Core Glossary
Core Glossary: The Gospel of Mark
English → Tamil Language Package | Mark 1–16
Generated: Phase 1, Step 1
Companion document: 07_semantic_analysis.md
This glossary consolidates every load-bearing theological term identified across the whole book of Mark, chapter by chapter, plus the full verse-by-verse treatment of the core passage (Mark 10:35-45). Terms already recorded in the baseline translation_memory.json / bible_term_registry.json are marked REUSE (baseline) and their recorded Tamil rendering is repeated here unchanged, per the hard rule that established renderings must be reused exactly. Terms new to this curriculum are marked NEW and are proposed here for promotion into translation memory at Phase 2.
Risk tiers follow the baseline’s doctrine_risk_registry.json definitions:
- Critical — mistranslation destroys essential doctrine; human theologian review required for every occurrence.
- High — significant theological confusion/syncretism risk; human theologian review required.
- Medium — reduces clarity but preserves essential meaning; native speaker review recommended.
- Low — minor imprecision; automated review sufficient.
Table 1 — Terms Reused Exactly from Baseline Translation Memory
| Term | Greek (original) | Transliteration | Tamil Term | Risk | Doctrine(s) Fed | Primary Mark Passages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| God | θεός | theos | கடவுள் | Critical | Son of God; Kingdom Breaking In | Throughout |
| Jesus | Ἰησοῦς | Iēsous | இயேசு | Critical | All | Throughout |
| Christ / Messiah | Χριστός | Christos | கிறிஸ்து | Critical | Suffering Servant & Son of God; Messianic Secret | 1:1; 8:29; 9:41; 12:35; 13:21; 14:61-62; 15:32 |
| Son of God | υἱὸς θεοῦ | huios theou | தேவனுடைய குமாரன் | Critical | Suffering Servant & Son of God | 1:1,11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 15:39 |
| Lord | κύριος | kyrios | கர்த்தர் | Critical | Authority over Sickness, Sin, Nature | 1:3; 2:28; 5:19; 7:28; 11:3,9-10; 12:29-30,36-37 |
| Holy Spirit | πνεῦμα ἅγιον | pneuma hagion | பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர் | Critical | Kingdom Breaking In; Authority | 1:8,10,12; 3:29; 12:36; 13:11 |
| Father | πατήρ | patēr | பிதா | Critical | Necessity of the Cross | 8:38; 11:25; 13:32; 14:36 |
| Abba | Ἀββά | Abba | அப்பா | Low (rich) | Necessity of the Cross | 14:36 |
| Gospel | εὐαγγέλιον | euangelion | சுவிசேஷம் | High | Kingdom Breaking In | 1:1,14-15; 8:35; 10:29; 13:10; 14:9; 16:15 |
| Kingdom of God | βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ | basileia tou theou | தேவனுடைய ராஜ்யம் | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | 1:15; 4:11,26,30; 9:1,47; 10:14-15,23-25; 12:34; 14:25 |
| Faith / Believe | πίστις / πιστεύω | pistis / pisteuō | விசுவாசம் | High | Faith and Discipleship amid Fear | 2:5; 4:40; 5:34,36; 6:6; 9:23-24; 10:52; 11:22-24 |
| Baptism | βάπτισμα | baptisma | ஞானஸ்நானம் | Medium (High in metaphorical use) | Necessity of the Cross | 1:4-11; 10:38-39; 16:16 |
| Sin | ἁμαρτία | hamartia | பாவம் | High | Authority over Sin | 1:4-5; 2:5-10; 3:28-29 |
| Gentiles / Nations | ἔθνη | ethnē | புறஜாதியார் | High | Kingdom Breaking In | 7:26; 10:33,42; 11:17; 13:10 |
| Resurrection | ἀνάστασις | anastasis | உயிர்த்தெழுதல் | Critical | Suffering Servant & Son of God | 8:31; 9:9,31; 10:34; 12:18-27; 16:6 |
| Glory | δόξα | doxa | மகிமை | High | Kingdom Breaking In; Messianic Secret | 8:38; 10:37; 13:26 |
| Covenant | διαθήκη | diathēkē | உடன்படிக்கை | High | Ransom for Many | 14:24 |
| Cross | σταυρός | stauros | சிலுவை | High | Necessity of the Cross | 8:34; 15:21-32 |
| Apostle | ἀπόστολος | apostolos | அப்போஸ்தலன் | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | 3:14; 6:30 |
| Prophet | προφήτης | prophētēs | தீர்க்கதரிசி | Low | Suffering Servant & Son of God | 1:2; 6:4,15; 8:28; 11:32; 13:14 |
| Forgiveness (of sins) | ἄφεσις (ἁμαρτιῶν) / ἀφίημι | aphesis / aphiēmi | மன்னிப்பு | Medium | Authority over Sin | 2:5-10; cf. 1:4 |
| Love | ἀγάπη / ἀγαπάω | agapē / agapaō | அன்பு | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | 12:29-31 |
| Cornerstone | κεφαλὴ γωνίας | kephalē gōnias | மூலைக்கல் | Medium | Suffering Servant & Son of God | 12:10 |
| Suffering | πάσχω / πάθημα | paschō / pathēma | பாடுகள் | High | Suffering Servant; Necessity of the Cross | 8:31; 9:12,31; 10:33-34 |
