same kind) in the same verse |
| Revelation | ἀποκάλυψις | വെളിപ്പെടുത്തല് | velippedutthal | High | Paul’s Apostleship / Inspiration of Scripture | 1 | ദര്ശനം (vision, too broad — includes non-doctrinal mystical experience) | Unique, historical, once-for-all disclosure of the risen Christ to Paul |
| Zealous / zeal | ζηλωτής / ζῆλος | തീക്ഷ്ണത | theekshnatha | Medium | Paul’s Apostleship (testimony) | 1, 4 | ഭക്തി (devotional reverence — wrong register; this can be misguided or even violent zeal) | Context-sensitive positive/negative use |
| Set apart | ἀφορίσας | വേര്തിരിച്ചു | verthirichu | Medium | Paul’s Apostleship / Separation unto God’s Service | 1 | none | Echoes baseline doctrine separation_unto_gods_service |
| Truth of the gospel | ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου | സുവിശേഷത്തിന്റെ സത്യം | suvisheshathinte sathyam | High | True Gospel versus False Gospels | 2 | none | Doctrinal integrity under social pressure |
| False brothers | ψευδάδελφοι | കള്ള സഹോദരന്മാര് | kalla sahodaranmar | Medium | True Gospel versus False Gospels | 2 | none | Infiltrating false teachers within fellowship |
| Hypocrisy | ὑπόκρισις | കാപട്യം | kaapatyam | Low | Law and Grace (Peter’s inconsistency) | 2 | none | Standard ethical term |
| Transgressor | παραβάτης | അതിക്രമക്കാരന് | athikramakkaaran | Medium | Justification by Faith | 2 | പാപി (“sinner,” too generic — loses specifically legal sense needed for Paul’s irony) | |
| Servant / minister (diakonos) | διάκονος | ശുശ്രൂഷകന് | shushrooshakan | Low | Justification by Faith | 2 | none | Distinct from later technical “deacon” office |
| Fullness of time | τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου | കാലസമ്പൂര്ണ്ണത | kaalasampoornnatha | Medium | Adoption and Sonship / Incarnation | 4 | none | Appointed moment of the incarnation |
| Allegory | ἀλληγορούμενα | ഉപമാര്ത്ഥത്തില് | upamaarthathil | Low | The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise | 4 | none | Explicit Pauline hermeneutical signal |
| Jerusalem above | ἡ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ | മേലുള്ള യെരൂശലേം | melulla yerushaleem | Medium | The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise | 4 | none | Eschatological, not the politically sensitive earthly city |
| Bondwoman / slave woman | παιδίσκη | അടിമസ്ത്രീ | adimasthree | Medium | Adoption and Sonship | 4 | none | Hagar-Sarah allegory figure |
| Faithfulness (fruit of the Spirit sense) | πίστις (as character trait) | വിശ്വസ്തത | vishwasthatha | Medium | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | വിശ്വാസം (would blur saving faith with the character trait) | Contextual variant distinct from baseline faith |
| Joy | χαρά | സന്തോഷം | santhosham | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Patience | μακροθυμία | ദീര്ഘക്ഷമ | deerghakshama | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Kindness | χρηστότης | ദയ | daya | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Goodness | ἀγαθωσύνη | നന്മ | nanma | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Gentleness | πραΰτης | സൗമ്യത | saumyatha | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Self-control | ἐγκράτεια | ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണം | aathmaniyanthranam | Low | Fruit of the Spirit | 5 | none | |
| Works of the flesh (list) | τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός | ജഡത്തിന്റെ പ്രവൃത്തികള് | jadathinte pravruthikal | High | Flesh versus Spirit | 5 | none | Includes φαρμακεία (sorcery) — render as മന്ത്രവാദം/ആഭിചാരം, a live cultural category in Kerala |
| Sorcery (within works of the flesh) | φαρμακεία | മന്ത്രവാദം / ആഭിചാരം | manthravaadam / aabhicharam | High | Flesh versus Spirit | 5 | none | Genuinely live folk-religious category in Kerala; must be named clearly, not softened |
| Sow and reap | σπείρῃ…θερίσει | വിതയ്ക്കുന്നു…കൊയ്യും | vithaykkunnu…koyyum | Low | Bearing One Another’s Burdens | 6 | none | Moral cause-and-effect metaphor |
| Restore gently | καταρτίζετε…πραΰτητος | സൗമ്യതയോടെ യഥാസ്ഥാനത്താക്കുക | saumyathayode yathaasthaanaathaakkuka | Low | Bearing One Another’s Burdens | 6 | none | |
| Israel of God | ὁ Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ | ദൈവത്തിന്റെ യിസ്രായേല് | daivathinte yisrayel | Medium | Unity of Jews and Gentiles (implicit) | 6 | none | Defines true covenant community by faith, not ethnicity/circumcision alone |
| Reveal his Son (specific phrase) | ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ | തന്റെ പുത്രനെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുക | thante puthrane velippedutthuka | Critical | Sonship of Christ / Paul’s Apostleship | 1 | none | Compound of REUSED son_of_god + NEW revelation |
C. Terms Requiring Escalated (Theologian) Review — Consolidated List
Per the baseline’s escalation rules, the following NEW Galatians terms require mandatory human theologian review at every occurrence, in addition to the baseline’s existing Critical/High list:
- Works of the law (ἔργα νόμου) — Justification by Faith
