Core Glossary — Philemon

Legend

• Status: TM REUSE = already in baseline translation_memory.json, used exactly as recorded; NEW = proposed new entry for translation memory.
• Risk: Critical / High / Medium / Low, per baseline risk_definitions.
• Location: verse reference(s) in Philemon where the term is load-bearing.

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Section A — Terms Reused Exactly from Romans Baseline (TM REUSE)

#	English Term	Greek	Nepali Rendering	Risk	Doctrine	Location(s)	Note
1	gospel	εὐαγγέλιον	सुसमाचार	High	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:13	Reused exactly; Paul’s imprisonment is “for the gospel.”
2	grace	χάρις	अनुग्रह	High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:3, 1:25	Frames both opening and closing of the letter.
3	peace	εἰρήνη	शान्ति	Medium	(background, greeting)	1:3	Standard greeting-pair with grace.
4	faith	πίστις	विश्वास	High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:5, 1:6	Philemon’s faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints.
5	saints	ἅγιοι	पवित्र जन	High	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:5, 1:7	Ordinary believers, not an ascetic elite; Philemon’s love reaches “all the saints.”
6	fellowship	κοινωνία	सहभागिता	Low	Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another	1:6	”The fellowship of your faith” — becomes concrete action toward Onesimus.
7	church	ἐκκλησία	मण्डली	Medium	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:2	”The church in your house” — the letter’s public, witnessed audience.
8	thanksgiving	εὐχαριστία / εὐχαριστέω	धन्यवाद	Low	(background)	1:4	Standard opening thanksgiving.
9	God	θεός	परमेश्वर	Critical	(background)	1:3, 1:4	Never भगवान; reused exactly.
10	Father	πατήρ	पिता	Critical	(background)	1:3	Reused exactly.
11	Lord	κύριος	प्रभु	Critical	Lordship of Christ (background to letter)	1:3, 1:5, 1:16, 1:20, 1:25	Reused exactly across every occurrence.
12	exhort/appeal	παρακαλέω	बिन्ती गर्नु (entreaty sense)	High	Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another	1:9, 1:10	Context-sensitive per baseline note; the “beseeching” sense applies throughout Philemon.

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Section B — New Terms Proposed for Translation Memory

