Core Glossary
Core Glossary: The Gospel of John (Tamil Destination Language Package)
Source language: English (from Koine Greek) Destination language: Tamil Curriculum: John 1–21 Generated: Phase 1, Step 1
How to Use This Glossary
This glossary consolidates every load-bearing theological term identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md, drawn from every chapter of John (1–21), cross-referenced against the baseline translation_memory.json and bible_term_registry.json. Where a term is already established in the baseline, its Tamil rendering is reused EXACTLY and marked “Reused (baseline).” Where a term is new to this book, its proposed rendering follows the same forbidden-substitution and doctrinal-risk methodology as the baseline package, and is marked “New (John).”
Risk tiers follow the baseline’s doctrine_risk_registry.json definitions: Critical (theologian review required, every occurrence), High (theologian review required), Medium (native speaker review recommended), Low (automated review sufficient).
A. Terms Reused Exactly from the Baseline (No Deviation Permitted)
| Term | Greek | Tamil Rendering | Risk | Doctrine Link | Key John References | Baseline Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| God | θεός | கடவுள் | Critical | Deity of Christ; all doctrines | 1:1,12,13,18; 3:2,16,17,33; 4:24; 5:18; 20:17,28 (and throughout) | god |
| Jesus | Ἰησοῦς | இயேசு | Critical | Lordship/Deity of Christ | throughout | jesus |
| Christ / Messiah | Χριστός / Μεσσίας | கிறிஸ்து / மேசியா | Critical | Messianic Promise | 1:20,41; 4:25,29; 7:26-42; 20:31 | christ, messiah |
| Lord | κύριος | கர்த்தர் | Critical | Lordship of Christ | 20:28; 21:7,12 | lord |
| Holy Spirit | πνεῦμα ἅγιον | பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர் | Critical | Holy Spirit as Counselor | 1:32-33; 14:26; 20:22 | holy_spirit |
| Father | πατήρ | பிதா | Critical | Unity of Father and Son | throughout chs. 1, 3, 5, 10, 14-17 | father |
| Son of God | υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ | தேவனுடைய குமாரன் | Critical | Sonship/Deity of Christ | 1:34,49; 3:18; 5:25; 10:36; 11:4,27; 20:31 | son_of_god (legacy தேவனுடைய compound retained per compound-tension rule) |
| Son of Man | υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου | மனுஷகுமாரன் | Medium-High | Deity/Humanity of Christ | 1:51; 3:13-14; 5:27; 6:27,53,62; 9:35; 12:23,34; 13:31 | bible_term_registry cross-reference — Romans 1:3 humanity_of_christ family |
| Incarnation (doctrine) | ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο | தேகதாரணம் | Critical | Deity/Pre-existence of Christ | 1:14 (direct textual source) | incarnation |
| Flesh | σάρξ | மாம்சம் | Critical | New Birth; Incarnation | 1:14; 3:6; 6:51-56,63 | flesh |
| Resurrection | ἀνάστασις | உயிர்த்தெழுதல் | Critical | Christ’s Death and Resurrection | 2:19-22; 5:29; 11:24-25; 20:1-29 | resurrection |
| Faith / Believe | πίστις / πιστεύω | விசுவாசம் / விசுவாசி | High | Eternal Life through Faith | throughout, esp. 1:12; 3:15-18,36; 20:31 | faith |
| Salvation / Saved | σωτηρία / σῴζω | இரட்சிப்பு / இரட்சிக்கப்படுதல் | Critical | Judgment and Belief/Unbelief | 3:17; 4:22; 12:47 | salvation |
| Grace | χάρις | கிருபை | High | Grace and Truth | 1:14,16-17 | grace |
| Sin | ἁμαρτία | பாவம் | High | Judgment; Lamb of God | 1:29; 8:34,46; 9:34,41; 16:8-9 | sin |
| Glory / Glorify | δόξα / δοξάζω | மகிமை / மகிமைப்படுத்துதல் | High | Deity of Christ | 1:14; 2:11; 7:39; 11:4,40; 12:23,28,41; 13:31-32; 17:1,5,22,24 | glory |
| Law | νόμος | நியாயப்பிரமாணம் | High | Grace and Truth contrast | 1:17,45; 7:19,23; 8:5,17; 19:7 | law |
| Kingdom of God | βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ | தேவனுடைய ராஜ்யம் | Medium | New Birth | 3:3,5 | kingdom_of_god (legacy compound) |
| Israel | Ἰσραήλ | இஸ்ரவேல் | Medium | Fulfillment of Prophecy | 1:31,47,49; 3:10; 12:13 | israel |
| Gentiles / Nations context | ἔθνη (implicit, “the world”) | புறஜாதியார் (where explicit ethnic contrast is in view) | High | Universal Scope | contextual (e.g., 7:35; 12:20’s “Greeks”) | gentiles |
| Peace | εἰρήνη | சமாதானம் | High | Peace of Christ | 14:27; 16:33; 20:19,21,26 | peace |
| Truth (as Sanctification-family) | ἀλήθεια | சத்தியம் | High | truth throughout | 1:14,17; 3:21; 4:23-24; 8:32,44; 14:6,17; 16:13; 17:17,19; 18:37-38 | consistent with baseline register conventions for wisdom/truth-adjacent terms |
| Devil | διάβολος | பிசாசு | High | Ruler of this World | 8:44; 13:2,27 | devil |
| Ruler(s)/Powers | ἄρχων (κόσμου) | இந்த உலகத்தின் அதிபதி | High | Victory over the Powers | 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 | ruler_of_the_air, principalities_and_powers |
| Baptism | βάπτισμα / βαπτίζω | ஞானஸ்நானம் | Medium | preparatory to New Birth | 1:25-33; 3:22-26; 4:1-2 | baptism |
| Sabbath | σάββατον | ஓய்வுநாள் | Medium | Sabbath controversies | 5:9-18; 7:22-23; 9:14-16; 19:31 | festival_new_moon_sabbath |
| Wrath of God | ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ | கடவுளுடைய கோபாக்கினை | High | Judgment and Unbelief | 3:36 | wrath_of_god |
| Freedom | ἐλευθερία / ἐλευθερόω | விடுதலை | High | Freedom from Sin’s Slavery | 8:32,36 | freedom (context distinct from Galatians; same term reused) |
| Cross | σταυρός | சிலுவை | High | Substitutionary Death | 19:17-19,25,31 (implicit throughout Passion) | cross |
| Blood of Christ | αἷμα | இரத்தம் (கிறிஸ்துவின் இரத்தம்) | High | Substitutionary Death | 6:53-56; 19:34 | blood_of_christ |
| Sacrifice | (typological, ἀμνός) | பலி (typological background of Lamb of God) | High | Lamb of God typology | 1:29,36 | sacrifice |
| Temple | ναός | ஆலயம் | High | Christ’s Body as Temple | 2:19-21 | temple |
| Fullness (indwelling caution) | (thematic — μένω/ἐν) | (see abide/indwell new entries; பரிபூரணம் not directly used in John but the caution applies to indwelling language) | High | Unity of Father and Son | 10:38; 14:10-11,20; 17:21-23 | fullness caution (Ephesians/Colossians) |
| Election/Calling (sovereign-freedom caution) | (thematic, cf. πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει) | (caution applies to new_birth entry below) | High | New Birth’s sovereign initiative | 3:8; 1:13 | election, predestination |
B. New Terms Established for This Book (Proposed, Following Baseline Methodology)
| Term | Greek / Transliteration | Tamil Rendering | Risk | Doctrine | Key References | Forbidden Substitutions | Rationale / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word (Logos) | λόγος / logos | வசனம் (established Tamil Bible term) | Critical | Deity and Pre-existence of Christ | 1:1,14 | Never render the doctrinal content as an impersonal cosmic sound/vibration principle (Śabda-Brahman, நாதம்) | Anchor term for the entire Deity-of-Christ doctrine; personal, relational, eternally pre-existent divine Being, not an abstract ordering-principle |
| The Word was God | θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος | அந்த வசனம் கடவுளாக இருந்தார் | Critical | Deity of Christ | 1:1c | Never “a god” (anarthrous-θεός misreading); never தேவன் | Highest-density deity-of-Christ clause outside 20:28; direct Arian-collision point |
| Born again / born from above | γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν / gennēthē anōthen | மறுபடியும் பிறத்தல் / மேலிருந்து பிறத்தல் | Critical | The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit | 3:3,7 | NEVER மறுபிறவி (reincarnation/rebirth) | The single sharpest மறுபிறவி-collision risk in this curriculum; Nicodemus’s literary misunderstanding mirrors the exact Tamil-reader risk |
| Children of God (begetting sense) | τέκνα θεοῦ | கடவுளுடைய பிள்ளைகள் | High | New Birth | 1:12-13 | Never read as an innate, universal Atman-Brahman status already possessed by all people | Conferred by receiving/believing, not inherent; distinct register from adoption (உயிரோதம்/புத்திரசுவிகாரம்) |
| Eternal life | ζωὴ αἰώνιος / zōē aiōnios | நித்திய ஜீவன் | Critical | Eternal Life through Faith in Christ | 3:15,16,36; 4:14,36; 5:24,39-40; 6:27,40,47,54,68; 10:28; 12:25,50; 17:2-3; 20:31 | NEVER மோட்சம்/முக்தி (liberation from rebirth) | John’s signature term; a present, personal possession through faith, not a future-only or impersonal-liberation category |
| Life (generic) | ζωή / zōē | ஜீவன் | Critical | Eternal Life; Deity of Christ | 1:4; 5:26; 6:33,35,48,51,63; 8:12; 11:25; 14:6 | Must not be read as the impersonal jīva of Hindu philosophy (individual soul bound in samsara) apart from its Christ-given, personal referent | Root term underlying eternal_life; frequently used bare in “I am” statements |
| World (dual-valence) | κόσμος / kosmos | உலகம் | Medium-High | God’s Love for the World; also its hostility | 1:9-10,29; 3:16-17,19; 4:42; 6:33,51; 8:12,23; 12:31,46-47; 14:17,27,30-31; 15:18-19; 16:8,11,20,33; 17:6,9,11,14-18,21,23,25; 18:36-37 | — | Same Greek word carries both the positive (redemption-object) and negative (hostile system) senses; must be tracked contextually and taught without contradiction |
| Light | φῶς / phōs | ஒளி | High | The Seven “I Am” Statements; Judgment/Belief | 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9-10; 12:35-36,46 | Must not be reduced to a generic “enlightenment”/gnosis attainment | Ontological title for Christ, not merely an attribute; asset (positive cultural resonance) with a specific anchoring risk |
