Semantic Analysis
2 Corinthians — Full-Book Semantic Analysis for Mandarin Translation
How to read this document
- Part 1 treats the core passage, 2 Corinthians 5:11–21, verse by verse. Every load-bearing term is analyzed with: original Greek word, transliteration, literal meaning, semantic range, English variants, contextual theological meaning in this passage, and destination-language (Mandarin) rendering risk.
- Part 2 treats every chapter of the whole book, 1–13, chapter by chapter, covering every chapter’s load-bearing theological vocabulary not already exhausted in Part 1. Where a chapter introduces no new vocabulary beyond terms already treated, this is stated explicitly.
- Terms already fixed by the baseline Romans Language Package (e.g. 神, 耶稣, 基督, 主, 恩典, 信心, 义, 救恩, 罪, 圣灵, 荣耀, 约, 使徒, 教会, 复活, 团契, 感恩, 劝勉, 平安, 福音, 圣徒, 圣洁, 成圣) are reused exactly and are marked “(baseline term, reuse exactly)” rather than re-derived.
- New terms proposed here are flagged [NEW TERM] and carried into
08_core_glossary.mdwith full registry fields.
PART 1 — Core Passage Verse-by-Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:11–21
5:11
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.”
| Terms | Variants | Contextual theological meaning | Mandarin rendering risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| fear of the Lord φόβος τοῦ Κυρίου (phobos tou Kyriou) dread/reverential awe + Lord | awe, terror, reverence, respect for authority ”fear of the Lord,” “reverence for the Lord” | Motivates Paul’s sincerity in ministry — awareness of future accountability to Christ (cf. 5:10 βῆμα), not servile terror. 主 (Lord) is baseline Critical; reuse exactly. | Medium. 敬畏主 (jìngwèi Zhǔ) preferred over bare 怕主 (fear-as-terror), to avoid collapsing reverent accountability into servile dread or (worse) into fatalistic dread of an impersonal cosmic force (cf. baseline caution on 天/天意). |
| persuade πείθω (peithō), πείθομεν to win over, convince, urge | persuade, appeal to, seek to win the trust of; in forensic/rhetorical contexts, “win a verdict" "persuade,” “seek to win over,” “commend ourselves to” | Paul answers the charge that his rhetoric is manipulative self-promotion (cf. 2:17 καπηλεύω); he “persuades” out of accountability to Christ, not for personal gain. | Medium. Render 劝 rather than a term implying rhetorical trickery; must not read as sophistic manipulation-for-profit, the very charge Paul is refuting. |
| known / manifest φανερόω (phaneroō), πεφανερώμεθα to make visible, disclose, lay open | make manifest, reveal, expose ”known,” “made known,” “plain,” “evident” | Paul’s integrity is fully open before God, whatever human observers conclude. | Low. 显明/显露 acceptable; low collision risk. |
| conscience συνείδησις (syneidēsis) co-knowledge, moral self-awareness | conscience, moral consciousness, inner witness ”conscience,” “moral awareness” | The faculty by which the Corinthians can inwardly verify Paul’s sincerity. | Medium. 良心 (liángxīn) standard, but must be taught as a God-accountable inner witness, not the Mencian doctrine of innately good moral heart-mind (良知/性善) that requires no outside reference point. |
5:12
“We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance rather than about what is in the heart.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| commend ourselves συνιστάνω (synistanō), συνιστάνομεν to set together, introduce, recommend | commend, introduce, vouch for ”commending ourselves,” “recommending ourselves” | Foil for false apostles who rely on self-generated credentials (cf. 3:1; 10:12; 11:13). | Medium. 自我推荐/自荐 — must not read as ordinary professional self-promotion without the polemical edge against rival teachers. |
| outward appearance κατὰ πρόσωπον (kata prosōpon) according to face | face, outward appearance, visible surface ”outward appearance,” “face,” “what is seen” | Contrasted with καρδία (heart); the false apostles’ criteria are external/visible. | High. Prefer 外貌/外表 over 面子 (miànzi). 面子 narrows the term to social-status “face” in the Chinese honor-culture sense, whereas πρόσωπον here spans all externally visible, surface-level criteria (rhetorical skill, letters of commendation, appearance) — narrowing to 面子 alone would lose Paul’s broader point. |
| heart καρδία (kardia) heart | inner person, seat of will/thought/motive ”heart,” “inner self” | The true locus of value before God, as opposed to visible credentials. | Low-Medium. 心 standard; note distinguishing from Confucian 心 as the seat of innate moral cultivation potential (cf. conscience note above) — here it denotes God-assessed inward reality, not a self-perfectible moral core. |
| boast / cause for boasting καύχημα (kauchēma) boast, ground for boasting | boasting, pride, matter for boasting ”pride,” “reason to be proud,” “boast” | Paul wants the Corinthians equipped to answer boastful rivals — introduces the “boasting” vocabulary that dominates chs. 10–12. [NEW TERM] see glossary. | High. See §Ch.10–12 discussion below; 夸口/自夸 collides with Chinese modesty-culture norms and needs careful framing throughout. |
5:13
“For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| beside ourselves ἐξίστημι (existēmi), ἐξέστημεν to stand outside oneself | be astonished, be out of one’s mind, be in ecstasy ”beside ourselves,” “out of our mind,” “fanatics” | Answers a charge (echoed at Acts 26:24) that Paul’s Spirit-driven zeal for God looks like madness to outsiders. [NEW TERM] | High. Avoid any Mandarin phrase evoking spirit-medium trance-possession (乩童起乩, 上身, 附体) common in Chinese folk religion. Recommend 似乎失了理智/为神狂热 with an explanatory note that this is Spirit-empowered zeal directed at God, not occult possession. |
| in our right mind σωφρονέω (sōphroneō) to be of sound mind | be sensible, self-controlled, sober-minded ”sound mind,” “sober,” “sensible” | Paul’s sober, other-directed ministry conduct toward the Corinthians. | Low-Medium. 清醒/理智 acceptable. |
