Core Glossary
Core Glossary
translation_memory.json is the enforced glossary for every Phase 2 translation in this curriculum. This document summarizes its shape and governing principles; see the Glossary Risk Groups for the full per-term entries.
Composition
The glossary holds 47 terms spanning all four risk tiers, covering Romans’ core theological vocabulary. Every term entry records the approved Ndebele translation, doctrine risk tier, rejected alternatives with reasons, and notes explaining any non-obvious translation choice.
Governing principles
- Follow established Ndebele and Zulu Bible-translation vocabulary wherever it exists, rather than introducing new renderings for already-settled terms like uNkulunkulu, iNkosi, and umusa.
- Flag conceptual-framework risk, not just word accuracy: many High and Critical risk terms in this glossary are lexically the correct, standard word, but carry an underlying traditional-religious framework (mediated access to uNkulunkulu through amadlozi) that differs from the biblical sense.
- Explain rather than avoid theologically loaded concepts: terms like incarnation and providence have no single fixed Ndebele Bible word; rather than paraphrasing them away, the glossary keeps a clear rendering and requires explanatory framing on first use.
Relationship to the Doctrine Risk Registry
Every glossary term’s doctrine field links back to an entry in doctrine_risk_registry.json, so a term’s risk tier is always traceable to the specific doctrine it protects.
Critical Risk Terms
God
Approved rendering: uNkulunkulu
Transliteration: uNkulunkulu
Doctrine: Sovereignty of God
CRITICAL: the established Nguni term for the Supreme Being. As with Shona’s Mwari, the doctrinal risk is not the word itself but its traditional theological framing as remote and reached through ancestral mediators (amadlozi), whereas the biblical God is personally near and directly accessible through Christ.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: uMoya oNgcwele
Transliteration: uMoya oNgcwele
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifting
The third Person of the Trinity, personal and divine; must not be conflated with amadlozi (ancestral spirits) or a possessing spirit associated with a diviner, which are created beings, not God himself.
Imputed Righteousness
Approved rendering: ukubalelwa ukulunga
Transliteration: ukubalelwa ukulunga
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Righteousness credited by faith (Romans 4:3), not earned; must not be rendered as moral achievement or ritual merit accumulated toward uNkulunkulu or the ancestors.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: ukuba ngumuntu
Transliteration: ukuba ngumuntu
Doctrine: Incarnation
Not a single fixed biblical term but the theological name for God the Son becoming permanently human; must not be rendered with language suggesting temporary spirit-possession, a recognized phenomenon in traditional Ndebele religious practice.
Intercession
Approved rendering: ukuncengela
Transliteration: ukuncengela
Doctrine: Prayer
CRITICAL: prayer on behalf of others, including Christ’s and the Spirit’s intercession (Romans 8:26-27, 34). As in Shona traditional religion, Ndebele traditional religion normally requires amadlozi (ancestral spirits) as intermediaries in approaching uNkulunkulu. Teaching must make explicit and repeated that Christ alone is the mediator, with no need for ancestral intermediaries.
Jesus
Approved rendering: uJesu
Transliteration: uJesu
Doctrine: Lordship of Jesus Christ
Standard, well-established Nguni Bible transliteration.
Justification
Approved rendering: ukulungisiswa
Transliteration: ukulungisiswa
Doctrine: Justification by Faith
Being made/declared righteous; must be kept distinct from general moral improvement, since this is a forensic, credited status.
Lord
Approved rendering: iNkosi
Transliteration: iNkosi
Doctrine: Lordship of Jesus Christ
Must convey exclusive, supreme lordship. ‘iNkosi’ is also the traditional title for a king or chief, carrying strong weight in Ndebele history (the Ndebele state’s own kings were called iNkosi); Christ’s lordship must be taught as exceeding this royal title.