| Darkness | σκότος / σκοτία | இருள் | Medium | Judgment/Belief; contrast term | 1:5; 3:19; 8:12; 12:35,46 | Must convey a morally culpable, chosen condition, not passive/fated | Counter-term to Light |
| Judgment / Condemnation | κρίσις / κρίμα / κατάκρισις / κρίνω | நியாயத்தீர்ப்பு / ஆக்கினைத்தீர்ப்பு | High | Judgment and Belief/Unbelief | 3:17-19; 5:22,24,27,29-30; 7:24; 8:15-16,26,50; 9:39; 12:31,47-48; 16:8,11 | Never impersonal karma-accounting/fate | Response-based, personal, self-selecting divine verdict — parallels the baseline’s sow_and_reap caution |
| Witness / Testimony | μαρτυρία / μαρτυρέω | சாட்சி / சாட்சி கொடுத்தல் | Medium | supports all doctrines via evidentiary structure | 1:7-8,15,19,32,34; 3:11,26,28,32-33; 5:31-39; 8:13-18; 10:25; 15:26-27; 18:37; 19:35; 21:24 | — | Legal-evidentiary register structuring the whole Gospel’s argument |
| Sign | σημεῖον / sēmeion | அடையாளம் / அற்புத அடையாளம் | Medium | supports Deity/Christology doctrines | 2:11,18,23; 3:2; 4:48,54; 6:2,14,26,30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18,37; 20:30 | Must not drift toward folk-astrological omen (சகுனம்) vocabulary | John’s seven signs, each revealing Christ’s identity |
| Lamb of God | ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ | கடவுளுடைய ஆட்டுக்குட்டி | High | Christ’s Substitutionary Death | 1:29,36 | Must not read as recurring village-shrine animal sacrifice | Once-for-all, sufficient sacrificial referent; ties to Passover/Isaiah 53 typology |
| Lifted up | ὑψωθῆναι / hypsōthēnai | உயர்த்தப்படுதல் | High | Substitutionary Death; Exaltation | 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-34 | Must not resolve away either sense (crucifixion OR exaltation) | Deliberate double meaning: physically raised on the cross AND glorified/exalted |
| Only begotten / one and only | μονογενής / monogenēs | ஒரேபேறான குமாரன் | Critical | Deity and Sonship of Christ | 1:14,18; 3:16,18 | Must NOT be conflated with முதற்பேறானவர் (πρωτότοκος, “firstborn,” a different Greek term with a rank/heirship sense) | Uniqueness claim, not seniority-in-a-series; live Arian-collision point |
| I AM (absolute) | ἐγώ εἰμι / egō eimi | நான் இருக்கிறேன் / நான்தான் | Critical | The Seven “I Am” Statements; Deity of Christ | 4:26; 6:20; 8:24,28,58; 13:19; 18:5-6,8 | Must preserve the timeless, tenseless self-existence force, especially at 8:58 | Echoes the divine Name (Exodus 3:14 LXX, Isaiah 43:10,13 LXX) |
| I am [predicate] (the seven statements) | ἐγώ εἰμι + noun | நான் [பெயர்ச்சொல்] ஆயிருக்கிறேன் | High | The Seven “I Am” Statements | Bread of Life (6:35,48); Light of the World (8:12; 9:5); Door (10:7,9); Good Shepherd (10:11,14); Resurrection and the Life (11:25); Way/Truth/Life (14:6); True Vine (15:1,5) | — | See individual entries below for each predicate noun |
| Bread of Life | ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς | ஜீவ அப்பம் | High | ”I Am” #1 | 6:35,48 | — | Contrasted with manna’s temporariness |
| Door | θύρα | வாசல் | High | ”I Am” #3 | 10:7,9 | — | Sole legitimate access to the sheepfold |
| Good Shepherd | ποιμὴν ὁ καλός | நல்ல மேய்ப்பன் | High | ”I Am” #4; Substitutionary Death | 10:11,14 | Never குரு | Reuses established மேய்ப்பர் root (Ephesians pastor); voluntary self-giving for the sheep |
| True Vine | ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή | மெய்யான திராட்சச்செடி | High | ”I Am” #7 | 15:1,5 | — | Fulfills/relocates OT Israel-as-vine imagery in Christ |
| Way, Truth, Life (triple) | ὁδὸς, ἀλήθεια, ζωή | வழி, சத்தியம், ஜீவன் | Critical | ”I Am” #6; Exclusivity of the Gospel | 14:6 | Never softened exclusivity clause (“no one comes to the Father except through me”) | Highest-weight combined “I am” statement; direct confrontation with Tamil religious pluralism |
| Lay down one’s life | τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν | தன் ஜீவனை ஒப்புக்கொடுத்தல் | High | Substitutionary Death | 10:11,15,17-18; 15:13 | Must preserve voluntary, self-initiated agency | ”No one takes it from me… I lay it down of my own accord” (10:18) |
| It is finished | τετέλεσται / tetelestai | முடிந்தது | Critical | Substitutionary Death and Resurrection | 19:30 | Must not render as mere temporal termination; must carry “accomplished/paid in full” force | Perfect tense; commercial/legal completion sense parallel to record_of_debt |
| Counselor / Paraclete | παράκλητος / paraklētos | தேற்றரவாளன் | Critical | The Holy Spirit as Counselor | 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7 | Never an impersonal universal Self/life-force (பரமாத்மா, forbidden per baseline Holy Spirit rule) | Personal advocate/comforter continuing Christ’s presence; identified explicitly with the established, Critical பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர் |
| Spirit of truth | τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας | சத்திய ஆவியானவர் | High | Holy Spirit as Counselor | 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 | — | Paired Paraclete title |
| Unity of Father and Son (oneness) | ἕν ἐσμεν / ἐν…ἐν | ஏகமாயிருத்தல் / ஒன்றாயிருத்தல் | Critical | Unity of the Father and the Son | 10:30,38; 14:10-11,20; 17:11,21-23 | Never an Advaitic identity-merger reading (“tat tvam asi”); never modalism (collapsing Father/Son into one person) | Relational/essential unity of distinct persons — the single strongest Advaita-collision risk in the book, especially at 17:21-23 where believers are drawn into the pattern |
| Descended from heaven | ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς | பரலோகத்திலிருந்து இறங்கினவர் | Critical | Deity and Pre-existence of Christ | 3:13; 6:33,38,41-42,50-51,58 | NEVER அவதாரம் (avatar-descent) | Direct extension of the baseline incarnation doctrine’s central caution |
| Glory before the world existed | ἡ δόξα ἣν εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι | உலகம் உண்டாகுமுன் இருந்த மகிமை | Critical | Pre-existence of Christ | 17:5 | — | First-person self-testimony to pre-existent glory |
| Living water | ὕδωρ ζῶν | ஜீவத்தண்ணீர் | Medium-High | New Birth; Holy Spirit | 4:10-14; 7:38 | Must not import தீர்த்தம் (sacred-bathing ritual) framing | Explicitly identified by John’s own narrative gloss (7:39) with the Holy Spirit |
| Worship in spirit and truth | προσκυνήσουσιν…ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ | ஆவியிலும் சத்தியத்திலும் ஆராதனை செய்தல் | High | God’s nature; true worship | 4:23-24 | — | Location-independent, Spirit-and-truth-grounded worship |
| God is spirit | πνεῦμα ὁ θεός | கடவுள் ஆவியாயிருக்கிறார் | Critical | God’s Nature; Holy Spirit personhood | 4:24 | Never assimilated to பரமாத்மா/பிரம்மம் | Must remain personal, not impersonal-cosmic-spirit |
| Equal with God | ἴσον ἑαυτὸν…τῷ θεῷ | தம்மைக் கடவுளுக்குச் சமமாக்கிக்கொண்டார் | Critical | Deity of Christ | 5:18 | — | Narrator-affirmed (not merely alleged) claim; parallels established Philippians equality_with_god |
| Making oneself equal / claim confirmed | (see above) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fourfold witness (thematic) | (μαρτυρία of John, works, Father, Scriptures) | சாட்சி (see above) | Medium | Deity/Authority of Christ | 5:31-39 | — | Legal-evidentiary structure |
| I and the Father are one | ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν | நானும் பிதாவும் ஒன்றாயிருக்கிறோம் | Critical | Unity of the Father and the Son | 10:30 | See unity_of_father_and_son above | Doctrinal peak text |
| No one will snatch them from my hand | οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις…ἐκ τῆς χειρός μου | ஒருவனும் என் கைக்குப் பறித்துக்கொள்ளமாட்டான் | High | Assurance | 10:28-29 | — | Parallels baseline assurance_of_salvation |
| Resurrection and the Life | ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή | உயிர்த்தெழுதலும் ஜீவனுமாயிருக்கிறேன் | Critical | ”I Am” #5; Eternal Life; Resurrection | 11:25 | Never மறுபிறவி | Combines two independently Critical baseline/John terms |
| Grain of wheat dying to bear fruit | ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου…ἀποθάνῃ | கோதுமை மணி…மரிக்க வேண்டும் | Medium | Substitutionary Death | 12:24 | — | Agricultural parable of death-then-life |
| Ruler of this world (cast out) | ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου | இந்த உலகத்தின் அதிபதி | High | Victory over hostile powers | 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 | Never a சக்தி-compound | Christ’s cross as decisive defeat of the hostile world-ruler |
| New commandment | ἐντολὴ καινή | புதிய கற்பனை | High | Love as Christ’s pattern | 13:34; 15:12,17 | — | Reuses established அன்பு |
| Convict/expose (Spirit’s ministry) | ἐλέγχω / ἐλέγξει | ஒப்புக்கொள்ளப்பண்ணுதல் / கண்டித்தல் | High | Holy Spirit as Counselor | 3:20; 16:8 | Never impersonal karma-conviction | Same root links the Light’s exposing function (ch.3) to the Paraclete’s convicting ministry (ch.16) |
| Guide into all truth | ὁδηγήσει…εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν | சகல சத்தியத்திற்குள்ளும் நடத்துதல் | High | Holy Spirit as Counselor | 16:13 | Must not read as esoteric guru-disciple secret transmission (உபதேசம்/தீட்சை) | Christ-centered, not independently authoritative revelation |
| Overcome the world | νενίκηκα τὸν κόσμον | உலகத்தை மேற்கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் | Medium-High | Christ’s victory | 16:33 | — | Perfect tense — an accomplished, standing victory |
| Sanctify in the truth | ἁγίασον…ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ | சத்தியத்தினால் பரிசுத்தமாக்குதல் | High | Sanctification | 17:17 | — | Reuses established பரிசுத்தமாக்குதல் |