| Transformed/Transfigured | μεταμορφόω | metamorphoō | மறுரூபமாக்கப்படுதல் | High | Suffering Servant & Son of God | 9:2-8 |
| Called | καλέω | kaleō | அழைத்தல் | Medium | Faith and Discipleship | 1:20; 2:17 |
Table 2 — New Terms Proposed for This Curriculum
| Term | Greek (original) | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Tamil Term | Risk | Doctrine(s) Fed | Alternatives Rejected | Primary Mark Passages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son of Man | υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου | huios tou anthrōpou | ”son of a human” — technical self-title from Daniel 7:13 | மனுஷகுமாரன் | Critical | Suffering Servant & Son of God; Ransom for Many; Necessity of the Cross | மனித மகன் (loses titular technicality); conflation with தேவனுடைய குமாரன் | 2:10,28; 8:31,38; 9:9,12,31; 10:33,45; 13:26; 14:21,41,62 |
| Ransom | λύτρον | lytron | ”price paid to release a captive/slave” | மீட்கும்பொருள் | Critical | Ransom for Many | பரிகாரம் (ritual remedy — forbidden, transactional-parihāram collision); bare தொகை (flattens to mere sum of money) | 10:45 |
| Ransom-substitution preposition | ἀντὶ (πολλῶν) | anti (pollōn) | “instead of / in place of” | -க்குப் பதிலாக | Critical | Ransom for Many | -க்காக (weakens to representative “for the sake of,” losing substitution) | 10:45 |
| Necessity (of suffering) | δεῖ | dei | ”it is necessary, one must” | அவசியம் (…வேண்டும்) | Critical | Necessity of the Cross | ஊழ்/தலைவிதி/விதி/ஊழ்வினை (all forbidden fatalism vocabulary) | 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; 14:49 |
| To suffer | πάσχω / παθεῖν | paschō / pathein | ”to undergo, experience (esp. hardship)“ | பாடுபடுதல் / பாடுகளை அநுபவித்தல் | Critical | Suffering Servant & Son of God | — | 8:31; 9:12; 10:33-34 |
| To save/heal (dual sense) | σῴζω | sōzō | ”to save, rescue, heal, deliver” | Context-sensitive: குணமாக்கியிருக்கிறது (physical) / இரட்சிப்பு-family (eschatological) | Critical | Authority over Sickness; Faith and Discipleship | Flat physical-only rendering in every case (erases Mark’s deliberate double meaning) | 3:4; 5:23,28,34; 6:56; 8:35; 10:26,52; 13:13,20; 15:30-31 |
| Cup (of suffering) | ποτήριον | potērion | ”drinking vessel” (metaph.: appointed portion of suffering/wrath) | பாத்திரம் | High | Necessity of the Cross | — | 10:38-39; 14:36 |
| Baptism (metaphorical) | βάπτισμα (metaph.) | baptisma | ”immersion” (metaph.: being overwhelmed by suffering) | ஞானஸ்நானம் (with mandatory teaching note on metaphorical extension) | High | Necessity of the Cross | — | 10:38-39 |
| Authority | ἐξουσία | exousia | ”legitimate right/warrant to act” | அதிகாரம் | High | Authority over Sickness, Sin, Nature | சக்தி (forbidden — Amman-goddess collision, per baseline power_of_god rule) | 1:22,27; 2:10; 6:7; 11:28-33 |
| To lord over (negative) | κατακυριεύω | katakyrieuō | ”to dominate, exercise mastery over” | ஆளுகை செய்தல் / மேலாதிக்கம் செலுத்துதல் | High | Servanthood vs Worldly Greatness | Any கர்த்தர்-root rendering (would destroy the deliberate Lord/lord-it-over wordplay contrast) | 10:42 |
| To exercise authority (negative) | κατεξουσιάζω | katexousiazō | ”to wield authority over” | அதிகாரம் செலுத்துதல் | Medium | Servanthood vs Worldly Greatness | — | 10:42 |
| Servant/minister | διάκονος / διακονέω | diakonos / diakoneō | ”one who serves/attends to needs” | ஊழியக்காரன் / ஊழியம் செய்தல் | High | Servanthood vs Worldly Greatness; Ransom for Many | குரு-adjacent framing (forbidden — sacralizes into master-status) | 9:35; 10:43,45 |
| First (rank) | πρῶτος | prōtos | ”first, foremost” | எல்லாரிலும் முதன்மையானவன் (full phrase; never bare முதல்வன்) | High | Servanthood vs Worldly Greatness | Bare முதல்வன்/முதல்வர் (collides with “Chief Minister,” per Colossians preeminence precedent) | 9:35; 10:44 |
| Slave | δοῦλος | doulos | ”slave, bondservant” | அடிமை | High | Servanthood vs Worldly Greatness | — (reuse of Galatians/Philippians அடிமை) | 10:44 |
| Life/soul | ψυχή | psychē | ”the whole living self” | ஜீவன் / உயிர் | Medium | Ransom for Many; Faith and Discipleship | Rendering implying a detachable, reincarnating soul-substance | 8:35-37; 10:45 |
| ”Many” (Isaiah 53 echo) | πολλῶν | pollōn | ”many” (not “all,” not “a few”) | அநேகர் | High | Ransom for Many; Suffering Servant | பலர் without the Isaiah 53 teaching-note cross-reference | 10:45; 14:24 |