- Crucified with Christ (συνεσταύρωμαι) — core passage doctrine
- Anathema/curse language (ἀνάθεμα, κατάρα) — folk-magic collision risk
- Elemental spirits (στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου) — Hindu cosmology collision risk
- Circumcision (περιτομή) — multi-religious practice collision risk
- New creation (καινὴ κτίσις) — climactic doctrinal term
- Freedom/liberty (ἐλευθερία) — political-register collision risk
- Flesh, ethical sense (σάρξ = ജഡം) — root-collision risk with incarnational മാംസധാരണം
- Seed/offspring (σπέρμα) — precision-dependent typological argument
- Christ became a curse (substitutionary atonement language, Gal 3:13) — per baseline atonement-language escalation rule
- Gave himself for me (Gal 2:20, atonement language) — per baseline atonement-language escalation rule
- Cross of Christ (ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ) — core doctrine
- All one in Christ (Gal 3:28, unity language) — per baseline “no distinction” escalation rule, given Kerala’s internal caste-heritage sensitivity
All other NEW terms above are routed per their assigned risk tier (High → theologian review; Medium → native speaker review; Low → automated review), consistent with the baseline doctrine_risk_registry.json review-routing convention.
Critical Risk Terms
Justification
Approved rendering: നീതീകരണം
Transliteration: neetheekaranam
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: ക്ഷമ ലഭിക്കല്
Original: δικαιόω / δικαίωσις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Verb form നീതീകരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു must render Gal 2:16’s threefold repetition (δικαιοῦται/δικαιωθῶμεν/δικαιωθήσεται) identically across all three occurrences to preserve the letter’s thesis-statement rhetoric.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: ഉയിര്ത്തെഴുന്നേല്പ്പ്
Transliteration: uyirthezhunnelppu
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: പുനര്ജന്മം
Original: ἐγείραντος…ἐκ νεκρῶν
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from Romans package. Never പുനര്ജന്മം. Gal 1:1 grounds Paul’s apostleship in God ‘who raised him from the dead.‘
Lord
Approved rendering: കര്ത്താവ്
Transliteration: karthavu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Used in Galatians’ epistolary greeting and closing benediction formulas (Gal 1:3, 6:18).
Son Of God
Approved rendering: ദൈവപുത്രന്
Transliteration: daivaputhran
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ദേവപുത്രന്
Original: υἱὸς θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Never ദേവപുത്രന്. Gal 1:16 (‘reveal his Son’), 2:20, 4:4.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: മാംസധാരണം
Transliteration: mamsadharanam
Doctrine: Incarnation
Rejected alternatives: അവതാരം
Inherited from Romans package. Never അവതാരം. Underlies Gal 4:4’s ‘born of a woman, born under the law.’ CAUTION unique to Galatians: this positive incarnational root (മാംസ-) must be kept distinct from Galatians 5’s condemned ethical ‘flesh’ (ജഡം, see flesh_ethical) — the shared Malayalam root must never create an implicit association between the two doctrines.
Messiah
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തു
Transliteration: kristu
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Original: Χριστός
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Used throughout Galatians (over 35 occurrences) — the highest term-density of any Critical term in this letter; ക്രിസ്തു required, never a general ‘religious teacher’ framing.
Jesus
Approved rendering: യേശു
Transliteration: yeshu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Used throughout Galatians; യേശു required for this curriculum’s Bible-study register.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവ്
Transliteration: parishudhathmavu
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: ബ്രഹ്മം, പരമാത്മാവ്
Original: πνεῦμα / Πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Central to Gal 3-5 (receiving the Spirit by faith, the Spirit’s intercessory cry, walking by/being led by the Spirit, fruit of the Spirit). Never ബ്രഹ്മം or പരമാത്മാവ്.
Father
Approved rendering: പിതാവ്
Transliteration: pithavu
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 1:1, 1:3, 4:6.
Imputed Righteousness
Approved rendering: ആരോപിതനീതി
Transliteration: aropithaneethi
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: സമ്പാദിച്ച നീതി
Original: ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 3:6, quoting Genesis 15:6, the same proof-text and doctrine as Romans 4. Never rendered as earned righteousness.
Works Of The Law
Approved rendering: ന്യായപ്രമാണത്തിന്റെ പ്രവൃത്തികള്
Transliteration: nyayapramanathinte pravruthikal
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: നല്ല പ്രവൃത്തികള്
Original: ἔργα νόμου
Category: Salvation
NEW. Torah-performance as a claimed basis for righteous standing before God (Gal 2:16, 3:2, 3:5, 3:10). Must name Torah-performance specifically, not general good deeds, and must not collapse into a ധര്മ്മം-style cosmic-duty framing.