5:14
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| love of Christ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ (agapē tou Christou) Christ’s self-giving love | self-sacrificial covenantal love (as opposed to ἔρος/φιλία) “love of Christ,” “Christ’s love” | The motivating, compelling power behind all apostolic ministry (undergirds the whole doctrine of Suffering and Comfort in Ministry). [NEW TERM] | High. 爱/基督的爱 (ài / Jīdū de ài). Must be distinguished from filial duty-love (孝) and Confucian relational benevolence (仁), which are reciprocal, hierarchy-bound, and cultivated by effort. Christ’s ἀγάπη is unilateral, self-giving, and directed toward the undeserving (parallel to the baseline Critical treatment of grace/恩典). |
| controls / compels συνέχω (synechō), συνέχει to hold together, hem in, constrain | control, compel, constrain, press upon ”controls,” “compels,” “urges on” | Christ’s love is the internal constraint driving Paul’s costly ministry — not external law or merit-seeking. | Medium. 催逼/激励/驱使 — must avoid a term implying merely a felt emotion; it is an active, compelling power. |
| concluded / judged κρίνω (krinō), κρίναντες to judge, decide, conclude | judge, decide, conclude, determine ”having concluded,” “having judged,” “convinced” | Paul’s settled theological conclusion, not a passing sentiment. | Low. 断定/认定. |
| died for all ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν (hyper pantōn apethanen) on behalf of all, died | substitutionary “for/on behalf of” + died ”died for all,” “died on behalf of all” | Substitutionary, universal-scope death (connects to baseline “universal_scope_of_gospel,” High risk: retain unqualified “all”). | High. ὑπέρ must render with substitutionary force (替/为), not merely “concerning.” No civilizational or ethnic qualification may be introduced. |
5:15
“and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| live for themselves ζάω ἑαυτοῖς (zaō heautois) live to/for oneself | self-oriented existence ”live for themselves,” “live for self” | The old, self-centered mode of existence that new-creation life replaces. | Low. 为自己活 standard. |
| raised ἐγείρω (egeirō), ἐγερθέντι to raise up, rouse | raise from sleep/death ”raised,” “was raised” | Same doctrinal referent as baseline “resurrection” (复活). Reuse baseline term exactly — Critical risk, never 轮回/投胎/还魂. | Critical (baseline). 复活 (fùhuó), reuse exactly per baseline resurrection. |
5:16
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| according to the flesh κατὰ σάρκα (kata sarka) according to flesh | (a) physical/bodily; (b) sinful human nature; (c) a merely worldly, external standard of evaluation ”according to the flesh,” “from a worldly point of view,” “by human standards” | Here sense (c): a merely human/external evaluative standard, not physical body per se, nor moral corruption per se. [NEW TERM] σάρξ | High. 肉体 (ròutǐ) risks over-narrowing to “physical body/carnal desire” for Chinese readers. Recommend 按着世人的眼光/凡俗的眼光 or a glossed 肉体的眼光 with an explicit note that this is an evaluative-standard sense, distinct from the physical-body sense used elsewhere (e.g. 4:10-11; 5:1 σκῆνος). |
5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| in Christ ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christō) in Christ | union/incorporation formula ”in Christ,” “united to Christ” | Reuses baseline doctrine “Christian Identity in Christ” (High risk) — identity grounded in union with Christ, not lineage or merit-ledger standing. | High (baseline-adjacent). 在基督里. Reuse baseline framing exactly. |
| new creation καινὴ κτίσις (kainē ktisis) new creation/creature | (a) a newly created individual; (b) the inaugurated new created order ”new creation,” “new creature” | THE central term for the doctrine “New Creation in Christ.” God’s own creative, sovereign act realized through union with Christ — not a self-achieved transformation. [NEW TERM] | Critical. Established Chinese Christian rendering: 新造的人 (xīnzào de rén). NEVER use 脱胎换骨 (Daoist immortality-cultivation idiom for total self-transformation through internal alchemical practice) or frame as an attainment of self-cultivation. Every occurrence must retain the causal link to 在基督里 — the newness is God’s creative act in Christ, not an independent spiritual achievement. |
| old things passed away / new things have come τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν, καινά γέγονεν (ta archaia parēlthen, kaina gegonen) old things passed by; new things have come to be | completed transition, abiding result (perfect tense γέγονεν) “the old has passed away,” “the new has come” | A once-for-all, abiding change of status, not a cyclical or repeatable process. | Medium. 旧事已过,都变成新的了 (established CUV-style rendering). Must not be read through a cyclical renewal lens (cf. baseline caution on cyclical dynastic historiography, 治乱循环). |
5:18–19
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| reconciled / reconciliation καταλλάσσω / καταλλαγή (katallassō / katallagē) to exchange, restore to favor | reconcile, restore relationship, make peace between estranged parties ”reconcile,” “reconciliation,” “restored to favor” | THE central term for the doctrine “Reconciliation with God.” God, not humanity, is the sole initiator; the cost is entirely borne by Christ; humanity is the offending/estranged party being restored, not a co-equal partner negotiating peace. [NEW TERM] | Critical. Standard rendering 和好 (héhǎo). Risk: 和好 is an ordinary word for two quarreling parties “making up,” implying mutual fault and mutual initiative — collides with the Confucian ideal of 和 (harmony) restored through ritual propriety (礼) and mutual accommodation. Every didactic use requires a note: God alone initiates; Christ alone bears the cost; the estranged party (humanity) is reconciled by grace, not by achieving harmony through its own effort or ritual. |