| Unclean spirit / demon | ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα / δαιμόνιον | akatharton pneuma / daimonion | ”spirit characterized by cultic uncleanness” | அசுத்த ஆவி | High | Authority over Sickness, Sin, Nature; Messianic Secret | பேய் (folk-taxonomy collision — implies a manageable, ritually-negotiable spirit-class) | 1:23-27,34; 3:11,22-30; 5:1-20; 7:25; 9:14-29 |
| Repentance | μετάνοια / μετανοέω | metanoia / metanoeō | ”a change of mind/direction” | மனந்திரும்புதல் | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | — | 1:4,15; 6:12 |
| To draw near (kingdom) | ἐγγίζω (ἤγγικεν) | engizō (ēngiken) | “to approach, come within reach” | சமீபித்திருக்கிறது | High | Kingdom of God Breaking In | Future-only “will come” framing (loses present-breaking-in force) | 1:15 |
| To proclaim/herald | κηρύσσω | kēryssō | ”to announce publicly as a herald” | பிரசங்கித்தல் | Low-Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | — | 1:14,38-39; 13:10; 16:15 |
| Moved with compassion | σπλαγχνίζομαι | splanchnizomai | ”to be inwardly stirred with pity” | மனதுருகுதல் / இரக்கங்கொள்ளுதல் | Low-Medium | Authority over Sickness | — | 1:41; 6:34; 8:2; 9:22 |
| To forgive sins (authority to) | ἁμαρτίας ἀφιέναι | hamartias aphienai | ”to release/forgive sins” | பாவங்களை மன்னிக்கும் அதிகாரம் | High | Authority over Sin | — | 2:5-10 |
| Blasphemy against the Spirit | βλασφημία εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον | blasphēmia eis to pneuma to hagion | ”slander/blasphemy directed at the Holy Spirit” | பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவருக்கு விரோதமான தூஷணம் | High | Authority over Sin | — | 3:28-30 |
| Will of God | θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ | thelēma tou theou | ”God’s intention/purpose” | கடவுளுடைய சித்தம் | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | — | 3:35 |
| Parable | παραβολή | parabolē | ”a placing-beside; comparison” | உபமானம் | Low | Kingdom Breaking In | — | 4:1-34 |
| Mystery of the kingdom | μυστήριον τῆς βασιλείας | mystērion tēs basileias | ”the once-hidden plan of the kingdom” | ராஜ்யத்தின் இரகசியம் | High | Kingdom Breaking In; Messianic Secret | மறைஞானம் (esoteric gnosis) | 4:11 |
| To rebuke/command sternly | ἐπιτιμάω | epitimaō | ”to charge/command with severity” | கடிந்துகொள்ளுதல் | High | Authority over Sickness, Sin, Nature; Messianic Secret | — | 1:25; 3:12; 4:39; 8:33; 9:25 |
| Tradition of the elders | παράδοσις τῶν πρεσβυτέρων | paradosis tōn presbyterōn | ”custom handed down by elders” | மூப்பர்களின் பாரம்பரியம் | Medium | Authority over Sin | — | 7:3-13 |
| Clean/unclean (ritual) | καθαρός / κοινός | katharos / koinos | ”ritually pure / common, defiled” | தீட்டு / அசுத்தம் | High | Authority over Sin | Endorsement of exclusionary purity-code framing | 7:1-23 |
| Messianic silencing formula | διαστέλλομαι ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν | diastellomai hina mēdeni eipōsin | ”to strictly charge that no one be told” | கண்டிப்பாகக் கட்டளையிட்டு, “ஒருவருக்கும் சொல்லாதே” என்றார் | High | The Messianic Secret | Inconsistent ad hoc renderings across occurrences | 1:34,44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; 9:9 |
| Eternal life | ζωὴν αἰώνιον | zōēn aiōnion | ”life of the age to come” | நித்திய ஜீவன் | Medium | Kingdom Breaking In | Merit-reward framing (violates grace-not-merit rule) | 10:17,30 |
| Delivered up / betrayed | παραδίδοται / παραδίδωμι | paradidotai / paradidōmi | ”to be handed over” | காட்டிக்கொடுக்கப்படுதல் | Medium | Necessity of the Cross | — | 10:33; 14:10-11,18,21,41-42; 15:1,10,15 |
| Tribulation | θλῖψις | thlipsis | ”affliction, distress” | உபத்திரவம் | Medium | Necessity of the Cross | — | 13:19,24 |
| False christs/prophets | ψευδόχριστοι / ψευδοπροφῆται | pseudochristoi / pseudoprophētai | ”counterfeit anointed ones/spokespersons” | போலி கிறிஸ்துக்கள் / போலித் தீர்க்கதரிசிகள் | Medium | Messianic Secret | — | 13:22 |
| Watch/stay alert | γρηγορέω | grēgoreō | ”to keep awake, be vigilant” | விழித்திருங்கள் | Low-Medium | Faith and Discipleship amid Fear | — | 13:33-37 |
| ”Not even the Son” (self-limitation) | οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός | oude ho huios | ”nor the Son [knows]“ | பிதா ஒருவர் மாத்திரம் அறிவார்; குமாரனும் அறியார் | High | Necessity of the Cross; Suffering Servant & Son of God | Any rendering implying diminished eternal deity | 13:32 |