#	English Term	Greek	Transliteration	Nepali Rendering	Risk	Doctrine	Location(s)	Rationale / Rendering Risk Note
13	slave/bondservant	δοῦλος	doulos	दास	Critical	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:16	CRITICAL. Nepal’s Kamaiya (abolished 2002) and Kamlari (banned 2013) bonded-labor systems remain within living memory; caste-linked hereditary servitude was formerly codified in the Muluki Ain. दास is the established, neutral Nepali biblical rendering (never गुलाम, never a term evoking कमैया/कमलरी directly) but requires mandatory contextual framing so the passage neither minimizes real bonded-labor suffering nor is misread as endorsing the institution. Human theologian review required for every occurrence.
14	beloved brother	ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός	adelphos agapētos	प्रिय भाइ	High	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:16	Directly confronts caste/status hierarchy; must retain full, unqualified familial equality with no honorary or subordinate nuance.
15	brother (general)	ἀδελφός	adelphos	भाइ	High	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:1, 1:7, 1:20	Everyday kinship term that becomes doctrinally loaded once applied to Onesimus at 1:16; consistent rendering required.
16	sister	ἀδελφή	adelphē	बहिनी	Medium	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:2	Applied to Apphia; parallel consistency with भाइ.
17	love (agapē)	ἀγάπη	agapē	प्रेम	High	Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another; Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:5, 1:7, 1:9	Must be distinguished from माया (worldly affection/craving, with Buddhist तृष्णा overtones) and श्रद्धा/भक्ति (already rejected for “faith” in Romans TM).
18	beloved	ἀγαπητός	agapētos	प्रिय	Medium-High	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	1:1, 1:16	Applied equally to Philemon (master) and Onesimus (slave) — consistent rendering carries the letter’s status-reversal argument.
19	inward parts/heart	σπλάγχνα	splanchna	हृदय	Medium	Forgiveness and Reconciliation; Intercession and Appeal	1:7, 1:12, 1:20	Figurative “heart,” not literal anatomy; consistent rendering required across all three occurrences to preserve the letter’s emotional and theological arc.
20	boldness/confidence	παρρησία	parrēsia	निर्धक्कता	Medium	Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another	1:8	Confident standing deliberately set aside in favor of appeal; must not read as arrogance.
21	command/order	ἐπιτάσσω	epitassō	आज्ञा दिनु	Medium	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:8	The authority Paul explicitly declines to exercise.
22	fitting/proper duty	ἀνῆκον	anēkon	उचित कुरा	Medium	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:8	Avoid कर्तव्य (duty), which carries dharma-linked social-obligation overtones inappropriate to the passage’s anti-obligation argument.
23	prisoner (of Christ)	δέσμιος	desmios	बन्दी	Medium-High	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power (contrast term)	1:1, 1:9, 1:23	Must remain lexically distinct from दास (slave) — Paul’s voluntary, honorific captivity to Christ is a different category from Onesimus’s social bondage.
24	bonds/chains	δεσμός	desmos	बन्धन / साङ्लो	Medium	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:10, 1:13	Keep distinct from दास and its bonded-labor associations; this refers to Paul’s own imprisonment.
25	fellow prisoner/captive	συναιχμάλωτος	synaichmalōtos	सह-बन्दी	Low-Medium	(background)	1:23	Consistent with बन्दी distinction above.
26	useless / useful (wordplay)	ἄχρηστος / εὔχρηστος	achrēstos / euchrēstos	अनुपयोगी / उपयोगी	Low-Medium	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:11	Wordplay on Onesimus’s name (“useful/profitable”); translator note required, as the pun is otherwise lost.
27	consent/opinion	γνώμη	gnōmē	सहमति	Medium	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:14	Philemon’s free decision is required; grace cannot be imposed.
28	necessity/compulsion	ἀνάγκη	anankē	बाध्यता	High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:14	Direct doctrinal opposite of grace-motivated action; must not be softened.
29	good/goodness	ἀγαθόν	agathon	भलाई	Medium	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:6, 1:14	Distinguish from पुण्य (accumulated religious merit, already rejected for “grace” in Romans TM).
30	voluntary	ἑκούσιον	hekousion	स्वेच्छाले	High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:14	Doctrinal hinge of the entire letter’s ethic; must clearly signal free, uncoerced choice, avoiding fate/destiny-adjacent vocabulary.
31	eternal/forever (non-eschatological sense)	αἰώνιος	aiōnios	सधैंको निम्ति	Medium	Forgiveness and Reconciliation	1:15	Distinct from अनन्त (reserved for eschatological “eternal life”); describes permanence of restored relationship, not salvation status.
32	partner	κοινωνός	koinōnos	सहभागी	Medium-High	Christian Brotherhood across Social Status; Intercession	1:17	Full, equal partnership requested for Onesimus — not a subordinate association.
33	receive/welcome	προsλαμβάνω	proslambanō	स्वीकार गर्नु	High	Forgiveness and Reconciliation	1:17	Operative verb of reconciliation; must not imply conditional or lesser welcome.
34	wrong/do injustice	ἀδικέω	adikeō	अन्याय गर्नु	Medium	Forgiveness and Reconciliation	1:18	Names the real wrong; reconciliation does not require denying it occurred.
35	owe/be indebted	ὀφείλω	opheilō	ऋणी हुनु	Medium-High	Forgiveness and Reconciliation	1:18, 1:19	Concrete commercial debt language that becomes a living picture of forgiveness.
36	charge to my account	ἐλλογάω	ellogaō	मेरो हिसाबमा लेख्	High	Forgiveness and Reconciliation; Intercession	1:18	Structural echo of substitutionary payment; must not be conflated in-text with the technical soteriological phrase आरोपित धार्मिकता (imputed righteousness, Critical in Romans TM) — resonance belongs in study notes, not text.
37	repay in full	ἀποτίνω	apotinō	म तिरिदिनेछु	Medium	Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another	1:19	Paul’s costly, concrete personal commitment.
38	confidence/trust (in a person’s character)	πείθω (πεποιθώς)	peithō	विश्वास राखी	Medium-High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:21	Built on same root as विश्वास (faith); must not be confused with the doctrinal, saving-faith sense of विश्वास.
39	obedience	ὑπακοή	hypakoē	आज्ञाकारिता	High	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:21	Same root as baseline “obedience_of_faith” (विश्वासको आज्ञाकारिता); here obedience flowing from love/grace, not compelled duty.
40	grant graciously	χαρίζομαι	charizomai	फर्काई पाउनु	Medium	Grace-Motivated Obedience	1:22	Same root as χάρις/grace; Paul’s own hoped-for release framed as an act of grace.
41	spirit (human/collective, non-Trinitarian)	πνεῦμα	pneuma	आत्मा	Medium	(caution term)	1:25	MUST NOT be rendered पवित्र आत्मा (reserved exclusively for the Holy Spirit per Romans TM); this is “your (collective) spirit.”
42	child (spiritual)	τέκνον	teknon	पुत्र	Low-Medium	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:10	Metaphorical/spiritual fatherhood via conversion, not literal descent.
43	serve/minister	διακονέω	diakoneō	सेवा गर्नु	Medium	Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	1:13	Must read as willing gospel ministry, not coerced bonded-labor-style service.