Crucified With Christ
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തുവിനോടുകൂടെ ക്രൂശിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു
Transliteration: christuvinodukoode krushikkappettirikkunnu
Doctrine: Crucified with Christ
Rejected alternatives: സ്വയം ത്യാഗം
Original: Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι
Category: Salvation
NEW. Core passage doctrine (Gal 2:20). Perfect-tense continuing-effect verb aspect must be preserved. Kerala’s strong penitential/ascetic piety tradition (Way of the Cross) risks reinterpreting this completed, Christ-accomplished union as an ongoing achievement of self-discipline.
Anathema
Approved rendering: ശപിക്കപ്പെട്ടവന് ആയിരിക്കട്ടെ
Transliteration: shapikkappettavan aayirikkatte
Doctrine: The True Gospel versus False Gospels
Original: ἀνάθεμα
Category: Gospel
NEW. Gal 1:8-9’s double curse-pronouncement on anyone preaching a false gospel. Kerala’s folk belief in curses invoked through മന്ത്രവാദം and the evil eye (കണ്ണേറ്) creates a real risk of a magical rather than judicial reading. Mandatory theologian/translator note at every occurrence distinguishing God’s own judicial verdict from human-invoked sorcery.
Curse Of The Law
Approved rendering: ശാപം
Transliteration: shaapam
Doctrine: The Law’s Purpose
Original: κατάρα (τοῦ νόμου)
Category: Covenant
NEW. The covenantal judicial curse for failing to keep the law perfectly (Gal 3:10, 13). Same folk-magic collision risk as anathema: risks being heard as a transmissible magical affliction rather than God’s own covenantal-forensic verdict. Theologian review required.
Christ Became A Curse
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തു ശാപമായി
Transliteration: christu shaapamaayi
Doctrine: Crucified with Christ
Original: Χριστὸς…γενόμενος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα
Category: Salvation
NEW. Christ’s voluntary, substitutionary bearing of the law’s curse on believers’ behalf (Gal 3:13, quoting Deut 21:23). Atonement/substitution language; mandatory theologian review at every occurrence. Must clarify Christ voluntarily BEARING the covenantal curse, not merely removing a magical hex.
Elemental Spirits
Approved rendering: ലോകത്തിന്റെ മൂലതത്വങ്ങള് / ആദിശക്തികള്
Transliteration: lokathinte moolathathvangal / aadishakthikal
Doctrine: The Law’s Purpose
Rejected alternatives: പഞ്ചഭൂതങ്ങള്-style literal ‘five elements’ framing
Original: στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου
Category: Covenant
NEW. The enslaving powers from which Christ’s coming liberates believers (Gal 4:3, 9). Genuine cultural collision with Kerala’s Hindu/Ayurvedic Panchabhuta cosmology and folk-Hindu elemental/nature-spirit veneration (theyyam ritual, sacred-grove/കാവ് worship). Mandatory theologian note at every occurrence.
Circumcision
Approved rendering: പരിച്ഛേദനം
Transliteration: parichchedanam
Doctrine: Circumcision and the New Creation
Original: περιτομή
Category: Covenant
NEW (established Malayalam Bible term, but doctrinally live here). The flashpoint controversy over whether Gentile believers must be circumcised (Gal 2:3-9, 5:2-6, 5:11, 6:12-15). Kerala’s religious landscape includes circumcision as a practiced rite among Mappila Muslims and, historically, the Cochin Jewish community; theologian review required to keep clear Paul opposes its imposition as a justification-requirement, not the rite itself.
New Creation
Approved rendering: പുതിയ സൃഷ്ടി
Transliteration: puthiya srishti
Doctrine: Circumcision and the New Creation
Rejected alternatives: സ്വയം നവീകരണം
Original: καινὴ κτίσις
Category: Salvation
NEW. Paul’s climactic summary (Gal 6:15): neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts, but a new creation. Must be understood as an ontological, Spirit-wrought new status, not a self-help ‘new beginning.’ Theologian review required given its climactic doctrinal weight.
Freedom
Approved rendering: സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം
Transliteration: swathanthryam
Doctrine: Freedom in Christ
Original: ἐλευθερία
Category: Freedom
NEW. Liberation from the law’s condemning power and sin’s dominion, exercised in loving service (Gal 5:1, 13). സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം carries strong resonance with India’s political independence-movement register; must be distinguished from political/national freedom and from a license-to-sin misreading, which Paul himself immediately guards against in Gal 5:13.
Flesh Ethical
Approved rendering: ജഡം
Transliteration: jadam
Doctrine: Flesh versus Spirit
Rejected alternatives: മാംസം (for the ethical sense)
Original: σάρξ (ethical sense)
Category: Sanctification
NEW. The sinful, self-oriented human nature opposed to the Spirit (Gal 5:13, 16-21, 24). Must be kept distinct from the baseline’s positive incarnational term മാംസധാരണം, even though both derive from the same root മാംസം.