| ”I am” (self-disclosure) | ἐγώ εἰμι | egō eimi | ”I am / it is I” | நான்தான் / நானே | High (at 14:62) | Messianic Secret; Suffering Servant & Son of God | — | 6:50; 14:62 |
| The veil/curtain | καταπέτασμα | katapetasma | ”the temple’s inner curtain” | திரைச்சீலை | Medium-High | Necessity of the Cross | — | 15:38 |
| To deny oneself | ἀπαρνέομαι ἑαυτόν | aparneomai heauton | ”to disown/renounce oneself” | தன்னைத்தானே மறுத்தல் | High | Faith and Discipleship amid Fear; Necessity of the Cross | — | 8:34 |
| To be raised (resuscitation, non-eschatological) | ἐγείρω | egeirō | ”to raise up, cause to rise” | எழுந்திரு (NOT உயிர்த்தெழுதல்) | Medium | Authority over Sickness, Sin, Nature | உயிர்த்தெழுதல் (reserved exclusively for the eschatological resurrection doctrine) | 5:41-42 |
Table 3 — Transliterated / Preserved Terms (Aramaic and Liturgical Exclamations)
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Tamil Rendering | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talitha koum | Ταλιθα κουμ | Talitha koum | தலீத்தா கூமி (with Mark’s own built-in gloss retained immediately following) | Low | Mark 5:41; parallel precedent to Abba |
| Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani | Ἐλωΐ Ἐλωΐ, λεμὰ σαβαχθανί | Elōi Elōi, lema sabachthani | ஏலோயீ, ஏலோயீ, லாமா சபக்தானி (with gloss retained) | High (theologically, not lexically) | Mark 15:34; quotes Psalm 22:1; culmination of Ransom/Necessity doctrines |
| Hosanna | ὡσαννά | hōsanna | ஓசன்னா | Low | Mark 11:9-10; established liturgical transliteration |
| Corban | κορβᾶν | korban | கொற்பான் (transliterated, with gloss) | Low | Mark 7:11; a vow-formula term, minor |
Cross-Reference Notes for Phase 2
- Son of Man vs. Son of God: these two titles (மனுஷகுமாரன் / தேவனுடைய குமாரன்) must remain visibly distinct in Tamil at every occurrence even though Mark’s narrative theology unites both identities in the single person of Jesus. Never allow either term to substitute for the other.
- σῴζω’s dual sense (save/heal) requires segment-by-segment theologian review across all listed passages (3:4; 5:23,28,34; 6:56; 8:35; 10:26,52; 13:13,20; 15:30-31) — this is the single most pervasive translation-choice risk in the whole book, since one Greek lexeme spans both the Critical-tier இரட்சிப்பு domain and the Low-tier physical-healing domain.
- The Messianic Secret formula (1:34,44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; 9:9) must render with one locked, consistent Tamil formula across all six-plus occurrences so the pattern is visible to the Tamil reader as Mark intends.
- λύτρον/ἀντὶ πολλῶν (Mark 10:45) is the single highest-stakes new lexical decision in this curriculum — on par with the baseline’s προορίζω/முன்குறித்தல் decision in the Ephesians package — and should receive the same “four anchors” style enforcement discipline in translation memory (concrete price-paid sense; substitutionary ἀντί; personal agent — the Son of Man himself; Isaiah 53 “many” echo).
- πρῶτος (Mark 9:35; 10:44) inherits the Colossians package’s முதல்வர்/“Chief Minister” collision caution verbatim; cross-reference the two books’ teaching material.
- ἐξουσία / κατακυριεύω / κατεξουσιάζω (Mark 10:42) wordplay: ensure அதிகாரம் (legitimate authority, used positively of Jesus throughout) is never confused with the negative ஆளுகை செய்தல் (worldly domination) — the two must read as a deliberate moral contrast, not synonyms.
- Cup (ποτήριον) and metaphorical baptism (βάπτισμα) at 10:38-39 must render identically at their Gethsemane recurrence (14:36 for the cup); this is a deliberate authorial echo linking the Core Passage to the Passion’s climax.
End of core glossary. This document and 07_semantic_analysis.md together constitute the complete Step 1 deliverable for the Mark curriculum’s Tamil Language Package.
Critical Risk Terms
God
Approved rendering: கடவுள்
Transliteration: kadavul
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: தேவன், பரமேஸ்வரன், பகவான்
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. கடவுள் exclusively throughout Mark; never தேவன் (a deva, one deity among the Hindu pantheon). Mark’s whole narrative turns on the identity of the one true God acting decisively in Jesus.
Jesus
Approved rendering: இயேசு
Transliteration: yesu
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Established Tamil Christian standard form throughout.