| ministry / message of reconciliation διακονία / λόγος τῆς καταλλαγῆς (diakonia / logos tēs katallagēs) service/word of reconciliation | the apostolic task and content of announcing reconciliation ”ministry of reconciliation,” “message of reconciliation” | Compound built on 和好; reuse the same critical caution. | Critical (compound of the above). 和好的职分 / 和好的道. |
| world κόσμος (kosmos) world, order, arrangement | the created order; humanity collectively; the fallen human system ”world,” “humanity,” “all people” | Object of God’s reconciling initiative — all humanity, not a physical cosmos alone nor a this-worldly political order. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 世界 (shìjiè). Connects to baseline caution on 天下 for kingdom_of_god — do not let 世界 drift toward a this-worldly political-order reading. |
| not counting trespasses μὴ λογιζόμενος τὰ παραπτώματα (mē logizomenos ta paraptōmata) not reckoning/crediting the trespasses | accounting/imputation language — the negative counterpart to imputed righteousness ”not counting their sins against them,” “not holding their trespasses against them” | Same accounting-language root (λογίζομαι/算) as baseline imputed_righteousness (算为义) — here the removal of a debit rather than the addition of a credit; both are unearned, reinforcing the grace-vs-merit-ledger contrast against 功德 already Critical in the baseline. [NEW TERM] | Critical. 不将他们的过犯算给他们. Must be taught alongside 算为义 as two faces of the same forensic accounting logic, both apart from merit. |
| trespass παράπτωμα (paraptōma) false step, lapse | a specific transgression/moral misstep ”trespass,” “sin,” “wrongdoing” | Slightly narrower than the general category ἁμαρτία (罪, baseline). [NEW TERM] | Medium. 过犯 (guòfàn), distinct from 罪 but not contradictory; both require atonement, neither is mere karmic infraction. |
| entrusting τίθημι (tithēmi), θέμενος to place, put, deposit | place, entrust, commit ”entrusting,” “committing,” “placing” | God deposits the reconciling message in human apostolic messengers as a trust, not a self-generated program. | Low. 交托/托付. |
5:20
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ambassador πρεσβεύω (presbeuō) to be an elder/envoy, act as an ambassador | official representative, envoy, emissary ”ambassador,” “envoy,” “representative” | Christ-commissioned herald announcing already-settled terms of peace, not a diplomat negotiating between two sovereign equals. [NEW TERM] | High. 基督的使者 (Jīdū de shǐzhě). Must not be read as an imperial-court political envoy negotiating terms; the terms are fixed by Christ’s finished work — the ambassador proclaims and appeals, not negotiates. |
| appeal / implore παρακαλέω / δέομαι (parakaleō / deomai) to call alongside; to beg | comfort, exhort, appeal, beg, entreat ”appeal,” “implore,” “beg,” “entreat” | Distinct sense of παρακαλέω from “comfort” (see Ch.1) — here an urgent appeal for response to God’s completed work. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 求/恳求. Context-sensitive rendering required across the book — see Ch.1 discussion of 安慰 vs 劝勉 vs 求. |
| be reconciled καταλλάγητε (katallagēte, aorist passive imperative) be reconciled (passive voice) | receive/submit to reconciliation already accomplished by another ”be reconciled,” “accept reconciliation” | Grammatically passive: the hearer does not perform reconciliation but receives/responds to God’s already-completed reconciling act. | Critical. 与神和好(吧). Chinese lacks a parallel passive imperative marking; a translator note is required to prevent the imperative from being misread as a command to achieve reconciliation by one’s own effort (parallel to the grace-not-merit caution already Critical in baseline, and to the response-not-merit caution applying to 悔改 below). |
5:21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| made [him to be] sin ἐποίησεν ἁμαρτίαν (epoiēsen hamartian) made [him] sin | forensic/representative sin-bearing, not moral corruption ”made him to be sin,” “made him a sin offering,” “treated as sin-bearer” | Christ was judicially treated as the bearer of sin’s guilt/penalty on behalf of sinners — the sinless one representatively charged with sin. Preserves Christ’s impeccability (connects to baseline Critical doctrines deity_of_christ/humanity_of_christ). | Critical. 神使那无罪的…替我们成为罪 (recommended, echoing established CUV phrasing). A translator/teaching note is mandatory: this must never be read as Christ becoming morally sinful or corrupted in nature — it is a forensic, representative exchange, the mirror image of the imputed-righteousness half of the verse. |
| knew no sin μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν (mē gnonta hamartian) not having known sin | sinlessness, moral innocence ”who knew no sin,” “who was without sin” | Affirms Christ’s sinlessness as the necessary basis for the substitutionary exchange. | Low-Medium. 无罪的. |
| become the righteousness of God γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ (genōmetha dikaiosynē Theou) might become God’s righteousness | forensic status conferred through union with Christ, not a gradual moral process ”become the righteousness of God,” “be made righteous” | Same “great exchange” logic as 算为义 (imputed righteousness, baseline Critical). Must not be conflated with 成圣 (sanctification’s gradual process, also baseline Critical) — this is the once-for-all forensic exchange, not moral improvement over time. | Critical (baseline term 义, reuse exactly + connect explicitly to 算为义). Every occurrence requires the standard baseline note distinguishing 义 from the Confucian virtue of the same name (仁义礼智信). |
PART 2 — Chapter-by-Chapter Study of the Whole Book
Chapter 1
New/load-bearing terms beyond baseline (which supplies: 神, 恩典, 平安, 使徒, 教会, 圣徒, 主, 耶稣, 基督, 救恩, 感恩 — all reused exactly per 1:1-11):