Seed Of Abraham
Approved rendering: സന്തതി
Transliteration: santhathi
Doctrine: The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise
Original: σπέρμα
Category: Covenant
NEW. Paul’s argument in Gal 3:16 hinges on the grammatical singular pointing to Christ as the one true heir. Malayalam സന്തതി preserves the same singular/collective ambiguity as Greek σπέρμα, but a translator note is required. Distinct from the baseline’s seed_of_david.
Cross Of Christ
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശ്
Transliteration: christuvinte krush
Doctrine: Crucified with Christ
Original: ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Category: Salvation
NEW. The crucifixion, source of both salvation and Paul’s own suffering/persecution (Gal 6:12, 14). Connects directly to the core-passage doctrine of being crucified with Christ (Gal 2:19-20); requires theologian review at every occurrence.
Gave Himself For Me
Approved rendering: തനിക്കായി തന്നെത്തന്നെ ഏല്പ്പിച്ചു എനിക്കുവേണ്ടി
Transliteration: thanikkaayi thannethanne elpichu enikkuvendi
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Original: παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ
Category: Salvation
NEW. Christ’s voluntary, substitutionary self-offering on the believer’s behalf (Gal 2:20). Atonement/substitution language; mandatory human theologian review. Must preserve voluntary self-substitution, not merely ‘helped’ or ‘served.‘
Reveal His Son
Approved rendering: തന്റെ പുത്രനെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുക
Transliteration: thante puthrane velippedutthuka
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Original: ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ
Category: Christology
NEW. The specific content of Paul’s apostolic revelation: the Son of God himself (Gal 1:16). Compound of the baseline son_of_god plus the new revelation term.
High Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: കൃപ
Transliteration: krupa
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: പുണ്യം
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Galatians sharpens the baseline’s bhakti-collision risk: Gal 2:21 and 5:4 state explicitly that mixing law-works with grace nullifies it entirely, an either/or claim stronger than Romans’ more gradual argument.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: നീതി
Transliteration: neethi
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: ധര്മ്മം
Original: δικαιοσύνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Never ധര്മ്മം. Central to Gal 2:21 and 3:21’s either/or argument: if righteousness came through law, Christ died for nothing.
Salvation
Approved rendering: രക്ഷ
Transliteration: raksha
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: മോക്ഷം, മുക്തി
Original: σωτηρία (conceptual root; cf. ἐξαγοράζω, “redeemed”)
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Never മോക്ഷം or മുക്തി. Galatians expresses this concept largely through redemption/purchase language (ἐξαγοράζω, ‘redeemed’) rather than the noun σωτηρία itself, but the prohibition is unchanged.
Saints
Approved rendering: വിശുദ്ധര്
Transliteration: vishudhar
Doctrine: Sainthood
Inherited from Romans package. Galatians does not use ἅγιοι as a direct title, but the corporate-believer identity concept underlying Gal 3:26-28 and 6:16 carries the same inverted-risk profile documented in the baseline — widen, do not narrow, the reader’s expectation.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: ജനതകള്
Transliteration: janathakal
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Rejected alternatives: ജാതികള്
Original: ἔθνη
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package. Never ജാതികള് (reads as ‘castes’). Central to Galatians’ Jew-Gentile table-fellowship controversy (Gal 2:12, 2:14-15, 3:8, 3:14).
Election
Approved rendering: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ്
Transliteration: daivathinte thiranjeduppu
Doctrine: Effectual Calling
Rejected alternatives: വിധി, തലയെഴുത്ത്
Original: ἀφορίσας / καλέσας (conceptual root)
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Underlies Gal 1:15’s ‘set apart…and called’ language describing Paul’s pre-birth election to apostleship; never വിധി or തലയെഴുത്ത്.
Seed Of David
Approved rendering: ദാവീദിന്റെ വംശത്തില്
Transliteration: daveedinte vamshathil
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Not directly used in Galatians, retained for cross-curriculum consistency; must be kept distinct from the new Galatians term seed_of_abraham (സന്തതി), a related but different covenant-lineage argument (Gal 3:16, 29).
Bewitched
Approved rendering: കണ്ണേറ്റിയത് / മന്ത്രവാദത്താല് വഴിതെറ്റിച്ചത്
Transliteration: kannettiyathu / manthravadathaal vazhitettichathu
Doctrine: The True Gospel versus False Gospels
Rejected alternatives: literal ‘cast a spell on you’ without qualification
Original: ἐβασκάνατε
Category: Faith
NEW. Gal 3:1’s rhetorical idiom for being maliciously deceived. Direct parallel to Kerala’s live folk category of കണ്ണേറ് (the evil eye). Requires a translator note clarifying Paul uses a rhetorical figure of speech for deception, not a doctrinal claim endorsing literal occult causation.
Flesh Neutral
Approved rendering: മാംസം / ശരീരം
Transliteration: mamsam / shareeram
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: ജഡം (would wrongly import the ethical-sinful sense into a neutral statement)
Original: σάρξ (neutral/idiomatic sense)
Category: Salvation
NEW. Ordinary embodied human existence, or the Hebraic idiom ‘all flesh’ meaning ‘every human being’ (Gal 2:16’s πᾶσα σάρξ, Gal 2:20’s ἐν σαρκί). Best rendered periphrastically (ഒരു മനുഷ്യനും…ഇല്ല) for the idiomatic totality sense. Never render with ജഡം.