| My Father and your Father, my God and your God | πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν…θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν | என் பிதாவும் உங்கள் பிதாவும், என் கடவுளும் உங்கள் கடவுளும் | Critical | Sonship of Christ; believers’ derivative relationship | 20:17 | — | Preserve the my/your distinction; do not flatten into shared “our” |
| My Lord and my God | ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου | என் கர்த்தாவே! என் கடவுளே! | CRITICAL — MAXIMAL PRIORITY | Deity of Christ | 20:28 | Traditional Tamil “ஆண்டவரே…தேவனே” NOT to be used in this package | See extended discussion in 07_semantic_analysis.md; alongside 3:16, the highest-visibility God-word-decision collision point in the curriculum |
| Gospel’s purpose statement | ταῦτα…γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε…ζωὴν ἔχητε | விசுவாசிக்கும்படியாகவும்…ஜீவனை உடையவர்களாகவும் இருக்கும்படியாகவும் இவை எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கிறது | Critical | Eternal Life through Faith | 20:30-31 | — | Book’s thesis-verse; render identically wherever cited across curriculum documents, per baseline cross-document consistency rule |
| Agapaō / Phileō distinction | ἀγαπᾷς / φιλεῖς | நேசிக்கிறாயா (single Tamil term for both) | Medium | Love; Restoration of Peter | 21:15-17 | — | TRANSLATOR NOTE required: Greek nuance lost in Tamil’s single அன்பு/நேசி term; flag for teaching material |
| Feed/tend my sheep | βόσκε / ποίμαινε | ஆடுகளை மேய்த்துக்கொள் | Medium | Pastoral restoration | 21:15-17 | Never குரு | Reuses established மேய்ப்பர் root |
| Grace and truth | χάρις καὶ ἀλήθεια | கிருபையும் சத்தியமும் | High | Grace/Truth vs. Law | 1:14,17 | — | Reuses established கிருபை; contrasted with the Law given through Moses |
| Tabernacled/dwelt among us | ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν | நமக்குள்ளே வாசம்பண்ணினார் | Medium-High | Incarnation | 1:14 | Never கலத்தல் (merger) | Echoes OT tabernacle; use வாசம்பண்ணுதல் per established Ephesians indwelling convention |
| Sent (mission formula) | ἀποστέλλω / ἀπέστειλεν | அனுப்பினார் | Medium | Mission; Trinitarian sending | 3:17,34; 5:36-38; 6:29,38-39,44,57; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 17:3,8,18,21,23,25; 20:21 | — | Root of established அப்போஸ்தலன் (apostle); Trinitarian sending-pattern (Father sends Son, Son sends Spirit) |
C. Chapters Confirmed to Introduce No New Load-Bearing Theological Vocabulary
Per the PRD Phase 1 requirement, the following observation applies across this book: every chapter of John (1–21) was found to introduce at least one load-bearing theological term relevant to this curriculum’s nine assigned doctrines, given the unusually dense theological texture of the Fourth Gospel. No chapter is therefore marked “no new vocabulary.” Chapters with comparatively lighter new-term density (e.g., ch. 9’s blindness/light material, largely reusing ch. 1/3/8 terms; ch. 13’s material beyond the new commandment, which is largely narrative) are noted as primarily reusing established terms in their respective sections of 07_semantic_analysis.md, with only incremental additions.
D. Cross-Cutting Risk Flags for Phase 2 Escalation
| Risk Flag | Terms Involved | Chapters | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| God-word decision maximal-visibility collisions | கடவுள் vs. traditional தேவன் | 1:1,18; 3:16; 20:17,28 (and every θεός occurrence) | Direct, foreseeable collision with ~300 years of Tamil devotional memory, at the two most quoted verses in Tamil Christianity |
| மறுபிறவி (rebirth) collision | Born again/from above | 3:3-8 | Sharpest risk in curriculum; in-text literary mirror of the exact misreading |
| Advaita/identity-merger collision | Unity of Father and Son; mutual indwelling | 10:30,38; 14:10-11,20; 17:21-23 | Strongest pantheism-adjacent risk in the book |
| அவதாரம் (avatar) collision | Descended from heaven; Word became flesh | 1:14; 3:13; 6:33-58 | Direct extension of baseline incarnation Critical caution |
| Religious pluralism collision | Exclusivity of “the way, the truth, and the life” | 14:6 | Direct confrontation with Tamil devotional pluralism (e.g., popular use of Thirumular’s line) |
| Esoteric-transmission collision | Mystery/guide into truth; Paraclete’s teaching | 16:13 | Guru-disciple secret-initiation register must be avoided |
| Merit/karma collision | Judgment as self-selected response; convicting Spirit | 3:17-19; 9:39; 16:8 | Must remain personal, response-based verdict, never impersonal accounting |
| Sacred-bathing (tirtha) collision | Living water; water and Spirit | 3:5; 4:10-14; 7:38 | Must not import Hindu ritual-purification-water framing |
| Cannibalism/sensationalism risk | Eat my flesh, drink my blood | 6:53-56 | Requires careful sacramental/faith-union framing, historically controversial even intra-Christian |
| Completion-vs-termination flattening | It is finished | 19:30 | Must carry “accomplished/paid in full,” not mere “the end” |
This glossary should be loaded alongside translation_memory.json, bible_term_registry.json, and doctrine_risk_registry.json before any Phase 2 segment translation of John begins. All “New (John)” entries above require formal addition to translation_memory.json with assigned risk tiers before Phase 2 processing, per the baseline’s Translation Memory Load and Enforcement Instructions.
Critical Risk Terms
God
Approved rendering: கடவுள்
Transliteration: kadavul
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: தேவன், பரமேஸ்வரன், பகவான்
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from baseline package. John concentrates the densest deity-of-Christ statements in the NT (1:1,18; 3:16; 5:18; 10:30-38; 20:17,28); every occurrence of θεός must render as கடவுள், including at the two highest-visibility collision points in all of Tamil Christian devotional memory (3:16 and 20:28).
Jesus
Approved rendering: இயேசு
Transliteration: yesu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Inherited from baseline package. Established Tamil Christian standard form used throughout John.
Christ
Approved rendering: கிறிஸ்து
Transliteration: kiristhu
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Inherited from baseline package. Used alongside மேசியா per John 1:41’s own bilingual gloss (‘Messiah, which is translated Christ’).
Messiah
Approved rendering: மேசியா
Transliteration: mesiya
Doctrine: Messianic Promise
Inherited from baseline package. John 1:41; 4:25,29; 7:26-42.
Lord
Approved rendering: கர்த்தர்
Transliteration: karthar
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Rejected alternatives: எஜமான்
Inherited from baseline package. Thomas’s confession (20:28) requires என் கர்த்தாவே், never traditional ஆண்டவரே.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர்
Transliteration: Parisutha Aaviyanavar
Doctrine: Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: பிரம்மம், பரமாத்மா
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from baseline package. John’s Farewell Discourse (chs.14-16) explicitly identifies the Paraclete AS the Holy Spirit (14:26); keep fully personal throughout.
Father
Approved rendering: பிதா
Transliteration: pitha
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from baseline package. Grounds the Father-Son unity doctrine extensively across chs.5,10,14,17.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: உயிர்த்தெழுதல்
Transliteration: uyirthezhuthal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from baseline package. Never மறுபிறவி; enacted as a sign in Lazarus’s raising (ch.11) and accomplished in Christ’s own resurrection (ch.20).
Flesh
Approved rendering: மாம்சம்
Transliteration: maamsam
Doctrine: Incarnation; New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: உடல், சரீரம்
Original: σάρξ
Category: Christology
Inherited from baseline package. Used of the Word’s incarnation (1:14), ordinary human birth contrasted with Spirit-birth (3:6), and Christ’s own body given as food (6:51-56).
Incarnation
Approved rendering: தேகதாரணம்
Transliteration: dehadharanam
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Rejected alternatives: அவதாரம்
Original: ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο
Category: Christology
Inherited from baseline package. The sharpest அவதாரம்-collision clause in the whole pipeline; John supplies at least nine independent descended-from-heaven clauses re-triggering this risk.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய குமாரன்
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Kumaran
Doctrine: Sonship and Uniqueness of Christ
Rejected alternatives: தெய்வப்புத்திரன்
Original: υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from baseline package (legacy தேவனுடைய compound retained per compound-tension rule). John 1:34,49; 3:18; 5:25; 10:36; 11:4,27; 20:31.
Salvation
Approved rendering: இரட்சிப்பு
Transliteration: iratchippu
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: மோட்சம், முக்தி
Original: σωτηρία / σῴζω
Category: Salvation
Inherited from baseline package. John 3:17; 4:22; 12:47.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: நீதி
Transliteration: neethi
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: தர்மம், புண்ணியம்
Inherited from baseline package. John 16:8,10 — the Paraclete convicts the world ‘concerning righteousness’; never தர்மம் even in this pneumatological context.