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| comfort/consolation παράκλησις/παρακαλέω (paraklēsis/parakaleō, 1:3-7) calling-alongside; comfort, consolation, encouragement, exhortation, appeal (context-dependent) | “comfort,” “consolation,” “encouragement" | "God of all comfort” — the theological anchor of the doctrine “Suffering and Comfort in Ministry”: God’s comfort is received in affliction so it can be shared with others. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 安慰 (ānwèi) for the comfort-sense; keep distinct from baseline 劝勉 (exhort) and from the appeal-sense (5:20, above) — this single Greek word-family requires three different Mandarin renderings depending on context; flag for translator consistency review each occurrence. |
| affliction θλῖψις (thlipsis, 1:4,8) pressure, crushing, trouble | ”affliction,” “trouble,” “distress” | Participation in Christ’s sufferings for the sake of ministry to others, not generic misfortune. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 患难 (huànnàn). Must be taught as gospel-ministry participation, not karmic bad-luck or a fate-based hardship. |
| endurance ὑπομονή (hypomonē, 1:6) remaining under, patient endurance | ”endurance,” “perseverance,” “patience” | Endurance produced through shared suffering-and-comfort in ministry. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 忍耐/坚忍. |
| hope ἐλπίς (elpis, 1:7,10) expectation, hope | ”hope,” “confident expectation” | Certain hope grounded in God’s proven faithfulness (1:9-10), not wishful thinking. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 盼望 (pànwàng), distinguished from generic wishing (希望) and from fatalistic hoping against an impersonal fate. |
| sincerity / purity of motive ἁπλότης / εἰλικρίνεια (haplotēs / eilikrineia, 1:12) singleness [of motive]; unmixed purity | ”sincerity,” “simplicity,” “godly sincerity,” “purity” | Anchors the doctrine “Sincerity and Apostolic Authority” — Paul’s conduct was marked by undivided, transparent motive, not worldly cunning (σοφία σαρκική). [NEW TERM] | High. 真诚/诚实 (zhēnchéng/chéngshí). Note: ἁπλότης recurs in chs. 8–9 with the sense “generosity/liberality” — the same Greek word covers both senses; Mandarin requires two different renderings, so the underlying wordplay linking sincere motive to generous action is lost and must be supplied via translator note. |
| sealed / down payment (of the Spirit) σφραγίζω / ἀρραβών (sphragizō / arrabōn, 1:22) to seal; earnest-money, down payment/guarantee | ”sealed,” “guarantee,” “deposit,” “pledge” | The Spirit as God’s legal guarantee and down payment of the believer’s future inheritance (recurs 5:5). [NEW TERM] | Medium. 印记/凭据 (yìnjì/píngjù). Must not be confused with a protective talisman/amulet (符, cf. baseline caution on 平安符) — this is a legal-relational guarantee of ownership and future inheritance, not a magical warding object. |
Chapter 2
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| sorrow/grief λύπη (lypē, 2:1-7) pain, grief, sorrow | ”sorrow,” “grief,” “pain” | The painful corrective letter and its intended redemptive effect (developed further in ch.7). [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 忧愁 (yōuchóu). |
| forgive χαρίζομαι/συγχωρέω (charizomai/synchōreō, 2:7,10) to grant graciously; to forgive | ”forgive,” “grant grace/pardon” | χαρίζομαι shares the χάρις (grace) root — forgiveness flows from the same grace-reality as salvation. [NEW TERM] | High. 饶恕 (ráoshù). Must be distinguished from the retributive-karma logic (报应, already flagged under baseline sin) that makes “letting go of deserved consequence” culturally countercultural; forgiveness here is grace-based release, reinforcing (not merely paralleling) baseline grace. |
| Satan Σατανᾶς (Satanas, 2:11) proper noun | ”Satan,” “the Adversary” | A singular, personal cosmic adversary with schemes (νόημα) against the church — not one ghost/spirit among many. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. 撒但 (Sādàn), established transliteration. Distinguish from generic folk-religious malevolent spirits (鬼, 邪灵); Satan is a unique personal being, not a category of ghost. |
| schemes νόημα (noēma, 2:11) thought, design, device | ”schemes,” “designs,” “devices” | Satan’s deliberate strategic opposition. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 阴谋/计谋. |
| fragrance/aroma ὀσμή / εὐωδία (osmē / euōdia, 2:14-16) smell; sweet-smelling aroma | ”aroma,” “fragrance,” “smell” | Triumphal-procession and sacrificial-aroma metaphor: the gospel’s effect through faithful ministers is a “fragrance of Christ” to God. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. 香气 (xiāngqì). Note collision risk with incense-offering ritual to ancestors/idols (焚香敬拜/敬祖), a central Chinese folk-religious practice — must clarify this is Pauline OT sacrificial-aroma imagery describing the gospel’s effect through ministers, not a literal incense rite or ancestor-appeasement offering. |
| peddle καπηλεύω (kapēleuō, 2:17) to be a huckster/retailer (with connotation of profiteering, adulterating goods) | “peddle,” “sell for profit,” “corrupt for gain” | Foil for false, profit-motivated preaching — reinforces “Sincerity and Apostolic Authority.” [NEW TERM] | Medium. 贩卖(神的道) (fànmài). |
Chapter 3
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| letters of commendation συστατικαὶ ἐπιστολαί (systatikai epistolai, 3:1) letters that establish/introduce | ”letters of commendation,” “letters of recommendation” | External, human-issued credentials, contrasted with the Corinthians themselves as Paul’s living “letter.” [NEW TERM] | Low. 推荐信. |
| ministry διακονία (diakonia, 3:6-9 and throughout) service, ministry, office of service | ”ministry,” “service” | General term for apostolic service; recurs constantly through chs. 3–6, 8–9, 11. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 事工/服事. Distinguish from Buddhist monastic temple-service (功德-generating religious service); this is Spirit-empowered service flowing from grace, not merit accrual. |