Fruit Of The Spirit
Approved rendering: ആത്മാവിന്റെ ഫലം
Transliteration: atmavinte phalam
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: ആത്മാവിന്റെ ഫലങ്ങള് (plural)
Original: καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος
Category: Sanctification
NEW. The unified, singular Spirit-produced character of the believer, expressed in nine qualities (Gal 5:22-23). The Greek’s deliberate singular ‘fruit’ indicates unified character, not a checklist.
Faith Working Through Love
Approved rendering: സ്നേഹത്തിലൂടെ പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കുന്ന വിശ്വാസം
Transliteration: snehathiloode pravarthikkunna vishwasam
Doctrine: Faith Working through Love
Original: πίστις…δι᾽ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη
Category: Faith
NEW. Faith actively expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). Must preserve that love is faith’s active EXPRESSION, not a separate additional requirement alongside faith for justification.
Promise
Approved rendering: വാഗ്ദാനം
Transliteration: vaagdaanam
Doctrine: The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise
Original: ἐπαγγελία
Category: Covenant
NEW. God’s covenantal, unbreakable pledge to Abraham, fulfilled in Christ and received by faith (Gal 3:14-18). Must be distinguished from ഉടമ്പടി (covenant, the broader relational bond); promise is the specific pledged content.
Redeemed
Approved rendering: വീണ്ടെടുത്തു
Transliteration: veendedutthu
Doctrine: The Law’s Purpose
Rejected alternatives: രക്ഷിച്ചു
Original: ἐξηγόρασεν
Category: Salvation
NEW. Christ’s redemptive, substitutionary purchase of believers out of bondage to the law’s curse (Gal 3:13, 4:5). Must retain substitutionary-purchase/slave-market imagery.
Guardian Paidagogos
Approved rendering: സൂക്ഷിപ്പുകാരന്
Transliteration: sookshippukaaran
Doctrine: The Law’s Purpose
Rejected alternatives: ഗുരു, രക്ഷാധികാരി
Original: παιδαγωγός
Category: Covenant
NEW. The law’s temporary, custodial supervisory role until Christ came (Gal 3:24-25). No Malayalam social institution exactly parallels the Greco-Roman slave-tutor role; explanatory phrase or footnote required.
Different Gospel
Approved rendering: മറ്റൊരു (വ്യത്യസ്തമായ) സുവിശേഷം
Transliteration: mattoru (vyathyasthamaaya) suvisesham
Doctrine: The True Gospel versus False Gospels
Rejected alternatives: ആള് സുവിശേഷം
Original: ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Gospel
NEW. A qualitatively distinct, false teaching that is not really gospel at all (Gal 1:6-7). ἕτερον (qualitatively other) must be distinguished in Malayalam from ἄλλο (another of the same kind) used in the same breath.
Revelation
Approved rendering: വെളിപ്പെടുത്തല്
Transliteration: velippedutthal
Doctrine: Paul’s Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: ദര്ശനം
Original: ἀποκάλυψις
Category: Apostleship
NEW. A unique, historical, once-for-all divine disclosure of the risen Christ to Paul, grounding his apostolic authority (Gal 1:12). Must be distinguished from Hindu shruti categories or generic mystical insight.
Truth Of The Gospel
Approved rendering: സുവിശേഷത്തിന്റെ സത്യം
Transliteration: suvisheshathinte sathyam
Doctrine: The True Gospel versus False Gospels
Original: ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
Category: Gospel
NEW. Doctrinal integrity of the gospel, which Paul refuses to compromise even under social pressure (Gal 2:5, 14). Must convey non-negotiable doctrinal fidelity.
Works Of The Flesh
Approved rendering: ജഡത്തിന്റെ പ്രവൃത്തികള്
Transliteration: jadathinte pravruthikal
Doctrine: Flesh versus Spirit
Original: τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός
Category: Sanctification
NEW. The catalogue of vices flowing from the ethical σάρξ, contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:19-21). Includes φαρμακεία (sorcery); the list must be rendered as recognizable, concrete vices, not archaic or foreign categories.
Sorcery
Approved rendering: മന്ത്രവാദം / ആഭിചാരം
Transliteration: manthravaadam / aabhicharam
Doctrine: Flesh versus Spirit
Original: φαρμακεία
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Occult/potion-based practice, listed among the works of the flesh (Gal 5:20). A genuinely live folk-religious category in Kerala; must be named clearly and concretely, not softened — the opposite fencing strategy from anathema/curse, which must be DISTANCED from folk-magic associations.
All One In Christ
Approved rendering: എല്ലാവരും ക്രിസ്തുവില് ഒന്നാകുന്നു
Transliteration: ellaavarum christuvil onnaakunnu
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Original: πάντες…εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ
Category: Church
NEW. Corporate unity transcending former ethnic, social, and gender distinctions (Gal 3:28). Kerala’s own Christian community carries an internal, historically live version of this tension (Syrian Christian community vs. Dalit-convert communities); must be rendered with full, unqualified force. Theologian review required.