Word Logos
Approved rendering: வசனம்
Transliteration: vasanam
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Original: λόγος
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (λόγος, 1:1,14). Established Tamil Bible term. Must not be assimilated to Śabda-Brahman or நாதம் (impersonal cosmic sound/vibration principles in Tamil Saiva and Sanskritic philosophy); the Logos is a personal, relational, pre-existent divine Being who ‘was with God’ and ‘was God,’ not an abstract ordering-principle. Anchor every occurrence to its relational clauses.
Word Was God
Approved rendering: அந்த வசனம் கடவுளாக இருந்தார்
Transliteration: antha vasanam kadavulaaga irunthaar
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Rejected alternatives: அந்த வசனம் தேவனாக இருந்தார், அந்த வசனம் ஒரு தேவனாக இருந்தார்
Original: θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος, 1:1c). The anarthrous θεός is qualitative (‘fully God in nature’), not indefinite (‘a god’). Must never permit an ‘a god among many’ reading — the argument Jehovah’s Witness Tamil literature makes from the anarthrous Greek, directly analogous to the baseline’s firstborn/Arian caution. கடவுள் per the God-word rule; NEVER தேவன்.
With God
Approved rendering: கடவுளிடத்தில் இருந்தார்
Transliteration: kadavulidathil irunthaar
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Original: πρὸς τὸν θεόν
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1:1b,2). Establishes the Word’s distinct personhood in face-to-face relational nearness with God — Trinitarian distinction-without-division, foundational to the Unity of Father and Son doctrine.
Christ As Creator
Approved rendering: சகலமும் அவர் மூலமாய் உண்டாயின
Transliteration: sagalamum avar moolamaai unndaayina
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Original: πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, 1:3). Parallels the baseline Colossians christ_as_creator_and_sustainer doctrine. ‘All things’ must stay unqualified — no exceptions, never one stage in a beginningless cyclical emanation (Saiva Siddhanta tattva-evolution).
Word Became Flesh
Approved rendering: வசனம் மாம்சமாயிற்று
Transliteration: vasanam maamsamaayitru
Doctrine: Incarnation (the Word Became Flesh)
Rejected alternatives: அவதாரம் எடுத்தார்
Original: ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο, 1:14). Primary textual ground of the baseline incarnation doctrine entry. A once-for-all becoming, never a repeatable descent among a recognized class of avatars. Reuses established மாம்சம் exactly.
Only Begotten
Approved rendering: ஒரேபேறான குமாரன்
Transliteration: orepéraana kumaaran
Doctrine: Sonship and Uniqueness of Christ
Original: μονογενής
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (μονογενής, 1:14,18; 3:16,18). Established Tamil Bible phrase. CRITICAL FENCE: must NEVER be conflated with முதற்பேறானவர் (πρωτότοκος, ‘firstborn,’ the baseline Colossians rank/heirship term) — μονογενής asserts absolute uniqueness (there is no other of his kind), not seniority-in-a-series. A live Arian-collision point some groups exploit by trading on exactly this ambiguity.
Descended From Heaven
Approved rendering: பரலோகத்திலிருந்து இறங்கினவர்
Transliteration: paralogathilirunthu irangivar
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word); Incarnation
Rejected alternatives: அவதரித்தார்
Original: ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, 3:13; also 6:33,38,41-42,50-51,58). Direct extension of the baseline incarnation doctrine’s central caution — NEVER அவதாரம்/அவதரித்தார். A unique, once-for-all movement of the eternally pre-existent Son into history, not a repeatable divine descent among Vishnu’s dasavatara or any recognized recurring class.
Glory Before The World
Approved rendering: உலகம் உண்டாகுமுன் இருந்த மகிமை
Transliteration: ulagam undaagumun iruntha magimai
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Original: ἡ δόξα ἣν εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι
Category: God
New in John curriculum (17:5). Christ’s own first-person testimony to pre-existent glory, complementing the third-person narration of 1:1-3. Must retain ‘before the world existed’ as a real temporal-priority claim of eternal pre-existence, not devotional hyperbole a devotee might apply to a revered teacher.
Equal With God
Approved rendering: தம்மைக் கடவுளுக்குச் சமமாக்கிக்கொண்டார்
Transliteration: thammai kadavulukku samamaakkikondaar
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word); Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: ἴσον ἑαυτὸν…τῷ θεῷ
Category: God
New in John curriculum (ἴσον ἑαυτὸν…τῷ θεῷ, 5:18). Narrator-AFFIRMED inference from Jesus’ Sabbath-healing and ‘my Father’ language — not a misunderstanding to be corrected. Parallels the established Philippians equality_with_god term; must not be softened into ‘the Jews mistakenly thought…’
My Lord And My God
Approved rendering: என் கர்த்தாவே! என் கடவுளே!
Transliteration: en karthaave en kadavule
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Rejected alternatives: என் ஆண்டவரே, என் தேவனே
Original: Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου
Category: God
New in John curriculum (20:28). MAXIMAL PRIORITY alongside John 3:16. Thomas’s direct, unrebuked, first-person confession using θεός of Jesus by name. Traditional Tamil rendering ‘என் ஆண்டவரே, என் தேவனே’ is NOT to be used in this package. கர்த்தர் for κύριος, கடவுள் for θεός. Mandatory theologian review; never a default resolution.
My Father Your Father My God Your God
Approved rendering: என் பிதாவும் உங்கள் பிதாவும், என் கடவுளும் உங்கள் கடவுளும்
Transliteration: en pithaavum ungal pithaavum en kadavulum ungal kadavulum
Doctrine: Sonship and Uniqueness of Christ
Original: πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν καὶ θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν
Category: God
New in John curriculum (20:17). Preserve the my/your distinction precisely — never flatten into a single undifferentiated ‘our Father’; preserves the unique, unshared quality of Christ’s own eternal Sonship even as he extends filial relationship to disciples.
I Am Absolute
Approved rendering: நான் இருக்கிறேன் / நான்தான்
Transliteration: naan irukkiren / naanthaan
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (ἐγώ εἰμι absolute, 4:26; 6:20; 8:24,28,58; 13:19; 18:5-6,8). Must preserve the timeless, tenseless self-existence force, especially at 8:58’s contrast with Abraham’s γενέσθαι (‘came to be’). Use fixed present-continuous convention; NEVER shift to a past-adjacent construction. The narrative’s own reaction (8:59 stoning; 18:6 soldiers falling backward) confirms a divine-Name hearing the Tamil rendering’s gravity must match.
Resurrection And The Life
Approved rendering: நான் உயிர்த்தெழுதலும் ஜீவனுமாயிருக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: naan uyirthezhuthalum jeevanumaayirukkiren
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements; Eternal Life through Faith in Christ; Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (11:25). Fifth of the seven, and doctrinal high point combining two independently Critical terms (உயிர்த்தெழுதல், ஜீவன்). Never மறுபிறவி for the resurrection component.
Way Truth Life
Approved rendering: நான் வழியும் சத்தியமும் ஜீவனுமாயிருக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: naan vazhiyum sathiyamum jeevanumaayirukkiren
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements; Exclusivity of Access to the Father
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (14:6). Sixth and most comprehensive of the seven. The exclusivity clause (‘no one comes to the Father except through me’) must be preserved unsoftened — among the highest-risk verses in the book given Tamil religious pluralism (cf. popular (mis)use of Thirumular’s ‘ஒன்றே குலம் ஒருவனே தேவன்’).
It Is Finished
Approved rendering: முடிந்தது
Transliteration: mudinthathu
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: τετέλεσται
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (τετέλεσται, 19:30). Commercial/legal perfect-tense declaration of a completed, sufficient, unrepeatable accomplishment. Must not be rendered as mere temporal termination (‘it is over’); parallels the baseline Colossians record_of_debt and Ephesians redemption_through_blood doctrines — redemptive completion, not simply the end of suffering.
Born Again
Approved rendering: மறுபடியும் பிறத்தல் / மேலிருந்து பிறத்தல்
Transliteration: marupadiyum piraththal / melirunthu piraththal
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி
Original: γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν, 3:3,7). THE single highest-stakes lexical decision in this book. NEVER மறுபிறவி (reincarnation) — sharper than any prior baseline occurrence, since Nicodemus’s own in-text confusion (3:4, hearing this as a second physical birth) literarily mirrors the exact misreading a Tamil audience formed by punarjanma belief would produce. A once, Spirit-wrought, ‘from above’ origin of new spiritual life, never a repeatable womb-to-womb cycle or a rung on a karmic ladder.
Eternal Life
Approved rendering: நித்திய ஜீவன்
Transliteration: nithiya jeevan
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Rejected alternatives: மோட்சம், முக்தி, வீடுபேறு
Original: ζωὴ αἰώνιος
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (ζωὴ αἰώνιος; John’s signature term, denser here than any other NT book: 3:15,16,36; 4:14,36; 5:24,39-40; 6:27,40,47,54,68; 10:28; 11:25; 17:2-3; 20:31). Must never be assimilated to மோட்சம்/முக்தி/வீடுபேறு — ஜீவன் is also the ordinary Tamil philosophical word for jīva, the individual soul bound in samsara, sharpening this risk beyond the baseline salvation caution. A present, personal possession through faith in Christ, never a future-only liberation from embodiment.
Life Generic
Approved rendering: ஜீவன்
Transliteration: jeevan
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ; The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ
Original: ζωή
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (ζωή, 1:4; 5:26; 6:33,35,48,51,63; 8:12; 11:25; 14:6). Root term underlying eternal_life; must not be read as the impersonal jīva of Hindu philosophy apart from its Christ-given, personal referent — life is IN the Word himself (1:4), not a separable substance.
Born Not Of Blood
Approved rendering: கடவுளிலிருந்து பிறந்தார்கள்
Transliteration: kadavulilirunthu piranthaargal
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: ἐγεννήθησαν… ἐκ θεοῦ
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (1:13). The new birth’s exclusion of every natural, human-agency account — lineage (blood), physical desire, human decision. The ‘not of blood’ exclusion carries an anti-lineage note, since ‘blood’ could be misread through a kinship/lineage-purity lens with resonance in Tamil Nadu’s caste-conscious social context.