Christ
Approved rendering: கிறிஸ்து
Transliteration: kiristhu
Doctrine: The Messianic Secret
Original: Χριστός
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package (promoted to full entry in the Galatians package). Peter’s confession (8:29) and the trial (14:61-62) both turn on this title; never one of a class of divine or avatar figures. Guard against a triumphalist, non-suffering default reading in Tamil devotional expectation.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய குமாரன்
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Kumaran
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: தெய்வப்புத்திரன்
Original: υἱὸς θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Fixed at 1:1,11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 15:39, and equivalently at 14:61’s ‘Son of the Blessed’. Must remain visibly distinct in Tamil script from மனுஷகுமாரன் (Son of Man) even though Mark unites both identities in one person. Never தெய்வப்புத்திரன் (places Jesus within a pantheon of divine sons, as Murugan/Pillaiyar are ranked).
Lord
Approved rendering: கர்த்தர்
Transliteration: karthar
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: எஜமான்
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. Claimed over the Sabbath (2:28) and confirmed via Psalm 110:1 (12:36-37). In Mark 10:42’s wordplay (κατακυριεύουσιν, ‘lord it over’), கர்த்தர்-root vocabulary is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for Christ’s true Lordship — never used for worldly ‘lording,’ or the deliberate moral contrast collapses.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர்
Transliteration: Parisutha Aaviyanavar
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: பிரம்மம், பரமாத்மா
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Active at Jesus’ baptism (1:8-12); the blasphemy warning (3:29) depends entirely on the Spirit’s personhood — an impersonal force cannot be blasphemed against.
Father
Approved rendering: பிதா
Transliteration: pitha
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Invoked at Gethsemane (14:36) and named in the Son’s self-limitation saying (13:32).
Resurrection
Approved rendering: உயிர்த்தெழுதல்
Transliteration: uyirthezhuthal
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Eschatology
Inherited from Romans package. NEVER மறுபிறவி. Fixed third element of every Passion prediction (8:31; 9:31; 10:34), the Sadducee debate (12:18-27), and the empty tomb (16:6). Must be kept lexically distinct from Mark’s own resuscitation narratives (5:41-42), which use ἐγείρω and render எழுந்திரு — these figures die again; Christ’s resurrection ends death rather than postponing it.
Salvation
Approved rendering: இரட்சிப்பு
Transliteration: iratchippu
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: மோட்சம், முக்தி
Inherited from Romans package. NEVER மோட்சம்/முக்தி. Root vocabulary for the eschatological pole of σῴζω’s dual save/heal sense in Mark (8:35; 10:26; 13:13,20) — see save_heal entry for context-sensitive handling.
Transform Our Body
Approved rendering: மறுரூபமாக்குதல்
Transliteration: marurupamaakkuthal
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: மறுபிறவி, உருமாற்றம், புதிய உடல் பெறுதல்
Inherited from the baseline Philippians extension. Root reference for Mark’s transfiguration entry (μεταμορφόω, 9:2-8). Philippians describes the FUTURE transformation of believers’ bodies; Mark 9:2-8 discloses Christ’s own PRESENT, already-true glory momentarily unveiled — distinguish the two applications in teaching material; do not conflate what is being disclosed.
Son Of Man
Approved rendering: மனுஷகுமாரன்
Transliteration: manusha-kumaran
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: மனித மகன்
Original: υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Jesus’ most frequent self-designation in Mark (14 occurrences), drawing on Daniel 7:13-14’s authoritative heavenly figure while also naming the one who suffers and dies. Established Tamil Bible convention. NEVER மனித மகன் (loses titular technicality, reads as merely descriptive of humanity) and NEVER conflated with தேவனுடைய குமாரன் — the two titles must remain visibly distinct in script even though the same person bears both. Anchors 2:10,28; 8:31,38; 9:9,12,31; 10:33,45; 13:26; 14:21,41,62.
Ransom
Approved rendering: மீட்கும்பொருள்
Transliteration: meetkum-porul
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Rejected alternatives: பரிகாரம், தொகை
Original: λύτρον
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum — the single highest-stakes lexical decision in the whole book. Mark 10:45’s λύτρον, the price paid to release a captive/slave. Built on the established மீட்பு root but naming the concrete PRICE-PAID sense distinct from the broader act of redemption. NEVER பரிகாரம் (the live Tamil temple economy’s paid ritual remedy for a diagnosed affliction/dosha, e.g. naga dosham — this would re-import exactly the transactional remediation logic the doctrine abolishes). NEVER bare தொகை (too flatly commercial, loses the sacrificial/substitutionary sense). Mandatory theologian review at every occurrence.
Ransom In Place Of Many
Approved rendering: அநேகருக்குப் பதிலாக
Transliteration: anekarukku pathilaaga
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Rejected alternatives: அநேகருக்காக
Original: ἀντὶ πολλῶν
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum. Renders Mark 10:45’s substitutionary ἀντὶ πολλῶν. -க்குப் பதிலாக (‘instead of/in place of’) is required; -க்காக (‘for the sake of/on behalf of’) is REJECTED because it flattens substitution into a vaguer solidarity claim, matching the weaker ὑπέρ used at 14:24 instead. Must be reviewed as part of the indivisible Mark 10:45 unit.