Medium Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: സുവിശേഷം
Transliteration: suvisesham
Doctrine: Gospel
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Gospel
Inherited from Romans package. Reused exactly for Galatians’ True Gospel versus False Gospels doctrine; sharpened by contrast with ‘a different gospel’ (ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον) in Gal 1:6-9 — consistency between the two terms is essential to preserve Paul’s argument that only one gospel exists.
Faith
Approved rendering: വിശ്വാസം
Transliteration: vishwasam
Doctrine: Faith
Rejected alternatives: ഭക്തി
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package. The object of faith (Christ) must remain unambiguous, especially across Gal 2:16’s threefold justification argument.
Called
Approved rendering: വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ട
Transliteration: vilikkappetta
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Original: καλέσας
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Applies to Paul’s own calling (Gal 1:15) and to the call to the gospel/freedom (Gal 1:6, 5:8, 5:13).
Calling
Approved rendering: വിളി
Transliteration: vili
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Original: κλῆσις
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Noun form underlying Paul’s pre-birth election language in Gal 1:15.
Holy
Approved rendering: പരിശുദ്ധ
Transliteration: parishudha
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: ശുദ്ധം
Original: ἅγιος
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package. Underlies the Spirit’s fruit-bearing holiness contrasted with the works of the flesh in Gal 5.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: വിശുദ്ധീകരണം
Transliteration: vishudheekaranam
Doctrine: Sanctification
Original: ἁγιασμός (conceptual; cf. καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος)
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package. In Galatians this doctrine is expressed through the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) and walking by the Spirit (5:16, 25) rather than the noun itself.
Adoption
Approved rendering: ദത്തുപുത്രത്വം
Transliteration: dattuputhratvam
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Rejected alternatives: ദത്തെടുക്കല്
Original: υἱοθεσία
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 4:5 mirrors Romans 8:15; believers receive full son-status through Christ, contrasted with slavery under the law throughout Gal 4.
Church
Approved rendering: സഭ
Transliteration: sabha
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: അമ്പലം
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 1:2 (‘the churches of Galatia’) and 1:22; distinct from a building, never അമ്പലം.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: ദൈവരാജ്യം
Transliteration: daivarajyam
Doctrine: Kingdom Mission
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 5:21: those practicing the works of the flesh ‘will not inherit the kingdom of God’; must not be read as a purely future reward disconnected from present Spirit-empowered life.
Law
Approved rendering: ന്യായപ്രമാണം
Transliteration: nyayapramanam
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rejected alternatives: ധര്മ്മം
Original: νόμος
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Never ധര്മ്മം. Galatians’ single most frequent load-bearing term (chs. 2-5), contrasted throughout with grace, faith, and promise.
Sin
Approved rendering: പാപം
Transliteration: papam
Doctrine: Universal Human Accountability
Original: ἁμαρτία / ἁμαρτωλός
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 1:4, 2:15, 2:17, 3:22; must not imply Jews are sinless by ethnic contrast with Gentile ‘sinners’ in Gal 2:15 — the verse sets up Paul’s leveling claim in 2:16.
Glory
Approved rendering: മഹത്വം
Transliteration: mahatvam
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: δόξα
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 1:5 doxology (‘to whom be glory forever’).
Covenant
Approved rendering: ഉടമ്പടി
Transliteration: udampadi
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Rejected alternatives: കരാര്
Original: διαθήκη
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 3:15, 17 — a ratified covenant/will cannot be annulled by a later law; also underlies the two-covenant allegory of Gal 4:24. Keep strictly distinct from the new term ‘promise’ (വാഗ്ദാനം): covenant is the relational bond, promise is the pledged content.
God
Approved rendering: ദൈവം
Transliteration: daivam
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: ഭഗവാന്
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Avoid ഭഗവാന്.
Abba
Approved rendering: അബ്ബാ
Transliteration: abba
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: Ἀββά
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 4:6, identical construction to Romans 8:15; retain the Aramaic transliteration with an explanatory note on its intimacy.
Mediator
Approved rendering: മധ്യസ്ഥന്
Transliteration: madhyasthan
Doctrine: The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise
Original: μεσίτης
Category: Covenant
NEW. A covenantal go-between; Moses as mediator of the law, contrasted with the direct, unmediated promise to Abraham (Gal 3:19-20). Distinct from the baseline’s intercession (മധ്യസ്ഥത); translator note recommended.
Yoke Of Slavery
Approved rendering: അടിമത്തത്തിന്റെ നുകം
Transliteration: adimathathinte nukam
Doctrine: Freedom in Christ
Original: ζυγῷ δουλείας
Category: Freedom
NEW. The agricultural/servitude metaphor for bondage under law-based religion (Gal 5:1). Standard metaphor with low collision risk.