Passed From Death To Life
Approved rendering: மரணத்திலிருந்து ஜீவனுக்கு மாறிவிட்டான்
Transliteration: maranathilirunthu jeevanukku maarivittaan
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Original: μεταβέβηκεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (5:24). Present, already-accomplished transfer for the one who hears and believes; parallels the baseline assurance_of_salvation doctrine. Must not be read as future-only, nor as a status gradually accumulated across an uncertain, possibly multi-lifetime process.
Words Of Eternal Life
Approved rendering: நித்திய ஜீவனுடைய வசனங்கள்
Transliteration: nithiya jeevanudaiya vasanangal
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Original: ῥήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (6:68). Peter’s confession after the ‘hard teaching’ causes many to leave. Christ’s own teaching, not a separable body of doctrine detachable from his person, is the source of life.
Resurrection Of Life And Judgment
Approved rendering: உயிர்த்தெழுதலின் நித்திய ஜீவன்…ஆக்கினைத்தீர்ப்பின் உயிர்த்தெழுதல்
Transliteration: uyirthezhuthalin nithiya jeevan…aakkinaithirppin uyirthezhuthal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection; Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி
Original: ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς…ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως
Category: Eschatology
New in John curriculum (5:29). Future, final bodily resurrection into two destinies, tied to belief/unbelief. Never மறுபிறவி; the two-destiny structure must read as personal and response-based, never impersonal accounting.
Gospel Purpose Statement
Approved rendering: விசுவாசிக்கும்படியாகவும்…அவருடைய நாமத்தினாலே ஜீவனை உடையவர்களாகவும் இருக்கும்படியாகவும் இவை எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கிறது
Transliteration: vishvasikkumpadiyaagavum…avarudaiya naamathinaale jeevanai udaiyavargalaagavum irukkumpadiyaagavum ivai ezhuthappattirukkirathu
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Original: ταῦτα…γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε…ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ
Category: Eschatology
New in John curriculum (20:30-31). The Gospel’s own thesis-verse. Per the baseline’s cross-document consistency rule for thesis-level verses, this rendering must be treated as fixed and cited identically everywhere in curriculum material.
Law Grace Contrast
Approved rendering: நியாயப்பிரமாணம் மோசேயின் மூலமாய்க் கொடுக்கப்பட்டது; கிருபையும் சத்தியமும் இயேசுகிறிஸ்துவின் மூலமாய் உண்டாயிற்று
Transliteration: niyayapramanam moseyin moolamaaik kodukkappattathu; kirupaiyum sathiyamum yesukiristhuvin moolamaai undaayitru
Doctrine: Grace and Truth vs. Law
Original: ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις…διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο
Category: Church
New in John curriculum (1:17). Contrast of two redemptive-historical eras/agents. Reuses established நியாயப்பிரமாணம் and கிருபை exactly. Must preserve the contrast without denigrating the Law’s God-given legitimacy; the merit-economy vocabulary saturating Tamil religious culture (புண்ணியம், பரிகாரம்) makes this contrast especially prone to collapse if not carefully preserved.
God Is Spirit
Approved rendering: கடவுள் ஆவியாயிருக்கிறார்
Transliteration: kadavul aaviyaayirukkiraar
Doctrine: Worship in Spirit and Truth; The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: பரமாத்மா, பிரம்மம்
Original: πνεῦμα ὁ θεός
Category: God
New in John curriculum (πνεῦμα ὁ θεός, 4:24). கடவுள் per the God-word rule. Must not be assimilated to பரமாத்மா (Vedantic universal Self) or பிரம்மம் (Brahman) — describes the Father’s own personal nature, not an impersonal cosmic principle underlying all reality.
Unity Of Father And Son
Approved rendering: நானும் பிதாவும் ஒன்றாயிருக்கிறோம்
Transliteration: naanum pithaavum ondraayirukkirom
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν
Category: God
New in John curriculum (ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν, 10:30). The single strongest Advaita/Vedantic identity-merger collision risk in the book. ἕν is neuter (‘one reality’), not ‘one person’ — must affirm essential unity WITHOUT collapsing the Father-Son personal distinction. Never pair with கலத்தல் verbs; never teach as the Upanishadic ‘tat tvam asi.‘
Mutual Indwelling
Approved rendering: பிதா என்னிலும் நான் பிதாவிலும் இருக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: pithaa ennilum naan pithaavilum irukkiren
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί
Category: God
New in John curriculum (14:10-11; also 10:38; 17:21). Reciprocal indwelling expressing the same essential unity as 10:30 relationally, extended as the model for believers’ unity with God. At 17:21-23, where believers are drawn into this language, the risk sharpens: believers enter RELATIONAL fellowship, never the SAME essential oneness the Father and Son possess. Never pair with கலத்தல் verbs.
Honor The Son
Approved rendering: குமாரனைக் கனம்பண்ணாதவன் பிதாவைக் கனம்பண்ணுகிறவனல்ல
Transliteration: kumaaranai kanampannaathavan pithaavai kanampannugiravanalla
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: ὁ μὴ τιμῶν τὸν υἱὸν οὐ τιμᾷ τὸν πατέρα
Category: God
New in John curriculum (5:23). Honor owed to the Son is identical in kind to honor owed to the Father — a direct claim to co-equal worship-worthiness, the same claim affirmed unrebuked at Thomas’s confession (20:28). Must not be softened into mere respect for a delegated representative.
Counselor Paraclete
Approved rendering: தேற்றரவாளன்
Transliteration: therravaalan
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: பரமாத்மா, பிரம்மம்
Original: παράκλητος
Category: God
New in John curriculum (παράκλητος, 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7). Established Tamil Bible term (from தேற்றுதல், ‘to comfort’). Must remain fully personal — never an impersonal universal Self or life-force. John 14:26 explicitly identifies the Paraclete AS the Holy Spirit; teaching material must keep this identification visible so தேற்றரவாளன் is never a separate, lesser being.
Receive The Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: பரிசுத்த ஆவியைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள்
Transliteration: parisutha aaviyai petrukkollungal
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: λάβετε πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
New in John curriculum (λάβετε πνεῦμα ἅγιον, 20:22). John’s own distinctive placement of a Spirit-giving moment at the resurrection (complementing, not contradicting, Pentecost in Acts 2). Reuses established பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர் exactly; must remain a personal reception of the personal Spirit.
High Risk Terms
Faith
Approved rendering: விசுவாசம்
Transliteration: vishvasam
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Rejected alternatives: பக்தி
Original: πίστις / πιστεύω
Category: Faith
Inherited from baseline package. John’s central verb-family (πιστεύω, ~98 occurrences).
Glory
Approved rendering: மகிமை
Transliteration: magimai
Doctrine: The Deity and Pre-existence of Christ (the Word)
Original: δόξα
Category: God
Inherited from baseline package. Displayed in Christ’s signs (2:11), the cross (12:23;13:31), and the resurrection; must not drift toward only triumphant/visible radiance, severing the cross-as-glory paradox.
Law
Approved rendering: நியாயப்பிரமாணம்
Transliteration: niyayapramanam
Doctrine: Grace and Truth vs. Law
Rejected alternatives: தர்மம்
Inherited from baseline package. John 1:17,45; 7:19,23; 8:5,17; 19:7.
Sin
Approved rendering: பாவம்
Transliteration: paavam
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: தீவினை
Inherited from baseline package. John 1:29; 8:34,46; 9:34,41; 16:8-9.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: புறஜாதியார்
Transliteration: purajathiyar
Doctrine: Universal Scope of the Gospel
Inherited from baseline package. Applies at John 7:35 and implicitly at 12:20’s Greeks; retain the caste-adjacency caution.
Peace
Approved rendering: சமாதானம்
Transliteration: samadhanam
Doctrine: Discipleship (Peace of Christ)
Inherited from baseline package. John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19,21,26 — Christ’s own parting gift, distinct from circumstantial calm.
Cross
Approved rendering: சிலுவை
Transliteration: siluvai
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: σταυρός
Category: Christology
Inherited from baseline package. Never aestheticized away from its shame; central to the Passion narrative, ch.19.
Blood Of Christ
Approved rendering: கிறிஸ்துவின் இரத்தம்
Transliteration: Kiristhuvin iratham
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: αἷμα
Category: Christology
Inherited from baseline package. John 6:53-56 (eat/drink); 19:34 (blood and water) — once-for-all, self-given, sufficient sacrifice.
Temple
Approved rendering: ஆலயம்
Transliteration: aalayam
Doctrine: Church as God’s Temple (typological seed)
Rejected alternatives: கோவில்
Original: ναός
Category: Church
Inherited from baseline package. John 2:19-21’s identification of Jesus’ body with the ναός is the seed of the NT’s temple-as-Christ typology.
Devil
Approved rendering: பிசாசு
Transliteration: pisaasu
Doctrine: Victory over the Ruler of This World
Rejected alternatives: பேய்
Original: διάβολος
Category: Spiritual Warfare
Inherited from baseline package. John 8:44 (father of lies); 13:2,27 (Judas’s betrayal) — one defeated personal adversary, never a folk-taxonomy spirit.
Ruler Of The Air
Approved rendering: ஆகாயத்து அதிகாரப் பிரபு
Transliteration: aakaayaththu athikaara pirabhu
Doctrine: Victory over the Ruler of This World
Inherited from baseline package as the closest established compound; John’s own preferred title is ‘the ruler of this world’ (see new entry ruler_of_this_world) — keep both terms cross-linked as the same defeated figure.
Principalities And Powers
Approved rendering: துரைத்தனங்களும் அதிகாரங்களும்
Transliteration: thuraithanangalum athikaarangalum
Doctrine: Victory over the Ruler of This World
Inherited from baseline package. Background term-family for John’s hostile-power vocabulary; never mapped onto the village spirit-taxonomy or any named local deity category.
Wrath Of God
Approved rendering: கடவுளுடைய கோபாக்கினை
Transliteration: kopaakkinai
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: கோபம்
Original: ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: God
Inherited from baseline package. John 3:36 — the compound (never bare கோபம்) is load-bearing; judicial verdict of the holy கடவுள், never capricious deity-anger of the Amman-appeasement pattern.