Necessity Of Suffering
Approved rendering: அவசியம்
Transliteration: avasiyam
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Rejected alternatives: ஊழ், தலைவிதி, விதி, ஊழ்வினை
Original: δεῖ
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders δεῖ, the impersonal-in-Greek-but-personally-grounded verb of binding obligation anchoring every Passion prediction (8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; cf. 14:49). CRITICAL: must render as God’s personal, purposive, Scripture-fulfilling redemptive determination — NEVER ஊழ் (classical Tamil literary fate, Thirukkural), தலைவிதி (‘forehead-writing’), or விதி/ஊழ்வினை (impersonal destiny/karmic determinism). Always co-occur with explicit Scripture-fulfillment language.
Save Heal
Approved rendering: இரட்சித்தல் / குணமாக்குதல் (context-sensitive)
Transliteration: iratchithal / gunamaakkuthal
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: flat physical-only rendering in every occurrence
Original: σῴζω
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum — the single most pervasive translation-choice risk in Mark. Renders σῴζω, one Greek verb spanning both physical healing/rescue (5:23,28,34; 6:56) and eschatological salvation (8:35; 10:26; 13:13,20), deliberately not distinguished lexically by Mark. Render contextually — குணமாக்கியிருக்கிறது for clear physical healing; இரட்சிப்பு-family vocabulary where the eschatological sense is in view — but flag EVERY occurrence for theologian review as a set, with a standing teaching note naming the genuine, unrecoverable translation loss.
High Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: சுவிசேஷம்
Transliteration: suvisesham
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Rejected alternatives: நல்ல செய்தி
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. Opens (1:1) and structurally frames Mark; paired immediately at 1:14-15 with the kingdom’s nearness and the call to repent and believe.
Kingdom Of God
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய ராஜ்யம்
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Rajyam
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Original: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package (baseline Medium risk); ESCALATED to High specifically for Mark per this curriculum’s doctrine_risk_registry.json, because the crowd at the triumphal entry (11:10, ‘the kingdom of our father David’) voices exactly the political-military misreading James and John enact at 10:37. Must read as God’s present, active reign breaking into history, never a future-only or spatially remote reward-realm (never வைகுண்டம்/கைலாசம் associations).
Faith
Approved rendering: விசுவாசம்
Transliteration: vishvasam
Doctrine: Faith and Discipleship amid Fear
Rejected alternatives: பக்தி
Original: πίστις / πιστεύω
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package. Repeatedly paired with and set against fear (4:40; 5:34,36; 9:23-24; 10:52; 11:22-24) — trust in Jesus’ specific person, never generic devotional reverence (பக்தி).
Sin
Approved rendering: பாவம்
Transliteration: paavam
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: தீவினை
Original: ἁμαρτία
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package. The object of Jesus’ forgiving authority (2:1-12) and the unforgivable-blasphemy warning (3:28-29) — moral transgression before a personal God, never impersonal karmic action.
Gentiles
Approved rendering: புறஜாதியார்
Transliteration: purajathiyar
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Original: ἔθνη
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. The standing caution (ஜாதி is Tamil’s ordinary word for caste) is especially live at 10:42, where ‘the Gentiles’ rulers’ models the worldly domination Jesus forbids among disciples — ensure this is not misread as a caste classification.
Glory
Approved rendering: மகிமை
Transliteration: magimai
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Original: δόξα
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package. James and John’s request (10:37) assumes glory as immediate, visible political enthronement; render identically at 9:2-8 and 13:26 so the reader recognizes Mark correcting, not endorsing, that assumption. Never soften to மேன்மை.
Covenant
Approved rendering: உடன்படிக்கை
Transliteration: udanpadikkai
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Rejected alternatives: ஒப்பந்தம்
Original: διαθήκη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. ‘My blood of the covenant, poured out for many’ (14:24) uses ὑπέρ, a different preposition than 10:45’s ἀντί; both echo Isaiah 53’s ‘many’ but the grammatical distinction should be preserved in teaching material.
Cross
Approved rendering: சிலுவை
Transliteration: siluvai
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: σταυρός / σταυρόω
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package. Required pattern of discipleship (8:34) and the climax of the Passion (ch. 15). Must never be aestheticized — full narrative shame (mockery, crown of thorns, flanking criminals echoing 10:37,40) must stand.
Suffering
Approved rendering: பாடுகள்
Transliteration: paadugal
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Original: πάσχω / πάθημα
Category: Christology
Inherited from the baseline Philippians extension. Fixed second element of every Passion prediction (8:31; 9:12,31; 10:33-34). In Mark the emphasis is prophetic necessity and Scripture-fulfillment, distinct from (though compatible with) Philippians’ grace-gift framing of suffering; teaching material should distinguish the two angles.
Mystery
Approved rendering: இரகசியம்
Transliteration: irakasiyam
Doctrine: The Mystery of the Kingdom in the Parables
Rejected alternatives: மறைஞானம், மறைபொருள்
Original: μυστήριον
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians/Colossians extensions. CAUTION — Mark 4:11 runs in the OPPOSITE direction from the Ephesians/Colossians ‘now revealed to everyone’ emphasis: it draws a genuine insider/outsider distinction restricting full understanding to receptive, faith-responding hearers (not an esoteric elite). Do not silently harmonize with the epistles’ usage; flag for cross-book review every time it occurs in Mark 4.