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Section C — Doctrine-to-Term Cross-Reference

Curriculum Doctrine	Primary Terms	Highest Risk Tier
Forgiveness and Reconciliation	ἀδικέω, ὀφείλω, ἐλλογάω, ἀποτίνω, προσοφείλω, προσλαμβάνω, αἰώνιος (relational sense), σπλάγχνα	High (προσλαμβάνω, ἐλλογάω)
Christian Brotherhood across Social Status	ἀδελφός, ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός, ἀγαπητός, ἅγιοι, κοινωνός, ἐκκλησία	High (ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός)
Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power	δοῦλος, δέσμιος, δεσμός, ἄχρηστος/εὔχρηστος, διακονέω, τέκνον	Critical (δοῦλος)
Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another	παρρησία, παρακαλέω, κοινωνός, ἐλλογάω, ἀποτίνω, ἀγάπη	High (παρακαλέω, κοινωνός)
Grace-Motivated Obedience	ἐπιτάσσω, ἀνῆκον, γνώμη, ἀνάγκη, ἑκούσιον, ἀγαθόν, ὑπακοή, πείθω, χαρίζομαι, χάρις	High (ἀνάγκη, ἑκούσιον, ὑπακοή)

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Section D — Proper Names (Reference Only, No Doctrinal Risk)

English	Nepali	Notes
Paul	पावल	Established form per baseline transliteration standards.
Timothy	तिमोथी
Philemon	फिलेमोन	Letter’s addressee; slave-owner and house-church host.
Apphia	अप्फिया	Likely Philemon’s wife.
Archippus	अर्खिप्पस	Likely a leader in the house church.
Onesimus	ओनेसिमस	Meaning “useful/profitable” — central to the letter’s wordplay (1:11, 1:20).
Epaphras	एपाफ्रास	Paul’s fellow prisoner.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke	मार्कस, अरिस्तार्खस, देमास, लूका	Paul’s fellow workers, named in the closing greetings.
Christ Jesus	ख्रीष्ट येशू	Established form; reused from Romans baseline conventions.

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Coverage Statement

This glossary draws every load-bearing term from the entire book of Philemon (1:1-25), the whole of which constitutes the book’s single chapter. Twelve terms are reused exactly from the Romans baseline translation memory (Section A); thirty-one new terms are proposed for addition to translation memory (Section B), including one Critical-risk term (δοῦλος) requiring the same tier of mandatory human theologian review as the Critical terms already documented in the Romans doctrine_risk_registry.json. No verse or section of the book has been omitted from analysis.

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Critical Risk Terms

God

Approved rendering: परमेश्वर
Transliteration: Parameshwar
Doctrine: God
Rejected alternatives: भगवान
Original: θεός
Category: God

Never भगवान, per baseline. Invoked in the greeting and thanksgiving (1:3-4). Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Father

Approved rendering: पिता
Transliteration: Pita
Doctrine: God
Original: πατήρ
Category: God

God as personal Father, invoked in the opening greeting (1:3). Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Lord

Approved rendering: प्रभु
Transliteration: prabhu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: मालिक, ईश्वर
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology

Occurs at 1:3, 1:5, 1:16, 1:20, 1:25. Uniquely in Philemon this is the theological ground of the brotherhood argument: master and slave are equal specifically ‘in the Lord’ (1:16). Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Jesus

Approved rendering: येशू
Transliteration: Yeshu
Doctrine: Christology
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology

Established Nepali Christian standard form. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Christ Jesus

Approved rendering: ख्रीष्ट येशू
Transliteration: Khrist Yeshu
Doctrine: Christology
Original: Χριστός Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology

NEW to Philemon package (baseline Romans TM used ‘jesus’ alone). Established Nepali Bible compound proper-name form, used repeatedly: Paul identifies himself as ‘a prisoner of Christ Jesus’ (1:1, 1:9) and describes Onesimus’s and Philemon’s shared standing ‘in Christ Jesus’ (1:23). Distinct from मसीह (the doctrinal ‘Anointed One’ title); here it functions as the settled proper-name form and must not be split or abbreviated inconsistently.