Freedom
Approved rendering: விடுதலை
Transliteration: viduthalai
Doctrine: Freedom from Slavery to Sin
Rejected alternatives: முக்தி, மோட்சம், வீடுபேறு
Inherited from baseline package. John 8:32,36 reuses this exact term but in a DIFFERENT argument-context (freedom from sin’s mastery, not the Mosaic law’s curse) — keep the two doctrinal arguments distinct in teaching even while reusing the same Tamil word.
Grace
Approved rendering: கிருபை
Transliteration: kirupai
Doctrine: Grace and Truth vs. Law
Rejected alternatives: புண்ணியம், ஊழ்வினை பலன்
Inherited from baseline package. John 1:14,16-17 — ‘grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,’ contrasted with the law given through Moses.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: பரிசுத்தமாக்குதல்
Transliteration: parisuthamaakkuthal
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor (High Priestly Prayer)
Inherited from baseline package. John 17:17 — ‘sanctify them in the truth’; the Spirit’s ongoing work of making believers holy through God’s revealed word.
Son Of Man
Approved rendering: மனுஷகுமாரன்
Transliteration: manushakumaaran
Doctrine: Sonship and Uniqueness of Christ
Original: υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, 1:51; 3:13-14; 5:27; 6:27,53,62; 9:35; 12:23,34; 13:31). Established Tamil Bible term. Must not collapse into a merely humble self-reference — the Danielic (Daniel 7:13-14) divine-authority-to-judge-and-reign sense must be taught alongside the genuine-humanity sense.
I Am Predicate Statements
Approved rendering: நான் [பெயர்ச்சொல்] ஆயிருக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: naan [peyarchol] aayirukkiren
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι + noun predicate
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (ἐγώ εἰμι + predicate noun, the seven classic statements). Fixed grammatical template used consistently across all seven predicates so Tamil learners recognize this as a structured, self-authenticating claim-set, not seven unrelated metaphors.
Bread Of Life
Approved rendering: நான் ஜீவ அப்பம்
Transliteration: naan jeeva appam
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (6:35,48). First of the seven. Christ as the sole, sufficient source of spiritual sustenance, contrasted with manna’s temporariness. Reuses established ஜீவன்.
Light Of The World
Approved rendering: நான் உலகத்தின் ஒளி
Transliteration: naan ulagathin oli
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements; Light and Darkness
Original: τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (8:12; cf. 9:5). Second of the seven. Universal scope (‘of the world’) must remain unqualified; must not be received merely as a generic enlightenment symbol attainable through insight or practice.
Door
Approved rendering: நான் வாசல்
Transliteration: naan vaasal
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: ἡ θύρα
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (10:7,9). Third of the seven. Exclusivity claim — the sole legitimate access-point to the sheepfold; must not be softened toward ‘a door among several,’ consistent with the exclusivity pressure documented at 14:6.
Good Shepherd
Approved rendering: நான் நல்ல மேய்ப்பன்
Transliteration: naan nalla meyppan
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements; Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Rejected alternatives: குரு
Original: ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (10:11,14). Fourth of the seven. Reuses established மேய்ப்பர் root (Ephesians pastor); never குரு. Connects to substitutionary death via 10:17-18’s voluntary self-giving.
True Vine
Approved rendering: நான் மெய்யான திராட்சச்செடி
Transliteration: naan meyyaana thiraatchachedi
Doctrine: The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (15:1,5). Seventh and final of the seven. Fulfills/relocates OT Israel-as-vine imagery in Christ; requires non-supersessionist teaching framing so ‘true’ is not misread as displacing rather than fulfilling Israel’s calling.
Lay Down Life
Approved rendering: தன் ஜீவனை ஒப்புக்கொடுத்தல்
Transliteration: than jeevanai oppukkoduthal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection; The Good Shepherd’s Voluntary Sacrifice
Original: τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τίθησιν
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (10:11,15,17-18; 15:13). ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (10:18) — voluntary, self-initiated agency must not be lost or read as externally imposed fate, which would collapse substitution into mere martyrdom.
Lifted Up
Approved rendering: உயர்த்தப்படுதல்
Transliteration: uyarthappaduthal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: ὑψωθῆναι
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (ὑψωθῆναι, 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-34). Deliberate double meaning: physically raised on the cross AND simultaneously exalted/glorified. Genuine translation gap — no single Tamil verb carries both senses with equal force; use contextual dual-clause paraphrase at each occurrence, with a teaching note at first occurrence (3:14) establishing the pattern.
Lamb Of God
Approved rendering: கடவுளுடைய ஆட்டுக்குட்டி
Transliteration: kadavuludaiya aattukutti
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (1:29,36). Drawing on Passover-lamb (Exodus 12) and Isaiah 53 imagery, ‘who takes away the sin of the world.’ Must read as the ONE, self-given, sufficient sacrifice, never assimilated to recurring animal-sacrifice practice still living at Tamil village Amman shrines.
Eat Flesh Drink Blood
Approved rendering: மாம்சத்தைப் புசித்தல், இரத்தத்தைப் பானம்பண்ணுதல்
Transliteration: maamsathai pusithal, irathathai paanampannuthal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: φάγῃ τὴν σάρκα…πίῃ τὸ αἷμα
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (6:53-56). Must be taught as union with Christ received by faith, never literal cannibalism nor a bare ritual formula divorced from the flesh/Spirit antithesis of 6:63. Historically controversial even among Christian traditions; mandatory theologian review at every occurrence.
Laid Down Of Own Accord
Approved rendering: தமது ஆவியை ஒப்புவித்தார்
Transliteration: thamathu aaviyai oppuvithaar
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα, 19:30). Voluntary, active surrender of his spirit at death, reinforcing 10:18’s self-initiated agency; preserve the active-voluntary sense against a merely passive ‘he died’ rendering.
Passover Lamb Fulfillment
Approved rendering: ஒரு எலும்பும் முறியாது…தாம் உருவக் குத்தினவரைப் பார்ப்பார்கள்
Transliteration: oru elumbum muriyaathu…thaam uruvak kuthinavarai paarpaargal
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: ὀστοῦν αὐτοῦ οὐ συντριβήσεται…ὄψονται εἰς ὃν ἐξεκέντησαν
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (19:36-37, citing Exodus 12:46/Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10). Dual OT citation confirming the Lamb of God typology established at 1:29; reinforces the fulfillment-of-prophecy doctrine-family.
Water And Spirit
Approved rendering: ஜலத்தினாலும் ஆவியினாலும் பிறத்தல்
Transliteration: jalathinaalum aaviyinaalum piraththal
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: γεννηθῇ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (3:5). Deliberately preserve the interpretive breadth (physical/spiritual birth; baptismal; Ezekiel 36 cleansing-renewal readings); do not silently resolve toward one interpretation. ஜலம் must not import தீர்த்தம் (sacred ritual-bathing) framing. Flag for theologian review given genuine exegetical contest even in English scholarship.
Flesh And Spirit Birth
Approved rendering: ஆவியினால் பிறந்தது ஆவியாயிருக்கிறது
Transliteration: aaviyinaal piranthathu aaviyaayirukkirathu
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν, καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (3:6). Must not be read through a Vedantic lens as an eternal spiritual essence (ātman) already latently present, merely uncovered by insight; this is a given, NEW spiritual origin contingent on being begotten by God’s Spirit.
Spirit Sovereign Freedom
Approved rendering: காற்று தான் விரும்பும் இடத்தில் அடிக்கிறது
Transliteration: kaatru thaan virumbum idathil adikkirathu
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: ஊழ், தலைவிதி
Original: τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (3:8). The πνεῦμα wind/Spirit wordplay is untranslatable in Tamil (ஆவி never means காற்று); preserve the theological point (the Spirit’s sovereign, untraceable freedom) even though the pun is lost. Untraceable because it is the free act of a personal God, never impersonal fate.
Children Of God
Approved rendering: கடவுளுடைய பிள்ளைகள்
Transliteration: kadavuludaiya pillaigal
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: τέκνα θεοῦ
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (τέκνα θεοῦ, 1:12-13). Conferred on those who receive/believe, NOT an innate, universal Atman-Brahman status already possessed by all people. Distinct register from புத்திரசுவிகாரம் (the baseline legal-adoption term), though ultimately compatible.
Living Water
Approved rendering: ஜீவத்தண்ணீர்
Transliteration: jeevathanneer
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit; The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: ὕδωρ ζῶν
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (ὕδωρ ζῶν, 4:10-14; identified with the Spirit at 7:37-39). Must not import தீர்த்தம் (sacred ritual-bathing water) framing; this is Spirit-given permanent inner satisfaction, not a repeatable physical holy-water rite.
Words Are Spirit And Life
Approved rendering: ஆவியும் ஜீவனுமாயிருக்கிறது
Transliteration: aaviyum jeevanumaayirukkirathu
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Original: τὰ ῥήματα…πνεῦμά ἐστιν καὶ ζωή ἐστιν
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (6:63). Christ’s teaching contrasted with unaided human effort/literalism, reinforcing 3:6’s flesh/Spirit antithesis in a new context; must not devalue the physical/bodily as such.
Judgment
Approved rendering: நியாயத்தீர்ப்பு / ஆக்கினைத்தீர்ப்பு
Transliteration: niyayathirppu / aakkinaithirppu
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: வினைப்பயன், கர்மபலன்
Original: κρίσις / κρίμα / κρίνω
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (κρίσις/κρίμα/κρίνω, 3:17-19; 5:22-30; 9:39; 12:31,47-48; 16:8,11). A personal, response-based divine verdict grounded in one’s relationship to the Light — never an impersonal karma-accounting mechanism, per the baseline sow_and_reap methodology.
Already Condemned
Approved rendering: ஏற்கனவே ஆக்கினைத்தீர்க்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறான்
Transliteration: erkanave aakkinaithirkkappattirukkiraan
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: ἤδη κέκριται
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (ἤδη κέκριται, 3:18). Perfect-tense standing verdict already resting on unbelief — a present reality, not merely a future one. Do not soften into a simple future (‘will be condemned’), which loses the urgency.