| letter / Spirit γράμμα / πνεῦμα (gramma / pneuma, 3:6) written letter; spirit/breath | γράμμα: written text, letter of the law; πνεῦμα here: the life-giving intent/meaning (not the Holy Spirit as such) | “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” — contrasts mere written code with the life-giving reality of the new covenant. [NEW TERM] | Critical. Established rendering: 字句/精意 (zìjù/jīngyì). Mandatory note: 精意 here does NOT mean the Holy Spirit (圣灵, baseline Critical term) — it denotes the life-giving meaning/intent behind the covenant. Never substitute 圣灵 for πνεῦμα in this specific verse. |
| new covenant / old covenant καινή διαθήκη / παλαιά διαθήκη (kainē/palaia diathēkē, 3:6,14) new/old covenant | ”new covenant,” “old covenant” | Anchors the doctrine “The New Covenant versus the Old.” Builds on baseline covenant (约, High risk). [NEW TERM] | High. 新约/旧约. Note: these same characters are the standard Chinese names for the Bible’s two Testament-collections (新约全书/旧约全书); every occurrence must make clear whether “covenant-as-relational-bond” or “Testament-as-book” is intended. |
| veil κάλυμμα (kalymma, 3:13-16) covering, veil | ”veil,” “covering” | Moses’ veil, symbolizing hardened perception of the old covenant’s fading glory; removed “in Christ.” [NEW TERM] | Medium. 帕子 (pàzi), the established rendering specific to this narrative (distinct from a generic bridal 面纱). |
| freedom ἐλευθερία (eleutheria, 3:17) freedom, liberty | ”freedom,” “liberty” | Freedom to perceive and be transformed by the Lord’s glory, granted by the Spirit. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. 自由 (zìyóu). Must be distinguished from Buddhist/Daoist liberation from an illusory material world (解脱, already forbidden Critical in baseline for salvation) — this is freedom to know and reflect God truly, not escape from existence. |
| transformed into his image μεταμορφόω / εἰκών (metamorphoō / eikōn, 3:18) to change form/shape; image, likeness | ”transformed,” “changed,” “into the same image” | Progressive Spirit-wrought transformation into Christ’s likeness — connects to sanctification (成圣, baseline Critical) but describes its visible fruit. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. 变成/改变 + 像/形像. Must not be rendered with 化 (as in 仙化/羽化, Daoist immortal-transformation) or read as metamorphic rebirth into another bodily form. |
Chapter 4
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| illumination/light of the gospel φωτισμός (phōtismos, 4:4,6) shining, illumination | ”light,” “illumination” | God’s gospel-light contrasted with satanic blinding of unbelievers’ minds. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 光照 (guāngzhào). |
| jars of clay / earthen vessel σκεῦος ὀστράκινον (skeuos ostrakinon, 4:7) earthenware vessel | ”jars of clay,” “earthen vessels,” “clay pots” | Vivid image for human frailty carrying the treasure (θησαυρός) of gospel ministry, so that the surpassing power is seen as God’s, not the minister’s. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 瓦器 (wǎqì). Ensure the note conveys fragile-but-treasure-bearing dignity, not mere worthlessness. |
| afflicted / crushed / persecuted / struck down θλίβω, στενοχωρέω, διώκω, καταβάλλω (4:8-9) pressed, confined, pursued, thrown down | ”afflicted,” “crushed,” “persecuted,” “struck down” | Paradox cluster: afflicted-but-not-crushed; central vocabulary for “Suffering and Comfort in Ministry.” [NEW TERM cluster] | Medium. 受压制/困苦/被逼迫/被打倒. |
| death of Jesus / life of Jesus νέκρωσις τοῦ Ἰησοῦ / ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ (4:10-11) deadness/dying of Jesus; life of Jesus | ”death of Jesus,” “life of Jesus” | Christ’s death and resurrection life visibly re-enacted in the apostle’s suffering-and-vindication pattern; reuse baseline 复活/死. | High (reuse baseline caution on resurrection). |
| inner man / outer man ἔσω ἄνθρωπος / ἔξω ἄνθρωπος (esō/exō anthrōpos, 4:16) inward/outward man | ”inner self,” “outer self,” “inward/outward man” | The mortal body decays while the Spirit renews the inner person daily. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 里面的人/外面的人. Must not be conflated with Daoist inner/outer elixir cultivation dualism (内丹/外丹). |
| eternal weight of glory βάρος δόξης αἰώνιον (baros doxēs aiōnion, 4:17) weight of glory, eternal | ”eternal weight of glory,” “eternal glory” | Present affliction is “light” compared to the incomparable, eternal glory it produces; reuses baseline 荣耀. [NEW TERM, compound] | Medium. 极重的荣耀. |
Chapter 5
Verses 1–10 (verses 11–21 treated fully in Part 1):
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| tent σκῆνος (skēnos, 5:1,4) tent, tabernacle | ”tent,” “earthly house” | The mortal body as a temporary dwelling, contrasted with the eternal “building from God.” [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 帐棚 (zhàngpéng). |
| building from God οἰκοδομὴ ἐκ Θεοῦ (5:1) building, from God | ”building from God,” “house not made with hands” | The resurrection body, God-given and eternal. [NEW TERM] | Low. 从神来的房屋. |
| clothed / naked ἐνδύω / γυμνός (endyō / gymnos, 5:2-4) to put on; naked | ”clothed,” “naked,” “unclothed” | Metaphor for embodied vs. disembodied intermediate states. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 穿上/赤身. |
| judgment seat of Christ βῆμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ (bēma tou Christou, 5:10) judgment platform/tribunal of Christ | ”judgment seat,” “tribunal,” “judgment platform” | Every believer’s works evaluated for reward, not for salvation status (already secured). [NEW TERM] | High. 基督的审判台. Must be distinguished from folk-religious death-court judgment of the dead (阎王殿/城隍 judging deeds via a merit-demerit ledger determining rebirth/fate) — this is post-salvation commendation-evaluation for believers, not a salvation-determining or karma-settling tribunal. |
Verses 11–21: see Part 1 above (full treatment of 新造的人, 和好/καταλλαγή, 算/λογίζομαι, πρεσβεύω, 义/δικαιοσύνη, etc.).