Bear Burdens
Approved rendering: അന്യോന്യം ഭാരങ്ങള് ചുമക്കുവിന്
Transliteration: anyonyam bhaarangal chumakkuvin
Doctrine: Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Original: ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε
Category: Church
NEW. Mutual load-bearing among believers (Gal 6:2), following gentle restoration of a sinning believer (Gal 6:1). Connects to the baseline doctrine of mutual edification.
Law Of Christ
Approved rendering: ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ന്യായപ്രമാണം
Transliteration: christuvinte nyayapramanam
Doctrine: Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Original: ὁ νόμος τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Christ’s own ethic of self-giving love, fulfilling but distinct from Mosaic law (Gal 6:2). Translator note recommended clarifying this is NOT a reintroduction of law as a means of justification.
Boast
Approved rendering: അഭിമാനിക്കുക / പ്രശംസ
Transliteration: abhimaanikkuka / prashamsa
Doctrine: Crucified with Christ
Original: καυχάομαι / καύχημα
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Pride, either sinful self-glory or legitimate glorying in Christ’s cross (Gal 6:4, 13-14). Context-sensitive: translator must track which sense is active per occurrence.
Zeal
Approved rendering: തീക്ഷ്ണത
Transliteration: theekshnatha
Doctrine: Paul’s Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: ഭക്തി
Original: ζηλωτής / ζῆλος
Category: Apostleship
NEW. Intense devotion, in Paul’s case misguided and even violent zeal prior to his conversion (Gal 1:14). Must not carry only a positive devotional connotation.
Set Apart
Approved rendering: വേര്തിരിച്ചു
Transliteration: verthirichu
Doctrine: Paul’s Apostleship
Original: ἀφορίσας
Category: Apostleship
NEW. God’s election/separation of Paul from birth for apostolic service (Gal 1:15). Echoes the baseline doctrine of separation unto God’s service.
False Brothers
Approved rendering: കള്ള സഹോദരന്മാര്
Transliteration: kalla sahodaranmar
Doctrine: The True Gospel versus False Gospels
Original: ψευδάδελφοι
Category: Gospel
NEW. Infiltrating false believers who pressed for circumcision under the guise of Christian fellowship (Gal 2:4). Describes internal threats within the professing church.
Transgressor
Approved rendering: അതിക്രമക്കാരന്
Transliteration: athikramakkaaran
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Rejected alternatives: പാപി
Original: παραβάτης
Category: Salvation
NEW. A law-breaker; Paul’s ironic point that rebuilding the law as a ground of righteousness proves one a law-breaker (Gal 2:18). The irony depends on the specifically legal sense being retained.
Fullness Of Time
Approved rendering: കാലസമ്പൂര്ണ്ണത
Transliteration: kaalasampoornnatha
Doctrine: Incarnation
Original: τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου
Category: Christology
NEW. The divinely appointed, complete moment of Christ’s incarnation (Gal 4:4). Connects to the baseline’s Incarnation doctrine.
Jerusalem Above
Approved rendering: മേലുള്ള യെരൂശലേം
Transliteration: melulla yerushaleem
Doctrine: The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise
Original: ἡ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ
Category: Covenant
NEW. The free, promise-based, eschatological covenant community, contrasted with earthly bondage under law (Gal 4:26). Must be distinguished from any contemporary political sensitivity around the earthly city.
Bondwoman
Approved rendering: അടിമസ്ത്രീ
Transliteration: adimasthree
Doctrine: Adoption and Sonship
Original: παιδίσκη
Category: Covenant
NEW. Hagar, representing the covenant of law/bondage in Paul’s allegory, contrasted with Sarah, the free woman (Gal 4:22-31). Sensitive to Kerala’s own historic caste/bondage associations.
Faithfulness Fruit
Approved rendering: വിശ്വസ്തത
Transliteration: vishwasthatha
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: വിശ്വാസം
Original: πίστις (as character trait)
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Faithfulness/reliability as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), distinct from saving trust. Malayalam must distinguish വിശ്വാസം from വിശ്വസ്തത.
Israel Of God
Approved rendering: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ യിസ്രായേല്
Transliteration: daivathinte yisrayel
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Original: ὁ Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ
Category: Covenant
NEW. The true covenant people, defined by the new-creation standard of Gal 6:15, not ethnicity or circumcision (Gal 6:16). Must not be read as displacing ethnic Israel.
Slave Doulos
Approved rendering: അടിമ
Transliteration: adima
Doctrine: Adoption and Sonship
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Covenant
NEW. Involuntary servitude, contrasted with sonship (Gal 4:1, 7) and figuring in the Hagar-Sarah allegory (Gal 4:22-31). Sensitive to Kerala’s own historic caste-based bondage associations.
Low Risk Terms
Apostle
Approved rendering: അപ്പോസ്തലന്
Transliteration: appostalan
Doctrine: Apostleship
Rejected alternatives: ഗുരു
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Apostleship
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 1:1 grounds Paul’s apostleship as directly from Christ and God the Father, not human commissioning; never ഗുരു.
Peace
Approved rendering: സമാധാനം
Transliteration: samadhanam
Doctrine: Peace with God
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Appears in Galatians’ epistolary greeting (1:3) and in the Fruit of the Spirit list (5:22).