Devil
Approved rendering: பிசாசு
Transliteration: pisaasu
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: பேய்
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians extension. Reserved exclusively for διάβολος, the one singular, personal, defeated adversary — distinct from Mark’s plural ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα/δαιμόνιον narratives, which render அசுத்த ஆவி, never பேய்.
Redemption
Approved rendering: மீட்பு
Transliteration: meetpu
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Inherited from the baseline Galatians extension. The broader established root for the act of redemption; Mark 10:45 requires a NEW, distinct compound (மீட்கும்பொருள், see below) naming the concrete price-paid sense — மீட்பு and மீட்கும்பொருள் must stay distinguishable, not synonymous, in teaching material.
Grace
Approved rendering: கிருபை
Transliteration: kirupai
Doctrine: Eternal Life and the Rich Young Man
Rejected alternatives: புண்ணியம், ஊழ்வினை பலன்
Inherited from Romans package. The standing grace-not-merit rule underlies Mark’s eternal-life doctrine (10:17-31): நித்திய ஜீவன் must not be heard as an individual merit-reward. Never புண்ணியம்.
Called
Approved rendering: அழைக்கப்பட்ட
Transliteration: azhaikkappatta
Doctrine: The Calling of the Disciples
Rejected alternatives: அழைப்பு பெற்ற
Inherited from Romans package. Context-sensitive across Mark: the immediate, decisive response of Simon, Andrew, James, John, Levi (1:16-20; 2:14) to a specific person’s summons, never a generalized invitation to a religious path (மார்க்கம்).
Calling
Approved rendering: அழைப்பு
Transliteration: azhaippu
Doctrine: The Calling of the Disciples
Inherited from Romans package. Noun form for the act or state of being summoned by God/Christ, applicable to the Twelve’s appointment (3:13-19).
Providence
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய பராமரிப்பு
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Paramarippu
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Rejected alternatives: ஊழ்
Inherited from Romans package. Cited as the doctrinal parallel-caution for Mark’s necessity-of-suffering (δεῖ) vocabulary — both must render as God’s personal, purposive governance, never ஊழ் (the classical Tamil literary fate-concept prominent in Thirukkural).
Power Of God
Approved rendering: தேவனுடைய வல்லமை
Transliteration: Devanudaiya Vallamai
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: சக்தி
Inherited from Romans package. NEVER சக்தி. Cited as the direct precedent for Mark’s authority (ἐξουσία, அதிகாரம்) term — δύναμις/வல்லமை (raw might) and ἐξουσία/அதிகாரம் (legitimate warrant) are distinct but both exclude the Amman-goddess சக்தி register.
Form Of A Servant
Approved rendering: அடிமையின் ரூபம்
Transliteration: adimaiyin rupam
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Rejected alternatives: வேலைக்காரனின் ரூபம்
Inherited from the baseline Philippians extension. The root precedent for Mark’s slave (அடிமை) term at 10:44 — the SAME word used for Christ’s own kenotic self-humbling (Philippians 2:7) is here commanded of every disciple who wants to be first.
Slavery
Approved rendering: அடிமைத்தனம்
Transliteration: adimaithanam
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Inherited from the baseline Galatians extension. Cited for its two standing Tamil-specific cautions (inversion of the bhakti அடியார்/அடிமை honorific; caste/bonded-labor-history resonance), both directly applicable to Mark 10:44’s bare noun அடிமை.
To Suffer
Approved rendering: பாடுபடுதல்
Transliteration: paadupaduthal
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: παθεῖν
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders the infinitive παθεῖν, paired inseparably with δεῖ in all three Passion predictions. Must render consistently across all three occurrences so the reader recognizes the repeated formula.
Cup Of Suffering
Approved rendering: பாத்திரம்
Transliteration: pathiram
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: ποτήριον
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. The ‘cup’ James and John are asked whether they can drink (10:38-39), recurring at Gethsemane (14:36) — the Old Testament idiom for an appointed portion of suffering/wrath (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15). Both occurrences must render identically; mandatory teaching note supplying the Old Testament background for a first-generation Tamil reader.
Baptism Of Suffering
Approved rendering: ஞானஸ்நானம் (உருவகப் பொருளில்)
Transliteration: gnanasnanam (uruvaga porulil)
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: βάπτισμα (metaphorical)
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. The metaphorical ‘baptism’ of being overwhelmed by suffering unto death (10:38-39), distinct from the literal water-rite. Reuses ஞானஸ்நானம் for lexical consistency but REQUIRES a mandatory teaching note flagging the metaphorical extension.
Authority
Approved rendering: அதிகாரம்
Transliteration: athigaram
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: சக்தி
Original: ἐξουσία
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἐξουσία, the legitimate right/warrant to act, distinct from raw power. NEVER சக்தி (Amman-goddess collision, inherited rule). Tracked as ONE unified claim across teaching (1:22), exorcism (1:27), forgiveness (2:10), delegated mission (6:7), and the authority-question (11:28-33); stands in deliberate negative contrast with κατεξουσιάζω (10:42).