Chapter 6
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| working together συνεργέω (synergeō, 6:1) to work together with | ”working together,” “as fellow workers” | Apostolic partnership with God’s grace-work; not independent human effort. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 同工/与神同工. |
| acceptable time / day of salvation εὐπρόσδεκτος καιρός / ἡμέρα σωτηρίας (6:2, quoting Isaiah) acceptable time; day of salvation | ”acceptable time,” “day of salvation” | Present urgency of the gospel offer; reuses baseline 救恩. [NEW TERM, compound] | Medium. 蒙恩的时候/得救的日子. |
| virtue catalogue: purity, knowledge, patience, kindness ἁγνότης, γνῶσις, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης (6:6) purity; knowledge; longsuffering; kindness | various | Marks of genuine ministry, contrasted with false-apostle credentials elsewhere. [NEW TERM cluster] | Low-Medium. 洁净/知识/恒忍/恩慈. |
| weapons of righteousness ὅπλα δικαιοσύνης (hopla dikaiosynēs, 6:7) weapons/tools of righteousness | ”weapons of righteousness” | Reuses baseline 义 (Critical) inside a compound military metaphor developed further in ch.10. [NEW TERM, compound] | High (via baseline 义). 义的兵器. |
| temple of the living God ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος (naos Theou zōntos, 6:16) shrine/sanctuary of the living God | ”temple,” “sanctuary” | The corporate (and individual) believer as the dwelling place of the living God’s presence — a covenant-community reality, not an architectural cultic site requiring ritual maintenance. [NEW TERM] | Critical. 殿/神的殿 (diàn/shén de diàn). NEVER 庙/寺/道观 (per baseline church logic). Every use requires a note that this is metaphorical indwelling of God’s own presence in his people, not a physical shrine housing an idol or ancestral tablet requiring ongoing ritual offerings. |
| Belial Βελίαλ (Belial, 6:15) proper noun (a name for Satan/wickedness personified) | “Belial” | Personification of wickedness/Satan, paired antithetically with Christ. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 彼列 (Bǐliè), transliteration; brief gloss needed identifying this with Satan. |
| unbeliever ἄπιστος (apistos, 6:14-15) without faith/trust | ”unbeliever,” “unfaithful one” | Related to baseline 信心 (faith) by negation. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 不信的人. |
| uncleanness ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, 6:17, quoting Isaiah) impurity, uncleanness | ”uncleanness,” “impurity” | Moral, not merely ritual, impurity — parallels baseline caution under holy (圣洁) against ritual-purity-only readings. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 污秽. |
Chapter 7
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| defilement μολυσμός (molysmos, 7:1) staining, defilement | ”defilement,” “contamination” | Moral defilement of “flesh and spirit,” to be cleansed as holiness is pursued. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 污秽/沾污 (shares field with 6:17 above). |
| repentance μετάνοια (metanoia, 7:9-10) change of mind, turning | ”repentance,” “change of heart” | Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation; feeds directly into “Reconciliation with God.” [NEW TERM] | High. 悔改 (huǐgǎi), the established CUV term. NEVER 忏悔 (chànhuǐ) — the Buddhist ritual confession practice aimed at reducing karmic consequence. 悔改 must be taught as a Spirit-produced turning toward God that receives (not earns) forgiveness already made possible by Christ’s reconciling work. |
| godly sorrow / worldly sorrow λύπη κατὰ Θεόν / λύπη τοῦ κόσμου (7:9-10) sorrow according to God; sorrow of the world | ”godly sorrow,” “worldly grief/sorrow” | Distinguishes redemptive grief (leading to repentance and life) from mere regret (leading to death); builds on 2:1-7 λύπη. [NEW TERM, compound] | Medium. 依着神的意思忧愁 / 世俗的忧愁. |
| earnestness σπουδή (spoudē, 7:11-12) haste, diligence, zeal | ”earnestness,” “eagerness,” “zeal” | Visible fruit of genuine repentance. [NEW TERM] | Low. 殷勤/热心. |
| joy χαρά (chara, 7:4,7,9,13) joy, gladness | ”joy,” “gladness” | Comfort’s companion emotion throughout the chapter; standard term. [NEW TERM] | Low. 喜乐 (xǐlè). |
Chapter 8
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| grace (applied to giving) χάρις (charis, 8:1,4,6-7,9,19) unmerited favor; here also “gracious enablement/generous act" | "grace,” “gracious gift,” “generous act” | Reuses baseline 恩典 (Critical) — the same grace that saves also enables generosity; the Chinese word must stay identical across both senses to prevent readers from splitting “grace for salvation” from “merit for giving.” | Critical (baseline reuse). 恩典. |
| fellowship in the ministry κοινωνία τῆς διακονίας (koinōnia tēs diakoniās, 8:4) sharing/participation in the service | ”fellowship in the ministry,” “sharing in the relief effort” | Financial participation as an expression of κοινωνία (baseline 团契); expanded sense requiring a gloss. | High (baseline reuse + expanded sense). 团契 + note on the giving-specific sense. |
| Christ became poor ἐπτώχευσεν (eptōcheusen, 8:9) he was made poor / impoverished himself | ”he became poor,” “he impoverished himself” | Christ’s voluntary self-humiliation “so that you by his poverty might become rich” — a unique, unrepeatable, substitutionary act, not a general ascetic ideal. [NEW TERM] | High. 成为贫穷. Must be distinguished from the Buddhist monastic voluntary-poverty-for-merit ideal and from prosperity-gospel distortions that flatten this into a formula for material return. |
| generosity ἁπλότης (haplotēs, 8:2) singleness [of motive] → generosity | ”generosity,” “liberality” | Same Greek word as 1:12 “sincerity” — here in its generosity sense. | High (see Ch.1 note). 慷慨/甘心乐意的心. |
| equality/fairness ἰσότης (isotēs, 8:13-14) equality, fairness | ”equality,” “fairness” | Goal of the collection: mutual sufficiency, not enforced economic leveling. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 均平/平均. |
| readiness/willingness προθυμία (prothymia, 8:11-12,19) eagerness, readiness | ”readiness,” “willingness,” “eagerness” | Willing, non-coerced giving. [NEW TERM] | Low. 甘心/乐意. |
| the collection λογεία (logeia, implied; cf. 1 Cor 16:1-2, developed here as ἡ διακονία/χάρις αὕτη) contribution, collection | ”the collection,” “the offering,” “the gift” | The concrete relief-fund for the Jerusalem church, the occasion for the whole doctrine “Generosity and Grace in Giving.” [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 捐项/捐献. |
Chapter 9