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Slave Bondservant

Approved rendering: दास
Transliteration: das
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Rejected alternatives: गुलाम, कमैया, कमलरी
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

CRITICAL. Onesimus’s legal-social status (1:16). Nepal’s Kamaiya bonded-agricultural-labor system (abolished 2002) and Kamlari bonded child domestic servitude (banned 2013, chiefly affecting Tharu communities) remain within living memory; hereditary caste-linked servitude was itself codified in the 1854 Muluki Ain. दास is the established, neutral Nepali biblical term; never गुलाम (international slave-trade association) and never a direct reference to कमैया/कमलरी inside the translated text itself (reserve for study notes only). Mandatory human theologian review and mandatory accompanying study note at first occurrence (1:16).

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High Risk Terms

Gospel

Approved rendering: सुसमाचार
Transliteration: susamachar
Doctrine: Gospel
Rejected alternatives: खुशखबरी

Paul’s imprisonment is ‘for the gospel’ (1:13), reframing his bonds as gospel service. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Grace

Approved rendering: अनुग्रह
Transliteration: anugraha
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: कृपा, पुण्य, भाग्य
Original: χάρις
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Frames both the letter’s opening (1:3) and closing (1:25) benediction, and grounds the whole grace-vs-compulsion argument of 1:8-21. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Faith

Approved rendering: विश्वास
Transliteration: vishwas
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: श्रद्धा, भक्ति
Original: πίστις
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Philemon’s faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints (1:5-6). Must not be confused with विश्वास राखी (1:21), the general interpersonal confidence-in-character sense — see separate entry. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Saints

Approved rendering: पवित्र जन
Transliteration: pavitra jan
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Rejected alternatives: सन्त, साधु
Original: ἅγιοι
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Philemon’s love and faith are commended as reaching ‘all the saints’ (1:5, 1:7); Onesimus himself belongs to this ordinary, non-ascetic designation. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Prisoner Of Christ

Approved rendering: बन्दी
Transliteration: bandi
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Rejected alternatives: दास
Original: δέσμιος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Paul’s self-designation, a voluntary, honorific captivity ‘for Christ Jesus’ (1:1, 1:9, 1:23). Must remain lexically and conceptually distinct from दास; conflating the two would blur the letter’s central status-reversal argument.

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Beloved Brother

Approved rendering: प्रिय भाइ
Transliteration: priya bhai
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Rejected alternatives: जात-भाइ
Original: ἀδελφὸς ἀγαπητός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

The status-reversal climax of the letter (1:16): Onesimus is to be received as family, not property. Directly confronts caste-based social hierarchy, formally codified in the Muluki Ain until 1963. Must retain full, unqualified familial equality — never जात-भाइ (caste-brother), which would reintroduce the very hierarchy the text dissolves, and never a softened, honorary, or patron-client phrase.

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Brother

Approved rendering: भाइ
Transliteration: bhai
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Rejected alternatives: जात-भाइ
Original: ἀδελφός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Everyday kinship term (1:1, 1:7, 1:20) that becomes doctrinally loaded once applied to Onesimus (1:16). Consistent rendering across every occurrence is essential so the reader recognizes the deliberate escalation from social superior to social inferior.

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Beloved

Approved rendering: प्रिय
Transliteration: priya
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ἀγαπητός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Applied to Philemon (1:1) and, deliberately, to Onesimus (1:16). Consistent rendering required so the reader notices the identical term of endearment applied equally to master and slave.

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Partner

Approved rendering: सहभागी
Transliteration: sahabhagi
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Rejected alternatives: साझेदार
Original: κοινωνός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as a full ‘partner’ (1:17), the same standing Paul himself holds. Built on the same root as सहभागिता (fellowship); must convey full, equal partnership, not the lesser or purely transactional business-partnership sense साझेदार can carry in ordinary usage.