Messiah
Approved rendering: uMesiya
Transliteration: uMesiya
Doctrine: Lordship of Jesus Christ
The Anointed One promised in the Old Testament, fulfilled exclusively in Jesus; ‘uKristu’ is used interchangeably but ‘uMesiya’ preserves the Jewish messianic expectation background.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: ukuvuka kwabafileyo
Transliteration: ukuvuka kwabafileyo
Doctrine: Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Bodily, historical, once-for-all rising; must not be conflated with a deceased person joining the amadlozi (ancestral spirits), the dominant traditional Ndebele understanding of the afterlife.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: ukulunga
Transliteration: ukulunga
Doctrine: Righteousness of God
Must convey right standing before uNkulunkulu through Christ, not merely good moral or social conduct, which ‘ukulunga’ can also mean in everyday usage.
Salvation
Approved rendering: usindiso
Transliteration: usindiso
Doctrine: Salvation
Must not be reduced to physical rescue or protection from misfortune, which traditional religion seeks through ancestral favor; this is reconciliation with uNkulunkulu through Christ.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: iNdodana kaNkulunkulu
Transliteration: iNdodana kaNkulunkulu
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Christ’s unique, eternal, co-equal divine sonship, not an honored ancestor or intermediary spirit.
High Risk Terms
Adoption
Approved rendering: ukutholwa njengomntwana
Transliteration: ukutholwa njengomntwana
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Literally ‘being received/found as a child’; must convey full inheritance rights within God’s family, not a lesser status.
Called
Approved rendering: obiziweyo
Transliteration: obiziweyo
Doctrine: Calling of God
Must convey God’s own sovereign summons, not an ancestral spirit’s call to a person to take up mediumship, a recognized and culturally significant vocation.
Calling
Approved rendering: ubizo
Transliteration: ubizo
Doctrine: Calling of God
Noun form of ‘called’; same distinction from a spirit’s call to mediumship applies.
Covenant
Approved rendering: isivumelwano
Transliteration: isivumelwano
Doctrine: God’s Calling and Election
A binding, relational agreement; standard term.
Election
Approved rendering: ukukhethwa
Transliteration: ukukhethwa
Doctrine: God’s Calling and Election
God’s sovereign, personal choice; must not be rendered with a term implying fate or destiny assigned impersonally by ancestral forces.
Faith
Approved rendering: ukholo
Transliteration: ukholo
Doctrine: Faith
Standard term for belief/trust; context must anchor the object of ukholo specifically to Christ.
Father
Approved rendering: uBaba
Transliteration: uBaba
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
God as personal Father; Ndebele kinship structures give ‘uBaba’ strong relational resonance, an asset here, but must remain anchored to the specific Father-Son relationship within the Trinity, not a generic ancestral-elder figure.
Glory
Approved rendering: udumo
Transliteration: udumo
Doctrine: Sovereignty of God
Rejected alternatives: inkazimulo
‘Udumo’ (renown/glory) and ‘inkazimulo’ (radiance/splendor) are both attested; ‘udumo’ is preferred here for its stronger established use in Nguni Bible tradition for God’s glory specifically.
Grace
Approved rendering: umusa
Transliteration: umusa
Doctrine: Grace
Well-established Nguni Bible term for unmerited favor. Must not be softened into general kindness owed in social reciprocity, or treated as a reward for correctly honoring the ancestors.
Holy
Approved rendering: -ngcwele
Transliteration: ngcwele
Doctrine: Sanctification
Standard adjective root for set-apart purity before uNkulunkulu; distinguish from ritual purity required before approaching ancestral spirits.
Law
Approved rendering: umthetho
Transliteration: umthetho
Doctrine: Righteousness of God
The Mosaic Law; must not be rendered with a term for customary law or ancestral taboo, which carry distinct enforcement logic in Ndebele culture.
Obedience Of Faith
Approved rendering: ukulalela kokholo
Transliteration: ukulalela kokholo
Doctrine: Obedience of Faith
Obedience flowing from faith, not works-based compliance or the deference traditionally owed to a king or ancestral spirit to secure favor.
Power Of God
Approved rendering: amandla kaNkulunkulu
Transliteration: amandla kaNkulunkulu
Doctrine: God’s Saving Power
God’s power specifically for salvation (Romans 1:16); keep distinct from spiritual power traditionally associated with traditional healers (izinyanga) and diviners (izangoma).
Prophet
Approved rendering: umphrofethi
Transliteration: umphrofethi
Doctrine: Authority of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: isangoma
Must be sharply distinguished from ‘isangoma’ (diviner) or ‘inyanga’ (traditional healer), both prominent and respected roles that operate on a fundamentally different basis than biblical prophecy.
