Passage

Romans 8

• Glossary Term

  Abba

  Aramaic term of intimacy preserved in Romans 8:15 (阿爸父).

  ROM.8.15, ROM.8.23

• Glossary Term

  Adoption

  CUV renders Romans 8:15 as receiving 'the status of sonship' rather than a single adoption noun.

  ROM.8.15, ROM.8.23

• Doctrine

  Adoption into God's Family

  Full relational son-status with complete inheritance rights; distinguish from the traditional Chinese practice of 过继 (transferring an heir within the clan primarily to continue ancestor-worship obligations), which is instrumental rather than relational.

  ROM.8.15, ROM.8.23

• Doctrine

  Assurance of Salvation

  Assurance rests on God's unchanging character, not on an ongoing, uncertain merit-ledger (功德) that could always still tip unfavorably.

  ROM.8.1, ROM.8.28-39

• Glossary Term

  Called

  NEVER use 天命所归 ('the one to whom the Mandate of Heaven has returned') — classical Chinese political-legitimacy language for a ruler chosen by an impersonal cosmic mandate.

  ROM.8.28-30

• Glossary Term

  Calling

  NEVER use 天命 (tiānmìng, Mandate of Heaven) alone for the noun form — it carries a specific, loaded political-theological history (the basis for imperial legitimacy in classical Chinese political thought) that turns a personal divine summons into an impersonal cosmic entitlement.

  ROM.8.28-30

• Doctrine

  Christian Identity in Christ

  Identity located in union with Christ, not in clan/lineage standing or accumulated merit (功德).

  ROM.8.1

• Doctrine

  Divine Calling

  Must be kept distinct from 天命 (Mandate of Heaven), the classical Chinese concept of an impersonal cosmic mandate legitimizing a ruler.

  ROM.8.28-30

• Doctrine

  Effectual Calling

  God's sovereign call that secures the salvation of the called; not impersonal fate (命运) or a predestined-connection folk concept (缘分).

  ROM.8.28-30

• Glossary Term

  Election

  NEVER use 天命 (Mandate of Heaven) or 命运 (mìngyùn, impersonal fate) or 缘分 (yuánfèn, predestined fortuitous connection, a common folk-Buddhist concept).

  ROM.8.28-30

• Glossary Term

  Father

  God as personal, caring Father (Abba).

  ROM.8.15, ROM.8.23

• Doctrine

  Incarnation

  CRITICAL: the established phrase 道成肉身 borrows 道 (Dao), which also names the impersonal cosmic principle of Daoist metaphysics — every use must clarify this is the personal, eternal divine Word, not an impersonal Way.

  ROM.8.3

• Glossary Term

  Incarnation

  CRITICAL: established Chinese Christian phrase ('the Dao/Word became flesh', echoing John 1:14) is itself carefully chosen but requires ongoing vigilance: 道 (dào) also names the impersonal cosmic principle of Daoist metaphysics, so the phrase must always be taught as the personal, eternal divine Word taking flesh, not an impersonal cosmic Way manifesting.

  ROM.8.3

• Glossary Term

  Intercession

  Prayer on behalf of others addressed to God directly.

  ROM.8.26-27

• Glossary Term

  Peace

  平安 is also the everyday greeting/blessing word (e.g.

  ROM.8.6

• Doctrine

  Peace with God

  Relational, covenantal peace through justification, not the generic well-wishing sense of 平安 used on protective amulets and everyday greetings.

  ROM.8.6

• Doctrine

  Prayer and Intercession

  Direct access to God in Christ's name; distinguish from consulting a fortune-stick (求签) or diviner (问卜) for guidance.

  ROM.8.26-27

• Doctrine

  Providence

  God's personal, purposive care; not the impersonal 天意 ('heaven's intention') of everyday fatalistic speech.

  ROM.8.28-30

• Glossary Term

  Providence

  NEVER use 天意 ('heaven's intention/will') alone — a common, impersonal fatalistic phrase in everyday Chinese speech.

  ROM.8.28-30

• Glossary Term

  Resurrection

  CRITICAL: NEVER use 轮回 (lúnhuí, the cycle of reincarnation) or 投胎 (tóutāi, being reborn into a new womb) — both are Buddhist rebirth concepts describing an ongoing cycle, the opposite of a once-for-all bodily resurrection.

  ROM.8.11

• Doctrine

  Resurrection of Christ

  CRITICAL: 复活, not 轮回 (reincarnation cycle) or 投胎 (rebirth into a new womb) or 还魂 (folk ghost-story reanimation).

  ROM.8.11

• Glossary Term

  Son Of God

  CRITICAL: NEVER use 天子 ('Son of Heaven') — the historic title of the Chinese emperor, whose legitimacy rested on the Mandate of Heaven, a political-religious office rather than eternal deity.

  ROM.8.3, ROM.8.29

• Doctrine

  Sonship of Christ

  CRITICAL: NEVER equate with 天子 ('Son of Heaven'), the historic imperial title held by any legitimate emperor under the Mandate of Heaven.

  ROM.8.3, ROM.8.29