Fellowship
Approved rendering: കൂട്ടായ്മ
Transliteration: koottayma
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: സൗഹൃദം
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 2:9’s ‘right hand of fellowship’ extended to Paul and Barnabas by the Jerusalem pillars.
David
Approved rendering: ദാവീദ്
Transliteration: daveed
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Original: Δαυίδ (background reference)
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Not named directly in Galatians, but the covenant-promise argument of ch. 3 presupposes the same Old Testament covenant background.
Israel
Approved rendering: യിസ്രായേല്
Transliteration: yisrayel
Doctrine: Unity of Jews and Gentiles
Original: Ἰσραήλ
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package. Gal 6:16’s ‘Israel of God’ redefines the true covenant people by faith, not ethnicity or circumcision alone — see the new israel_of_god compound entry.
Exhort
Approved rendering: പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുക
Transliteration: prothsahippikkuka
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: παρακαλέω (conceptual; cf. καταρτίζετε, restoration)
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package. Underlies the restorative, gentle-correction instruction of Gal 6:1 (καταρτίζετε…πραΰτητος).
Love
Approved rendering: സ്നേഹം
Transliteration: sneham
Doctrine: Faith Working through Love
Rejected alternatives: കാമം, ഇഷ്ടം
Original: ἀγάπη
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Selfless, other-directed love; the fulfillment of the law (Gal 5:14) and first-listed fruit of the Spirit (5:22). Standard, well-established Malayalam Christian love term.
Heir
Approved rendering: അവകാശി
Transliteration: avakaashi
Doctrine: Adoption and Sonship
Original: κληρονόμος
Category: Covenant
NEW. One entitled to receive an inheritance (Gal 3:29, 4:1, 4:7). Standard inheritance term, low ambiguity.
Hypocrisy
Approved rendering: കാപട്യം
Transliteration: kaapatyam
Doctrine: Law and Grace
Original: ὑπόκρισις
Category: Ethics
NEW. Inconsistency between profession and practice (Gal 2:13, Peter’s and Barnabas’s withdrawal from Gentile table-fellowship). Standard Malayalam ethical term, low ambiguity.
Servant Minister
Approved rendering: ശുശ്രൂഷകന്
Transliteration: shushrooshakan
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Original: διάκονος
Category: Church
NEW. One who serves/acts as an agent; rhetorical use in Gal 2:17 asking whether Christ is an ‘agent of sin.’ Distinct from the later technical ‘deacon’ church office.
Allegory
Approved rendering: ഉപമാര്ത്ഥത്തില്
Transliteration: upamaarthathil
Doctrine: The Abrahamic Covenant and Promise
Original: ἀλληγορούμενα
Category: Covenant
NEW. Paul’s own explicit hermeneutical signal for the figurative/typological reading of the Hagar-Sarah narrative (Gal 4:24). Standard hermeneutical term.
Joy
Approved rendering: സന്തോഷം
Transliteration: santhosham
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: χαρά
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Gladness rooted in God; second-listed fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Patience
Approved rendering: ദീര്ഘക്ഷമ
Transliteration: deerghakshama
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: μακροθυμία
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Forbearance, longsuffering; fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Kindness
Approved rendering: ദയ
Transliteration: daya
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: χρηστότης
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Benevolent disposition; fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Goodness
Approved rendering: നന്മ
Transliteration: nanma
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: ἀγαθωσύνη
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Moral excellence in action; fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Gentleness
Approved rendering: സൗമ്യത
Transliteration: saumyatha
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: πραΰτης
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Strength under control, meekness; fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), also describing the manner of restoring a sinning believer (Gal 6:1). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Self Control
Approved rendering: ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണം
Transliteration: aathmaniyanthranam
Doctrine: Fruit of the Spirit
Original: ἐγκράτεια
Category: Sanctification
NEW. Discipline over one’s desires; fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Sow And Reap
Approved rendering: വിതയ്ക്കുന്നു…കൊയ്യും
Transliteration: vithaykkunnu…koyyum
Doctrine: Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Original: σπείρῃ…θερίσει
Category: Ethics
NEW. Agricultural metaphor for moral cause-and-effect (Gal 6:7-9). Must not be read through a karma-cause-and-effect framing, though the metaphor itself is agricultural.
Restore Gently
Approved rendering: സൗമ്യതയോടെ യഥാസ്ഥാനത്താക്കുക
Transliteration: saumyathayode yathaasthaanaathaakkuka
Doctrine: Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Original: καταρτίζετε…ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος
Category: Church
NEW. Pastoral, restorative correction of a sinning believer, tempered with humility (Gal 6:1). Standard term, low ambiguity.
Pillars
Approved rendering: തൂണുകള്
Transliteration: thoonukal
Doctrine: Paul’s Apostleship
Original: στῦλοι
Category: Church
NEW. Metaphor for James, Peter (Cephas), and John as foundational leaders of the Jerusalem church (Gal 2:9). Standard metaphor, low ambiguity.
Referenced passages