Providence
Approved rendering: ukunakekela kukaNkulunkulu
Transliteration: ukunakekela kukaNkulunkulu
Doctrine: Sovereignty of God
God’s personal, purposive governance of all things (Romans 8:28); keep distinct from fatalistic acceptance of circumstance.
Saints
Approved rendering: abangcwele
Transliteration: abangcwele
Doctrine: The Church as Believers in Christ
All believers, not a small class of especially holy or ancestor-like figures.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: ukungcweliswa
Transliteration: ukungcweliswa
Doctrine: Sanctification
The Spirit’s ongoing work of making believers holy; distinguish from ritual cleansing rites performed for the ancestors.
Sin
Approved rendering: isono
Transliteration: isono
Doctrine: Humanity’s Sinfulness
Moral transgression before a personal God; distinguish from ritual impurity or an offense against the ancestors requiring appeasement.
Medium Risk Terms
Abba
Approved rendering: Abha
Transliteration: Abha
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
Aramaic term of filial intimacy, preserved untranslated in Romans 8:15, as in most Bible translation traditions.
Apostle
Approved rendering: umphostoli
Transliteration: umphostoli
Doctrine: Apostleship
Standard loanword; the New Testament office of one sent with delegated authority.
Church
Approved rendering: ibandla
Transliteration: ibandla
Doctrine: The Church as Believers in Christ
Rejected alternatives: isonto
‘Ibandla’ (assembly/congregation) is preferred over ‘isonto’ (a more building-oriented term) to keep the emphasis on the gathered people, not the structure.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: abezizwe
Transliteration: abezizwe
Doctrine: Mission to the Gentiles
Non-Jewish nations/peoples; established Nguni Bible term.
Gospel
Approved rendering: ivangeli
Transliteration: ivangeli
Doctrine: Gospel
Standard Nguni loanword, consistent with Zulu Bible usage.
Israel
Approved rendering: uIsrayeli
Transliteration: uIsrayeli
Doctrine: Universal Need for Salvation
Proper name; the covenant people, central to Romans 9-11’s argument.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: umbuso kaNkulunkulu
Transliteration: umbuso kaNkulunkulu
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God
God’s sovereign reign; distinguish from a territorial or ethnic kingdom, given the historical weight of the Ndebele kingdom (umbuso) under Mzilikazi and Lobengula.
Mission
Approved rendering: umsebenzi wokutshumayela
Transliteration: umsebenzi wokutshumayela
Doctrine: Proclamation of the Gospel
Literally ‘the work of preaching’; being sent to proclaim the gospel.
Peace
Approved rendering: ukuthula
Transliteration: ukuthula
Doctrine: Grace and Peace
Relational peace with God through justification, not merely a settled household or the absence of ancestral displeasure.
Prophecy
Approved rendering: isiphrofetho
Transliteration: isiphrofetho
Doctrine: Authority of Scripture
God-given declaration of his word; distinct from divination practiced through ancestral consultation.
Seed Of David
Approved rendering: inzalo kaDavida
Transliteration: inzalo kaDavida
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Physical descent from David (Romans 1:3), fulfilling the Davidic covenant promise.
Spiritual Gifts
Approved rendering: izipho zoMoya
Transliteration: izipho zoMoya
Doctrine: Spiritual Gifting
Standard term; keep distinct from inherited spiritual powers or mediumship gifts passed down within a family line.
Low Risk Terms
David
Approved rendering: uDavida
Transliteration: uDavida
Doctrine: God’s Calling and Election
Proper name; standard Nguni Bible transliteration.
Exhort
Approved rendering: ukukhuthaza
Transliteration: ukukhuthaza
Doctrine: Christian Encouragement
To encourage or urge; standard term.
Fellowship
Approved rendering: ubudlelwano
Transliteration: ubudlelwano
Doctrine: Fellowship of Believers
Shared relationship/participation in Christ and with other believers.
Thanksgiving
Approved rendering: ukubonga
Transliteration: ukubonga
Doctrine: Christian Encouragement
Standard, low-ambiguity term.
Referenced passages