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Love Agape

Approved rendering: प्रेम
Transliteration: prem
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: माया, भक्ति, श्रद्धा
Original: ἀγάπη
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Selfless, other-directed love — the stated ground of Paul’s appeal, rather than rank or command (1:5, 1:7, 1:9). Must be distinguished from माया (worldly affection/attachment, तृष्णा-adjacent in Nepali Buddhist usage) and from भक्ति/श्रद्धा (devotional reverence, already rejected for ‘faith’ in the Romans baseline).

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Exhort Appeal

Approved rendering: बिन्ती गर्नु
Transliteration: binti garnu
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Rejected alternatives: आज्ञा दिनु
Original: παρακαλέω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Built on the Romans baseline’s context-sensitive ‘exhort’ root; here the beseeching sense (1:9, 1:10) is elevated to High risk in this book because the entreaty-versus-command contrast is the letter’s doctrinal hinge, not a background nuance. Must never drift toward आज्ञा दिनु (command).

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Receive Welcome

Approved rendering: स्वीकार गर्नु
Transliteration: swikar garnu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: προσλαμβάνω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The concrete reconciling act requested: welcome Onesimus exactly as one would welcome Paul (1:17). The operative verb of the doctrine; must not be rendered with a term implying conditional, probationary, or lesser welcome.

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Owe Indebted

Approved rendering: ऋणी हुनु
Transliteration: rini hunu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ὀφείλω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Onesimus’s real, likely financial, debt (1:18). Distinct Nepali risk: must not be assimilated to पूर्वजन्मको ऋण (‘debt from a former life,’ a karma-inheritance folk frame); this is a specific, resolvable, this-life debt, not a cross-lifetime karmic obligation.

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Charge To Account

Approved rendering: मेरो हिसाबमा लेख्नु
Transliteration: mero hisabma lekhnu
Doctrine: Substitutionary Debt-Bearing
Rejected alternatives: आरोपित धार्मिकता
Original: ἐλλογάω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Paul’s offer to personally absorb Onesimus’s debt (1:18) — a commercial-legal bookkeeping metaphor, not the technical soteriological doctrine of imputed righteousness. NEVER render with or merge into आरोपित धार्मिकता (Critical in Romans baseline) inside the verse text itself; the structural echo belongs in study notes only.

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Necessity Compulsion

Approved rendering: बाध्यता
Transliteration: badhyata
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ἀνάγκη
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

The external compulsion Paul explicitly refuses to impose (1:14). Stands in direct doctrinal opposition to grace-motivated action; must not be softened — a good deed compelled is not the ‘good’ this letter describes.

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Voluntary

Approved rendering: स्वेच्छाले
Transliteration: swecchale
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: भाग्य, किस्मत
Original: ἑκούσιον
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

The freely chosen character required of Philemon’s response (1:14) — the theological center of the letter’s ethic. Must clearly signal free, uncoerced choice; avoid any fate/destiny-adjacent vocabulary, paralleling the Romans baseline’s caution around भाग्य/किस्मत for ‘election.‘

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Obedience

Approved rendering: आज्ञाकारिता
Transliteration: agyakarita
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ὑπακοή
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Philemon’s obedience to Paul’s appeal, grounded in confidence in his character (1:21). Same root as the Romans baseline’s compound ‘obedience_of_faith’ (विश्वासको आज्ञाकारिता), but here occurring alone; must be read as obedience motivated by love and grace (1:9, 1:14), not law-like or caste-linked compulsion.

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Confidence Trust Character

Approved rendering: विश्वास राखी
Transliteration: bishwas rakhi
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: πείθω (πεποιθώς)
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Paul’s settled confidence, resting in Philemon’s grace-formed character, not his own authority (1:21). Built on the same root as विश्वास (faith); must not be confused with the doctrinal, saving-faith sense of विश्वास — retain the full phrase, not the bare noun, to keep this occurrence visually distinct.

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Medium Risk Terms

Church

Approved rendering: मण्डली
Transliteration: mandali
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: मन्दिर, गुम्बा
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

‘The church in your house’ (1:2) — a gathered, public, witnessing congregation, distinct from a private kul puja (household ancestral-shrine) room. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Peace

Approved rendering: शान्ति
Transliteration: shanti
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: सुख
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Paired with grace in the opening greeting (1:3). Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Bonds Chains

Approved rendering: बन्धन / साङ्लो
Transliteration: bandhan / sanglo
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: δεσμός
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Paul’s literal imprisonment chains, within which Onesimus was converted (1:10, 1:13). Keep distinct from दास and its bonded-labor associations.