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| sow / reap σπείρω / θερίζω (speirō / therizō, 9:6) to sow; to reap | ”sow,” “reap” | Agricultural metaphor for generous giving and its harvest of blessing — not a magical or karmic cause-effect formula. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 撒种/收割. Note: must not be taught as a guaranteed material-return transaction (prosperity-gospel risk) nor as karmic cause-and-effect (报应). |
| cheerful giver ἱλαρότης (hilarotēs, 9:7) cheerfulness | ”cheerful,” “with gladness" | "God loves a cheerful giver” — giving flows from grace already received. [NEW TERM] | High. 甘心乐意 (gānxīn lèyì). Must be distinguished from obligatory merit-generating temple/shrine donation practices (功德箱-style giving, understood in folk Buddhism to accumulate merit for the giver) — reinforces the baseline Critical grace-vs-merit distinction (功德) specifically applied to financial giving. |
| greed / blessing πλεονεξία / εὐλογία (pleonexia / eulogia, 9:5) greed/covetousness; blessing | ”extortion/greed”; “blessing,” “bountiful gift” | Contrast between grudging, exacted giving and free, blessed generosity. [NEW TERM pair] | Medium. 贪婪 / 祝福. |
| free gift δωρεά (dōrea, 9:15) gift, free gift | ”gift,” “indescribable gift” | God’s own giving (of Christ) is the ultimate model and motive for human giving; related to but distinct from baseline 属灵恩赐 (spiritual gifts, χάρισμα). [NEW TERM] | Medium. 恩赐/礼物, with a note distinguishing this χωρίς-of-χαρίσματα financial/material sense from the baseline spiritual-gifts term. |
| purposed in the heart προαιρέομαι (proaireomai, 9:7) to choose beforehand, decide | ”as he has decided,” “as he has purposed” | Deliberate, unforced inner decision to give. [NEW TERM] | Low. 心里酌定/决定. |
Chapter 10
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| meekness and gentleness of Christ πραΰτης καὶ ἐπιείκεια Χριστοῦ (10:1) mildness and gentleness of Christ | ”meekness and gentleness” | Paul’s model for confronting rivals — strength expressed through gentleness, foreshadowing “Power in Weakness.” [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 温柔和平/温柔谦让. |
| wage war / weapons στρατεύομαι / ὅπλα (strateuomai / hopla, 10:3-4) to campaign/wage war; weapons | ”wage war,” “weapons” | Spiritual warfare against arguments and strongholds, fought with divine, not fleshly, power; reuses ὅπλα from 6:7. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 争战/兵器. |
| destroying strongholds καθαίρεσις ὀχυρωμάτων (10:4) tearing down of fortresses | ”destroying strongholds,” “demolishing fortifications” | God’s power overturning entrenched rebellious reasoning. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 攻破坚固的营垒. |
| taking every thought captive αἰχμαλωτίζω πᾶν νόημα (10:5) to take captive every thought | ”taking every thought captive” | Submitting reasoning to Christ’s authority; reuses baseline obedience_of_faith-adjacent obedience concept. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 夺回/掳来每一个心意, 使它顺服基督. |
| boasting καυχάομαι/καύχησις (kauchaomai/kauchēsis, 10:8,13-18 and throughout chs. 10-12) to boast; boast | ”boast,” “boasting,” “pride” | Central rhetorical/polemical vocabulary of “Genuine versus False Apostleship” and “Power in Weakness” — Paul ironically “boasts” in weakness and in the Lord’s commendation, never in self-generated credentials. [NEW TERM] | High. 夸口/自夸 (kuākǒu/zìkuā). Chinese cultural norms prize modesty (谦虚) as a supreme virtue and treat self-boasting as near-taboo; Paul’s paradoxical “boasting” must be framed explicitly as ironic, rhetorical self-deprecation exposing rival boasters’ vanity — never as literal self-promotion — or Chinese readers may read Paul as un-Christian in tone. |
| approved / disqualified δόκιμος / ἀδόκιμος (dokimos / adokimos, 10:18; cf. 13:5-7) tested-and-passed; failing the test | ”approved,” “commended,” “disqualified,” “unapproved” | Genuine commendation comes from the Lord, not self-commendation. [NEW TERM pair] | Medium. 蒙称许的/不蒙称许的. |
Chapter 11
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| godly jealousy ζῆλος Θεοῦ (zēlos Theou, 11:2) jealousy of/from God | ”godly jealousy,” “divine jealousy” | Covenantal, exclusive jealous love, echoing OT “jealous God” imagery — not petty envy. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. Recommend 为神的热心 rather than bare 嫉妒 (jídù), which in Mandarin carries a strongly negative “petty envy/covetousness” connotation; requires a clarifying note. |
| pure virgin παρθένος ἁγνή (parthenos hagnē, 11:2) pure/chaste virgin | ”pure virgin,” “chaste bride” | Marriage-to-Christ metaphor for the church’s undivided devotion. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 贞洁的处女. |
| false apostle ψευδαπόστολος (pseudapostolos, 11:13) false/counterfeit apostle | ”false apostles” | The single NT occurrence of this term; anchors “Genuine versus False Apostleship.” Builds on baseline 使徒 (apostle, Low risk) with the negating prefix ψευδ-. [NEW TERM] | High. 假使徒 (jiǎ shǐtú). Note: “false” here means deceptive, satanically-inspired counterfeit authority (11:14-15), not merely “unauthorized” or “uncredentialed” — must be taught with the full weight of the disguise-language that follows. |
| deceitful workers ἐργάται δόλιοι (ergatai dolioi, 11:13) deceitful/treacherous workers | ”deceitful workers” | Companion term to false apostles. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 诡诈的工人. |
| disguised as an angel of light μετασχηματίζεται εἰς ἄγγελον φωτός (11:14) transforms self into an angel of light | ”disguises himself as an angel of light” | Satan’s characteristic deceptive strategy — appearing benevolent while opposing God. [NEW TERM] | High. 装作光明的天使. Note collision risk: could be confused with benevolent immortal/bodhisattva light-emanation imagery in Chinese folk-religious or Buddhist iconography; must be taught as a specific warning about Satan’s own deceptive self-presentation, not a general spiritual-being category. |
| fool’s speech / foolishness ἀφροσύνη/ἄφρων (aphrosynē/aphrōn, 11:1,16-21) folly, foolishness | ”foolishness,” “folly,” “as a fool” | Paul’s ironic rhetorical device, forced by rival boasting. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 愚妄(的话). |