Light
Approved rendering: ஒளி
Transliteration: oli
Doctrine: Light and Darkness; The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements
Original: τὸ φῶς
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (τὸ φῶς, 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9-10; 12:35-36,46). An ontological title for Christ himself, not an attribute he possesses. Positively-coded Tamil cultural asset (Saiva light-theology, temple lamps, Deepavali) but risks reduction to generic enlightenment/gnosis attainment; anchor to the person of Jesus in every occurrence.
Exposed Convicted
Approved rendering: கண்டித்தல் / ஒப்புக்கொள்ளப்பண்ணுதல்
Transliteration: kandithal / oppukkollappannuthal
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief; The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: ἐλέγχω / ἐλεγχθῇ
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (ἐλέγχω/ἐλεγχθῇ, 3:20; 16:8). A single verb root deliberately linking the Light’s exposing function (ch.3) to the Paraclete’s convicting ministry (ch.16); must not be read as impersonal karmic exposure — both grounded in a personal God’s response to personal choices.
Slave To Sin
Approved rendering: பாவத்திற்கு அடிமை
Transliteration: paavathirku adimai
Doctrine: Freedom from Slavery to Sin
Original: δοῦλός ἐστιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (δοῦλός ἐστιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας, 8:34). Reuses established பாவம்/அடிமைத்தனம் term-family. The same collision awareness already documented for the Galatians slavery entry applies in reverse: bhakti’s honorific self-designation as the deity’s slave (அடியார்/அடிமை) runs in the opposite direction; here the bondage is wholly negative, sin’s mastery over the person.
Believes Into Him
Approved rendering: அவரில் விசுவாசமாயிருக்கிற ஒவ்வொருவனும்
Transliteration: avaril vishvasamaayirukkira ovvoruvanum
Doctrine: Eternal Life through Faith in Christ
Original: ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτόν
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτόν, 3:16 et al.). The distinctively Johannine ‘believing INTO him’ construction — a personal entrusting movement toward Christ, not mere assent to a proposition. Preserve the into/in-him directionality in the Tamil syntax.
Truth
Approved rendering: சத்தியம்
Transliteration: sathiyam
Doctrine: Exclusivity of Access to the Father; The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: ἀλήθεια
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (ἀλήθεια — extremely frequent: 1:14,17; 3:21; 4:23-24; 8:32,44; 14:6,17; 16:13; 17:17,19; 18:37-38). சத்தியம் is a Sanskrit-cognate term also central to Hindu philosophical vocabulary (satya as an attribute of Brahman); must stay anchored to the personal, historical revelation of God in Christ, not an abstract cosmic principle.
Does The Truth
Approved rendering: சத்தியத்தை நடப்பிக்கிறவன்
Transliteration: sathiyathai nadappikkiravan
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, 3:21). A Hebraic idiom for living in a manner consistent with truth, not merely believing propositions — truth as a mode of life oriented toward God and Christ (cf. 14:6), not propositional accuracy alone.
Wrought In God
Approved rendering: கடவுளில் நடப்பிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது
Transliteration: kadavulil nadappikkappattirukkirathu
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: ἐν θεῷ ἐστιν εἰργασμένα
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (ἐν θεῷ ἐστιν εἰργασμένα, 3:21). Directly parallels the Ephesians good_works caution — works are downstream of, and enabled by, a prior relationship with God, never self-generated merit. கடவுளில் per the God-word rule.
Truth Will Set You Free
Approved rendering: சத்தியத்தை அறிவீர்கள், சத்தியம் உங்களை விடுதலையாக்கும்
Transliteration: sathiyathai arivirgal, sathiyam ungalai viduthalaiyaakkum
Doctrine: Freedom from Slavery to Sin
Original: γνώσεσθε τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (8:32,34). Reuses established விடுதலை exactly (baseline freedom) — no need to coin a second word — but this is freedom from sin’s mastery, a different argument-context from the Galatians law-freedom doctrine. Keep the two doctrinal arguments distinct in teaching material even while reusing the same Tamil term.
Grace And Truth
Approved rendering: கிருபையும் சத்தியமும்
Transliteration: kirupaiyum sathiyamum
Doctrine: Grace and Truth vs. Law
Original: χάρις καὶ ἀλήθεια
Category: Church
New in John curriculum (χάρις καὶ ἀλήθεια, 1:14,17). Echoes OT ‘steadfast love and faithfulness’ (Exodus 34:6). Reuses established கிருபை; directly parallels the baseline Critical law_and_grace doctrine.
World Kosmos
Approved rendering: உலகம்
Transliteration: ulagam
Doctrine: God’s Love for the World
Original: κόσμος
Category: Church
New in John curriculum (κόσμος — dual-valence: positive object of God’s love, 3:16-17,4:42; hostile system, 15:18-19; 16:33; 17:14). Track the word’s valence contextually across the whole Gospel; God’s redemptive love for, and the world-system’s hostility toward, believers coexist without contradiction.
Worship In Spirit And Truth
Approved rendering: ஆவியிலும் சத்தியத்திலும் ஆராதனை செய்தல்
Transliteration: aaviyilum sathiyathilum aaraadhanai seythal
Doctrine: Worship in Spirit and Truth
Original: προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ
Category: Church
New in John curriculum (4:23-24). True worship’s location — not a sacred site (Jerusalem/Gerizim) but a spiritual, truth-grounded relationship with the Father; anticipates the later church-not-building doctrine (Ephesians/Colossians temple). Must not devalue embodied, communal worship altogether.
Ruler Of This World
Approved rendering: இந்த உலகத்தின் அதிபதி
Transliteration: intha ulagathin athipathi
Doctrine: Victory over the Ruler of This World
Rejected alternatives: ஒரு சக்தி-கூட்டு சொல்
Original: ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου
Category: Spiritual Warfare
New in John curriculum (ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Connects to the established Ephesians ruler_of_the_air/principalities_and_powers doctrine-family. Never a சக்தி-compound, given Tamil Nadu’s living Amman goddess tradition. Present as already defeated by the cross/exaltation, never an unconquered rival power.
Overcome The World
Approved rendering: உலகத்தை மேற்கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: ulagathai merkondirukkiren
Doctrine: Victory over the Ruler of This World
Original: νενίκηκα τὸν κόσμον
Category: Spiritual Warfare
New in John curriculum (νενίκηκα τὸν κόσμον, 16:33). Perfect tense signals a finished, standing victory grounding believers’ confidence despite ongoing tribulation. κόσμος here in its negative/hostile sense, distinct from the positive sense at 3:16.
New Commandment
Approved rendering: புதிய கற்பனை
Transliteration: puthiya karpanai
Doctrine: The New Commandment of Love
Original: ἐντολὴ καινή
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (ἐντολὴ καινή, 13:34; 15:12,17). ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ — the standard is Christ’s own specific, self-giving, soon-to-be-enacted love, not generic benevolence. Reuses established அன்பு exactly.
Tabernacled Dwelt Among Us
Approved rendering: நமக்குள்ளே வாசம்பண்ணினார்
Transliteration: namakkulle vaasampanninaar
Doctrine: Incarnation (the Word Became Flesh)
Rejected alternatives: கலந்தார்
Original: ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, 1:14). Echoes the OT tabernacle. Use வாசம்பண்ணுதல் (indwell), the verb already preferred in the Ephesians fullness entry, over merger-verbs (கலத்தல்); connects to the church-as-temple doctrine seeded at 2:19-21.
Abide In Me
Approved rendering: என்னில் நிலைத்திருங்கள்
Transliteration: ennil nilaithirungal
Doctrine: The New Commandment of Love
Original: μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, 15:4). Fruitfulness is entirely a function of remaining IN Christ, not autonomous effort — connects directly to the established Ephesians good_works caution that works are downstream of, not the cause of, spiritual life.
Sanctify In Truth
Approved rendering: அவர்களைச் சத்தியத்தினால் பரிசுத்தமாக்கும்
Transliteration: avargalai sathiyathinaal parisuthamaakkum
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: ἁγίασον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (ἁγίασον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, 17:17). Reuses established பரிசுத்தமாக்குதல் exactly. The truth that sanctifies is God’s revealed word centered in Christ, not an abstract philosophical principle.
Guide Into Truth
Approved rendering: சகல சத்தியத்திற்குள்ளும் நடத்துதல்
Transliteration: sagala sathiyathirkullum nadaththuthal
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Rejected alternatives: உபதேசம், தீட்சை
Original: ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, 16:13). Must not be read through the Tamil guru-disciple secret-initiation pattern (உபதேசம்/தீட்சை); the Spirit’s teaching is Christ-centered and given openly to all disciples, not an esoteric transmission to an inner circle.
Peace Of Christ
Approved rendering: சமாதானத்தை உங்களுக்கு விட்டுவைக்கிறேன்
Transliteration: samadhaanathai ungalukku vittuvaikkiren
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor; Discipleship
Original: εἰρήνην ἀφίημι ὑμῖν
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (εἰρήνην ἀφίημι ὑμῖν, 14:27; echoed at 20:19,21,26). Reuses established சமாதானம். Parallels the Philippians peace_of_god caution against a சாந்தி (meditative-tranquility) misreading — relational peace given by the personal Christ, not a self-achieved calm state.
No One Snatch From Hand
Approved rendering: ஒருவனும் அவைகளை என் கைக்குப் பறித்துக்கொள்ளமாட்டான்
Transliteration: oruvanum avaigalai en kaikku parithukkollamaattaan
Doctrine: Assurance of Eternal Security
Original: οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις αὐτὰ ἐκ τῆς χειρός μου
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (10:28-29). Parallels the baseline assurance_of_salvation doctrine (Romans 8). Assurance rests in God’s unchanging character and Christ’s own grip on his sheep, not gradual, uncertain, possibly multi-lifetime progress toward liberation.