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Serve Minister

Approved rendering: सेवा गर्नु
Transliteration: seva garnu
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: διακονέω
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Onesimus’s potential service to Paul ‘in your place’ (1:13), reframed as willing gospel ministry. Must not read as the coerced, obligatory service historically associated with bonded-labor systems within recent Nepali memory (Kamaiya, Kamlari).

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Spiritual Child

Approved rendering: पुत्र
Transliteration: putra
Doctrine: Spiritual Fatherhood and New Birth in Christ
Original: τέκνον
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Onesimus described as Paul’s ‘child’ through conversion (1:10). Clarify metaphorical/spiritual fatherhood, not literal descent or legal adoption. Must not be confused with the Tibetan Buddhist tulku tradition of recognized reincarnate lineage present among Nepal’s Himalayan Buddhist communities.

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Sister

Approved rendering: बहिनी
Transliteration: bahini
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: ἀδελφή
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Apphia addressed as ‘sister’ in the letter’s opening (1:2); parallel consistency with भाइ required.

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Boldness Confidence

Approved rendering: निर्धक्कता
Transliteration: nirdhakkata
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: παρρησία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s apostolic standing to command, deliberately set aside in favor of appeal (1:8). Must convey confident standing without reading as arrogance; sets up the contrast with the appeal of 1:9.

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Command Order

Approved rendering: आज्ञा दिनु
Transliteration: agya dinu
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ἐπιτάσσω
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

The authority to command that Paul explicitly declines to exercise (1:8). Must not be softened to mere ‘suggest’; the rhetorical point is that Paul genuinely could command but chooses not to.

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Fitting Proper Duty

Approved rendering: उचित कुरा
Transliteration: uchit kura
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: कर्तव्य
Original: ἀνῆκον
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

What is ‘proper’ or ‘due’ by rank (1:8) — the obligation-based category Paul deliberately avoids invoking. NEVER कर्तव्य, which carries dharma-linked overtones of caste/social-role obligation; the entire force of vv.8-9 is to move the appeal away from duty-based compliance toward grace-motivated free response.

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Heart Splanchna

Approved rendering: हृदय
Transliteration: hriday
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: σπλάγχνα
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The seat of deep affection/compassion; Paul identifies Onesimus with his own inmost self (1:7, 1:12, 1:20). The literal ‘bowels’ image must not be rendered anatomically. Consistent rendering required across all three occurrences to preserve the letter’s emotional and theological arc.

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Repay In Full

Approved rendering: म तिरिदिनेछु
Transliteration: ma tiridinechhu
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἀποτίνω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s personal, concrete commitment to repay whatever Onesimus owes (1:19); renders intercession as costly and specific, not merely rhetorical.

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Wrong Injustice

Approved rendering: अन्याय गर्नु
Transliteration: anyaya garnu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ἀδικέω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The real wrong Onesimus committed against Philemon (1:18); biblical reconciliation here does not require pretending no wrong occurred.

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Owe In Addition

Approved rendering: थप ऋणी हुनु
Transliteration: thap rini hunu
Doctrine: Substitutionary Debt-Bearing

Paul reminds Philemon that he owes Paul his own spiritual life (1:19), turning the debt argument reciprocally — all standing before God is received, not earned.

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Eternal Forever Relational

Approved rendering: सधैंको निम्ति
Transliteration: sadhaiko nimti
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Rejected alternatives: अनन्त
Original: αἰώνιος
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The permanence of the restored master-become-brother relationship (1:15). NOT the eschatological ‘eternal life’ sense; NEVER अनन्त here, which is reserved for eschatological eternal-life language.

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Grant Graciously

Approved rendering: फर्काई पाउनु
Transliteration: pharkai paunu
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: χαρίζομαι
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Paul’s hoped-for release/return framed as itself an act of grace (1:22); built on the same root as अनुग्रह/χάρις. Preserve the visible link to अनुग्रह in teaching notes where possible.

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Consent Opinion

Approved rendering: सहमति
Transliteration: sahamati
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: γνώμη
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Philemon’s own free decision, which Paul insists is necessary before acting (1:14); grace cannot be imposed, even by an apostle.