| catalogue of sufferings κόπος, φυλακή, πληγή, ναυάγιον, κίνδυνος, ἀγρυπνία, λιμός, δίψος, νηστεία, ψῦχος, γυμνότης (11:23-29) labor, imprisonments, beatings, shipwreck, dangers, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, exposure | various | Extensive catalogue evidencing authentic apostolic suffering — central data for “Suffering and Comfort in Ministry.” [NEW TERM cluster] | Medium-High. 劳碌/监禁/鞭打/船坏/危险/不得睡/饥饿/干渴/禁食/寒冷/赤身. Note: must be taught as evidence of sacrificial love and grace sustaining Paul in weakness (12:9), not as self-generated merit through suffering (avoid the same merit-through-austerity collision flagged for Christ’s poverty in ch.8). |
| weakness ἀσθένεια (astheneia, 11:21,29-30) weakness, sickness, frailty | ”weakness,” “infirmity” | Introduces the term that becomes THE keyword of ch. 12 and the doctrine “Power in Weakness.” [NEW TERM] | High. 软弱 (ruǎnruò). Note: not a lexical-collision risk but a cultural-value risk — Chinese cultural norms (Confucian and modern alike) prize strength, achievement, and face (面子); boasting in weakness as the site of divine power is culturally counterintuitive and requires deliberate explanatory framing throughout chs. 11-12. |
Chapter 12
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| revelation ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis, 12:1,7) unveiling, disclosure | ”revelation,” “vision” | God-given disclosure validating apostolic authority, not human-attained mystical insight or divination. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 启示 (qǐshì). Distinguish from fortune-telling/divinatory “revelation” (天机, 预兆). |
| paradise / third heaven παράδεισος / τρίτος οὐρανός (12:2,4) paradise (garden); third heaven | ”paradise,” “third heaven” | Unique, unrepeatable apostolic visionary experience, part of Paul’s paradoxical credentialing. [NEW TERM] | Medium-High. 乐园/第三层天. Distinguish from Daoist immortal realms (仙境) and Buddhist Pure Land cosmology (净土) — this is a specific historical apostolic vision, not a generically attainable mystical realm. |
| thorn in the flesh σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί (skolops tē sarki, 12:7) thorn/stake in the flesh | ”thorn in the flesh,” “stake in the flesh” | A Satan-permitted, God-purposed affliction producing humility, central image for “Power in Weakness.” [NEW TERM] | High. 肉中的刺 (ròu zhōng de cì), established rendering. Must not be read through a karmic-retribution lens (报应, as punishment deserved) — it is a sovereignly permitted trial serving God’s grace-purpose, not penalty for sin. |
| my grace is sufficient ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου (arkei soi hē charis mou, 12:9) my grace is sufficient/enough for you | ”my grace is sufficient for you” | Key pastoral verse; reuses baseline 恩典 (Critical) — grace sufficient amid unresolved weakness, not merit-based rescue from it. | Critical (baseline reuse). 我的恩典够你用的. Recommended for cross-document consistency, alongside baseline-flagged high-use pastoral verses (cf. Romans 8:28 precedent). |
| power perfected in weakness ἡ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενεί�ᾳ τελεῖται (12:9) my power is perfected/completed in weakness | ”my power is made perfect in weakness” | Reuses baseline 神的大能 (power_of_god, High) applied specifically to the paradox of weakness. [NEW TERM, compound] | High. 我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全. |
| content with weaknesses εὐδοκέω ἐν ἀσθενείαις (12:10) to be well-pleased/content in weaknesses | ”content with,” “well pleased in” | Paul’s settled disposition, not mere resignation. [NEW TERM] | Medium. 喜欢/情愿忍受. |
| signs, wonders, and mighty works σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα καὶ δυνάμεις (sēmeia kai terata kai dynameis, 12:12) signs and portents and powers | ”signs and wonders and mighty works” | Authenticating marks of genuine apostleship given by God’s power, not self-generated supernatural technique. [NEW TERM, compound] | Medium. 神迹、奇事和异能. Distinguish from folk magical wonder-working (法术/神通, already flagged Critical/High under baseline spiritual_gifts). |
Chapter 13
| Terms | Variants | Theological meaning | Mandarin risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| examine yourselves ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε, δοκιμάζετε ἑαυτούς (13:5) test/examine yourselves | ”examine yourselves,” “test yourselves” | Self-examination for genuine faith, not divinatory self-fortune-telling. [NEW TERM] | Low-Medium. 试验自己/省察自己. |
| disqualified ἀδόκιμος (adokimos, 13:5-7) failing the test | ”disqualified,” “failing to meet the test” | Reuses 10:18 term family. | Medium (reuse). 不蒙称许的/经不起考验的. |
| restoration / completeness κατάρτισις/καταρτίζω (katartisis/katartizō, 13:9,11) mending, restoring, making complete | ”restoration,” “completeness,” “be made complete” | Paul’s goal for the church — full spiritual maturity, not self-cultivated moral perfection (cf. baseline caution on 成圣). [NEW TERM] | Medium. 造就完全/使…完全. |
| holy kiss ἅγιον φίλημα (hagion philēma, 13:12) holy kiss | ”holy kiss,” “kiss of peace” | Physical greeting expressing genuine Christian fellowship (baseline 团契). [NEW TERM] | Low. 圣洁的亲嘴. Cultural-adaptation note (not doctrinal risk): a handshake, bow, or nod may be the natural functional-equivalent greeting gesture in a Mandarin teaching context, while the text itself should retain 圣洁的亲嘴 for fidelity. |
| Trinitarian benediction χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ, κοινωνία τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος (13:14) grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, love of God, fellowship of the Holy Spirit | ”grace… love… fellowship” | The most cross-document-critical verse in 2 Corinthians (parallel status to Romans 8:28/10:9 in the baseline) — reuses 恩典, 主, 耶稣, 基督, 神, 圣灵, 团契, and the new term 爱 (ch.5) together in one verse. | Critical (composite, all baseline terms + 爱). Fix a single verbatim Mandarin rendering of this verse for use across every document in the curriculum: e.g. 愿主耶稣基督的恩典、神的爱、圣灵的团契,常与你们众人同在。 |
Summary Note
No chapter of 2 Corinthians introduces zero new theological vocabulary; the letter is unusually dense in load-bearing terms because of its intensely personal, polemical, and pastoral character. All 13 chapters are represented above. Terms recurring across multiple chapters (διακονία/事工, ἀσθένεια/软弱, καυχάομαι/夸口, ἁπλότης/真诚·慷慨, θλῖψις/患难, παρακαλέω/安慰·求·劝勉) are cross-referenced at each occurrence rather than re-derived, per the instruction to reuse established renderings consistently. See analysis/08_core_glossary.md for the consolidated glossary table with full registry-style fields for every new term identified here.