Rivers Of Living Water Identified With Spirit
Approved rendering: ஜீவத்தண்ணீரின் ஆறுகள்
Transliteration: jeevathanneerin aarugal
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor; The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ποταμοὶ…ὕδατος ζῶντος
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (7:38-39). John’s own narrative gloss explicitly identifies this living water with the Holy Spirit not yet given. Reinforce பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர் as the ultimate referent so the imagery never floats free of the Spirit’s person.
Son Does Likewise
Approved rendering: குமாரனும் அப்படியே செய்கிறார்
Transliteration: kumaaranum appadiye seygiraar
Doctrine: Unity of the Father and the Son
Original: ὁμοίως ποιεῖ ὁ υἱός
Category: God
New in John curriculum (ὁμοίως ποιεῖ ὁ υἱός, 5:19). The Son’s perfect, dependent, yet fully authoritative mirroring of the Father’s action — must not be read as a guru-disciple obedience pattern in which the Son merely imitates a superior teacher; this is intra-Trinitarian cooperation between co-equal Persons.
Spirit Of Truth
Approved rendering: சத்திய ஆவியானவர்
Transliteration: sathiya aaviyanavar
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor
Original: τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας
Category: God
New in John curriculum (τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). Paired Paraclete title. Must not suggest an independently-authoritative or esoteric source of truth, given the guru-disciple secret-transmission pattern (உபதேசம்/தீட்சை) prominent in Tamil religious culture.
Medium Risk Terms
Israel
Approved rendering: இஸ்ரவேல்
Transliteration: israel
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Original: Ἰσραήλ
Category: Church
Inherited from baseline package. John 1:31,47,49; 3:10; 12:13.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய ராஜ்யம்
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Rajyam
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Church
Inherited from baseline package (legacy தேவனுடைய compound retained per compound-tension rule). John 3:3,5 — entry requires the new birth.
Sacrifice
Approved rendering: பலி
Transliteration: pali
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Inherited from baseline package. Typological background for Lamb of God (1:29,36); must not be assimilated to recurring Amman-shrine animal sacrifice.
Baptism
Approved rendering: ஞானஸ்நானம்
Transliteration: gnanasnanam
Doctrine: The New Birth and Regeneration by the Spirit
Rejected alternatives: தீர்த்தம், புனித நீராடல்
Original: βάπτισμα / βαπτίζω
Category: Church
Inherited from baseline package. John’s own baptizing ministry (1:25-33; 3:22-26; 4:1-2), preparatory to Christ’s.
Love
Approved rendering: அன்பு
Transliteration: anbu
Doctrine: God’s Love for the World; The New Commandment of Love
Rejected alternatives: பக்தி, காதல்
Inherited from baseline package. John’s rare positive cultural asset (cf. Thirukkural, Alvar/Nayanmar devotional poetry) — but 3:16’s love is the personal Father’s initiating, unconditional act toward a specific object (the world), never an impersonal principle (‘love is God,’ அன்பே சிவம்) nor bhakti’s responsive-to-devotion pattern.
Joy
Approved rendering: சந்தோஷம்
Transliteration: santhosham
Doctrine: Discipleship (Farewell Discourse)
Inherited from baseline package. John 15:11; 16:20-24; 17:13 — ‘that your joy may be full,’ settled gladness anchored in Christ, not circumstance.
Rejoice
Approved rendering: சந்தோஷப்படுதல்
Transliteration: santhoshappaduthal
Doctrine: Discipleship (Farewell Discourse)
Inherited from baseline package. John 16:20-22 — sorrow turned to joy at the resurrection, paralleling birth-pain imagery (16:21).
Works
Approved rendering: கிரியைகள்
Transliteration: kiriyaigal
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Rejected alternatives: கர்மா, வினை
Inherited from baseline package. In John’s generic ethical usage (3:19-20’s τὰ ἔργα, deeds exposed by the Light) this is NOT the technical ‘works of the law’ compound; flag the distinction in teaching material.
Forgiveness
Approved rendering: மன்னிப்பு
Transliteration: mannippu
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit as Counselor (apostolic commissioning)
Inherited from baseline package. John 20:23 — ‘if you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven them,’ spoken immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit (20:22); never a substitute for redemption/justification vocabulary elsewhere.
Blood And Water
Approved rendering: இரத்தமும் ஜலமும்
Transliteration: irathamum jalamum
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ
Category: Christology
New in John curriculum (19:34). The flow from Jesus’ pierced side, confirming the reality of his physical death (countering docetism) and traditionally connected to the two sacraments.
Perish
Approved rendering: கெட்டுப்போதல்
Transliteration: kettuppothal
Doctrine: God’s Love for the World
Original: ἀπόληται
Category: Salvation
New in John curriculum (ἀπόληται, 3:16). The negative pole of the either/or the passage sets up; preserve the stark contrast without euphemistic softening.
Darkness
Approved rendering: இருள்
Transliteration: irul
Doctrine: Light and Darkness; Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: τὸ σκότος / ἡ σκοτία
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (τὸ σκότος/ἡ σκοτία, 1:5; 3:19; 8:12; 12:35,46). Counter-term to Light — a chosen, morally culpable condition, not a neutral or fated default state; must convey active preference (‘loved darkness rather than light,’ 3:19).
Deeds Works Generic
Approved rendering: கிரியைகள்
Transliteration: kiriyaigal
Doctrine: Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: τὰ ἔργα
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (τὰ ἔργα, 3:19-20). Ordinary moral conduct exposed by the Light — generic ethical usage, NOT the technical Pauline ‘works of the law’ compound; flag the distinction from Galatians’ நியாயப்பிரமாணத்தின் கிரியைகள் in teaching material.
Hates The Light
Approved rendering: ஒளியை வெறுக்கிறான்
Transliteration: oliyai verukkiraan
Doctrine: Light and Darkness; Judgment and Belief/Unbelief
Original: μισεῖ τὸ φῶς
Category: Sin
New in John curriculum (μισεῖ τὸ φῶς, 3:20). Active aversion, not mere neutral avoidance — preserves the personal, morally-responsible framing of judgment.
Witness Testimony
Approved rendering: சாட்சி / சாட்சி கொடுத்தல்
Transliteration: saatchi / saatchi koduthal
Doctrine: Witness and Testimony to Christ
Original: μαρτυρία / μαρτυρέω
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (μαρτυρία/μαρτυρέω, 1:7-8,19-34; 3:11,26,28,32-33; 5:31-39; 8:13-18; 10:25; 15:26-27; 18:37; 19:35; 21:24). John’s recurring legal-evidentiary term-family structuring the whole Gospel’s argument for Christ’s identity; keep the rendering consistent across all chapters.
Sign
Approved rendering: அடையாளம் / அற்புத அடையாளம்
Transliteration: adaiyaalam / arputha adaiyaalam
Doctrine: Signs Revealing Christ’s Glory
Rejected alternatives: சகுனம்
Original: σημεῖον
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (σημεῖον, 2:11,18,23; 3:2; 4:48,54; 6:2,14,26,30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18,37; 20:30). John’s distinctive word for Jesus’ miracles (seven in the body of the Gospel). Do not let அடையாளம் drift toward the Tamil folk-astrological sense of an omen — signs are revelatory acts of the incarnate Logos, not portents to be divined.
Grain Of Wheat
Approved rendering: கோதுமை மணி நிலத்தில் விழுந்து மரிக்க வேண்டும்
Transliteration: kothumai mani nilathil vizhunthu marikka vendum
Doctrine: Christ’s Substitutionary Death and Resurrection
Original: ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου…ἀποθάνῃ
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (12:24). Agricultural parable of death-then-life anticipating Christ’s own death as the means of ‘much fruit’ — a global harvest of believers, never a metaphor for karmic multiplication.
Agape Phileo Distinction
Approved rendering: நேசிக்கிறாயா
Transliteration: nesikkiraayaa
Doctrine: Restoration and Pastoral Ministry (Peter)
Original: ἀγαπᾷς / φιλεῖς
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (ἀγαπᾷς/φιλεῖς, 21:15-17). Tamil’s single primary love-verb (நேசி) cannot reproduce the Greek two-verb nuance across the threefold exchange. TRANSLATOR NOTE required for teaching material; no artificial lexical split, consistent with established Tamil Bible convention.
Feed Tend Sheep
Approved rendering: என் ஆடுகளை மேய்த்துக்கொள்
Transliteration: en aadugalai meyththukkol
Doctrine: Restoration and Pastoral Ministry (Peter)
Rejected alternatives: குரு
Original: βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου / ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου
Category: Discipleship
New in John curriculum (βόσκε/ποίμαινε, 21:15-17). Reuses established மேய்ப்பர் root; never குரு. Peter’s threefold restoration and re-commissioning, directly following his threefold denial.
Sent
Approved rendering: அனுப்பினார்
Transliteration: anuppinaar
Doctrine: Gospel Purpose and the Sending Pattern
Original: ἀποστέλλω / πέμπω
Category: God
New in John curriculum (ἀποστέλλω/πέμπω, 3:17,34; 5:36-38; 6:29,38-39,44,57; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 17:3,8,18,21,23,25; 20:21). Connects to the established apostle/mission word-family (அப்போஸ்தலன் derives from ἀπόστολος, ‘one sent’); establishes the Trinitarian sending-pattern (Father sends Son, Son sends Spirit, Son sends the church) — must stay personal and purposive.
Sabbath
Approved rendering: ஓய்வுநாள்
Transliteration: oivunaal
Doctrine: Sabbath Authority of Christ
Original: σάββατον
Category: Church
New in John curriculum as a standalone key (σάββατον, 5:9-18; 7:22-23; 9:14-16; 19:31). Reuses established ஓய்வுநாள் exactly (baseline festival_new_moon_sabbath compound). The doctrinal weight lies not in the term but in the equal-divine-prerogative claim it provokes at 5:18.
Low Risk Terms
Rabbi
Approved rendering: ரபீ
Transliteration: rapee
Doctrine: Witness and Testimony to Christ
Rejected alternatives: குரு
Original: Ῥαββί
Category: Faith
New in John curriculum (Ῥαββί, 1:38,49; 3:2). Transliterate; NEVER குரு, per the established rule against குரு for any NT teaching/spiritual-authority office.
Referenced passages