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Goodness

Approved rendering: भलाई
Transliteration: bhalai
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Rejected alternatives: पुण्य
Original: ἀγαθόν
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

The good act (freeing/restoring Onesimus) that must arise from freely chosen goodness, not performed duty (1:6, 1:14). Keep distinct from पुण्य (accumulated religious merit, already rejected for ‘grace’ in Romans baseline).

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Spirit Non Trinitarian

Approved rendering: आत्मा
Transliteration: atma
Doctrine: God
Rejected alternatives: पवित्र आत्मा
Original: πνεῦμα
Category: God

The closing ‘your (plural) spirit’ (1:25) — the inner person of the gathered church, NOT the Holy Spirit. MUST NOT be rendered पवित्र आत्मा, which is reserved exclusively for the third Person of the Trinity per the Romans baseline. Translator caution note required.

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Separated Departed

Approved rendering: छुट्टिनु
Transliteration: chuttinu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

A gentle euphemism (1:15) for what was likely Onesimus’s theft-and-flight; Paul reframes it within God’s providence without excusing the wrong.

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Possess Fully

Approved rendering: पूर्ण रूपले पाउनु
Transliteration: purna rupale paunu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Philemon will ‘have back’ Onesimus fully and permanently, no longer partially or provisionally (1:15), but as a full brother.

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Have Joy Benefit

Approved rendering: लाभ पाउनु
Transliteration: labh paunu
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s final wordplay on Onesimus’s name (1:20): ‘may I have joy/benefit of you.’ Translator note required flagging the wordplay, as at 1:11.

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Refresh Give Rest

Approved rendering: विश्राम दिनु
Transliteration: bishram dinu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Rejected alternatives: शान्ति

Echoes 1:7 (the saints’ hearts refreshed by Philemon); Paul asks for that same refreshing at 1:20. Keep distinct from शान्ति (peace), a different, more static relational concept; this is active and relational.

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Low Risk Terms

Fellowship

Approved rendering: सहभागिता
Transliteration: sahabhagita
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Rejected alternatives: मित्रता
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

‘The fellowship of your faith’ (1:6) becoming practically effective toward Onesimus. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Thanksgiving

Approved rendering: धन्यवाद
Transliteration: dhanyavad
Doctrine: Thanksgiving
Original: εὐχαριστέω
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Paul’s opening thanksgiving for Philemon (1:4). Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Exhort

Approved rendering: उत्साहित पार्नु
Transliteration: utsahit parnu
Doctrine: Mutual Edification

Root term: to encourage or urge, building others up. Context-sensitive per baseline: बिन्ती गर्नु (entreaty) for beseeching; उत्साहित पार्नु (encourage) for building up. In Philemon, the beseeching sense is elevated to a separate High-risk entry, exhort_appeal, below. Inherited from Romans package; rendering unchanged.

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Fellow Prisoner

Approved rendering: सह-बन्दी
Transliteration: saha-bandi
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: συναιχμάλωτος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Epaphras’s shared imprisoned status with Paul ‘in Christ Jesus’ (1:23). Consistent with the बन्दी distinction.

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Useless Useful Wordplay

Approved rendering: अनुपयोगी / उपयोगी
Transliteration: anupayogi / upayogi
Doctrine: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power
Original: ἄχρηστος / εὔχρηστος
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

The wordplay on Onesimus’s own name (‘useful/profitable one’), describing him as formerly useless, now useful (1:11). The pun is lost in Nepali without an explicit translator note; note strongly recommended for teaching clarity.

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Beget

Approved rendering: जन्माउनु
Transliteration: janmaunu
Doctrine: Spiritual Fatherhood and New Birth in Christ
Original: γεννάω
Category: Slavery and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Paul ‘fathering’ Onesimus in the faith through conversion during imprisonment (1:10).

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Send Back

Approved rendering: फिर्ता पठाउनु
Transliteration: phirta pathaunu
Doctrine: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Original: ἀναπέμπω
Category: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Paul’s act of voluntarily returning Onesimus to Philemon (1:12); models reconciliation through voluntary return, not concealment.

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Retain Keep

Approved rendering: राख्नु
Transliteration: rakhnu
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: κατέχω
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Paul’s acknowledgment that he could have kept Onesimus for his own service but chose not to act unilaterally (1:13).

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Wish Desire

Approved rendering: चाहनु
Transliteration: chahanu
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: βούλομαι
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Paul’s own deliberate desire, named but subordinated to Philemon’s free consent (1:13-14).

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Fellow Worker

Approved rendering: सहकर्मी
Transliteration: sahakarmi
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: συνεργός
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Philemon and others (Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke) named as Paul’s co-laborers in gospel ministry (1:1, 1:24).

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Fellow Soldier

Approved rendering: सहसिपाही
Transliteration: sahasipahi
Doctrine: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status
Original: συστρατιώτης
Category: Christian Brotherhood across Social Status

Archippus described in shared, militant-service imagery (1:2).

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Remembrance

Approved rendering: सम्झना
Transliteration: samjhana
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: μνεία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s habitual mention of Philemon in prayer (1:4).

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Prayer

Approved rendering: प्रार्थना
Transliteration: prarthana
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: προσευχή
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

The act/context of Paul’s prayers for Philemon (1:4, 1:22); direct access to God, distinct from ritual puja intercession through a priest.

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Comfort Encouragement

Approved rendering: उत्साह
Transliteration: utsah
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: παράκλησις
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Noun form of the παρακαλέω root; the encouragement Paul receives from Philemon’s love (1:7).

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Hospitality Guest Room

Approved rendering: बासस्थान
Transliteration: basasthan
Doctrine: Hospitality and Gospel Partnership
Original: ξενία
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

The lodging Paul expects Philemon to prepare for a future visit (1:22); signals ongoing, accountable relationship behind the letter’s appeal.

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Hope

Approved rendering: आशा गर्नु
Transliteration: asha garnu
Doctrine: Hospitality and Gospel Partnership
Original: ἐλπίζω
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s confident expectation of release and reunion (1:22).

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Effective Active

Approved rendering: प्रभावकारी
Transliteration: prabhavkari
Doctrine: Grace-Motivated Obedience
Original: ἐνεργής
Category: Grace-Motivated Obedience

Faith that produces visible, practical action (1:6), anticipating the concrete request of 1:17-21.

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Full Knowledge

Approved rendering: पूर्ण ज्ञान
Transliteration: purna gyan
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: ἐπίγνωσις
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Deepened, experiential knowledge Paul prays will result from Philemon’s active faith (1:6).

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Joy

Approved rendering: आनन्द
Transliteration: anand
Doctrine: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another
Original: χαρά
Category: Intercession and Appeal on Behalf of Another

Paul’s great joy on account of Philemon’s love (1:7).

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Paul

Approved rendering: पावल
Transliteration: Paul
Doctrine: Proper Name

Established transliteration form, per Romans baseline convention.

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Timothy

Approved rendering: तिमोथी
Transliteration: Timothy
Doctrine: Proper Name

Co-sender of the letter (1:1).

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Philemon

Approved rendering: फिलेमोन
Transliteration: Philemon
Doctrine: Proper Name

The letter’s addressee; slave-owner and house-church host. Also the book name for citation purposes.

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Apphia

Approved rendering: अप्फिया
Transliteration: Apphia
Doctrine: Proper Name

Likely Philemon’s wife (1:2).

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Archippus

Approved rendering: अर्खिप्पस
Transliteration: Archippus
Doctrine: Proper Name

Likely a leader in the house church (1:2).

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Onesimus

Approved rendering: ओनेसिमस
Transliteration: Onesimus
Doctrine: Proper Name

Meaning ‘useful/profitable’ — central to the letter’s wordplay (1:11, 1:20). The meaning does not survive transliteration; translator note recommended at first occurrence.

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Epaphras

Approved rendering: एपाफ्रास
Transliteration: Epaphras
Doctrine: Proper Name

Paul’s fellow prisoner (1:23).

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Mark

Approved rendering: मार्कस
Transliteration: Mark
Doctrine: Proper Name

Named among Paul’s fellow workers (1:24).

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Aristarchus

Approved rendering: अरिस्तार्खस
Transliteration: Aristarchus
Doctrine: Proper Name

Named among Paul’s fellow workers (1:24).

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Demas

Approved rendering: देमास
Transliteration: Demas
Doctrine: Proper Name

Named among Paul’s fellow workers (1:24).

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Luke

Approved rendering: लूका
Transliteration: Luke
Doctrine: Proper Name

Named among Paul’s fellow workers (1:24).