Lord Over Negative
Approved rendering: ஆளுகை செய்தல்
Transliteration: aalugai seithal
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Rejected alternatives: any கர்த்தர்-root form
Original: κατακυριεύω
Category: Ethics
NEW for this curriculum. Renders κατακυριεύω (10:42), the corrupt domination pattern of Gentile rulers. Built on the same Greek root as κύριος, but MUST NEVER use any கர்த்தர்-family Tamil word — that would erase Mark’s deliberate irony (worldly ‘lords’ dominate; the true Lord serves), the single most consequential ‘reach for the familiar root’ trap in this book.
Servant Minister
Approved rendering: ஊழியக்காரன்
Transliteration: oozhiyakkaaran
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Rejected alternatives: குரு-adjacent framing
Original: διάκονος / διακονέω
Category: Discipleship
NEW for this curriculum. Renders διάκονος/διακονέω in its general ethical sense (9:35; 10:43,45), the standard of greatness Jesus commands and his own self-description. NEVER குரு-adjacent framing. The passive/active contrast at 10:45 (διακονηθῆναι/διακονῆσαι, ‘to be served’/‘to serve’) must be preserved with two distinct verb forms, never collapsed into one.
First Rank
Approved rendering: எல்லாரிலும் முதன்மையானவன்
Transliteration: ellaarilum muthanmaiyaanavan
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Rejected alternatives: முதல்வன், முதல்வர்
Original: πρῶτος
Category: Discipleship
NEW for this curriculum. Renders πρῶτος (9:35; 10:44). NEVER the bare முதல்வன்/முதல்வர், which collides with the everyday Tamil title for a state’s Chief Minister — identical to the documented Colossians 1:18 preeminence caution. Always the full descriptive phrase.
Slave
Approved rendering: அடிமை
Transliteration: adimai
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Discipleship
NEW standalone entry for this curriculum (root precedent: baseline form_of_a_servant/slavery). Renders δοῦλος (10:44). The same Tamil word used for Christ’s own kenotic self-humbling (Philippians 2:7) is here commanded of every disciple who wants to be first. Render with full dignity, never euphemized; the inversion of the honorific bhakti அடியார்/அடிமை pattern IS the doctrine.
Many Isaiah Echo
Approved rendering: அநேகர்
Transliteration: anekar
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Rejected alternatives: பலர் without teaching note
NEW for this curriculum. Renders πολλῶν (10:45; 14:24) — not ‘all,’ not ‘a few’ — echoing Isaiah 53:11-12 LXX’s Suffering Servant bearing the guilt of ‘many.’ Requires a mandatory teaching note carrying the Isaiah 53 cross-reference, since அநேகர் alone cannot transmit this intertextual link to a first-generation Tamil reader.
Unclean Spirit
Approved rendering: அசுத்த ஆவி
Transliteration: asuttha aavi
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: பேய், முனி, மோகினி
Original: ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα / δαιμόνιον
Category: Spiritual Warfare
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα/δαιμόνιον, built by direct antonym-pairing with பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவர். NEVER பேய் (the dominant Tamil folk-taxonomy term implying a manageable spirit-class negotiated by மந்திரவாதி ritual specialists). Jesus’ response is sovereign command (ἐπιτιμάω), not ritual negotiation; the Legion narrative (5:1-20) especially requires this framing.
Kingdom Draw Near
Approved rendering: சமீபித்திருக்கிறது
Transliteration: sameepithirukkirathu
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Rejected alternatives: future-only ஆகிவிடும் framing
Original: ἐγγίζω (ἤγγικεν)
Category: Kingdom
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἤγγικεν (1:15), a perfect tense indicating completed approach with continuing present effect. Deliberately parallel to the baseline Philippians package’s the_lord_is_near (கர்த்தர் சமீபமாயிருக்கிறார்) — both share the சமீப- root. A future-only rendering loses the ‘breaking into the present’ force that is the doctrine’s heart.
Authority To Forgive Sins
Approved rendering: பாவங்களை மன்னிக்கும் அதிகாரம்
Transliteration: paavangalai mannikkum athigaram
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Original: ἁμαρτίας ἀφιέναι
Category: Sin
NEW compound for this curriculum, joining பாவம் and அதிகாரம். Mark 2:1-12’s first explicit claim in the Gospel that Jesus exercises a divine prerogative — the scribes’ objection (2:7) IS the doctrinal point. Must render with full doctrinal force, never abbreviated to மன்னிப்பு alone.
Blasphemy Against The Spirit
Approved rendering: பரிசுத்த ஆவியானவருக்கு விரோதமான தூஷணம்
Transliteration: Parisutha Aaviyanavarukku virothamaana thooshanam
Doctrine: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Original: βλασφημία εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον
Category: Sin
NEW for this curriculum. Renders βλασφημία εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον (3:22-30) — attributing Jesus’ Spirit-empowered exorcisms to Satan, the one sin Jesus names unforgivable. Doctrinal weight is in the specific referent, not a free-floating unforgivable-sin anxiety.
Rebuke
Approved rendering: கடிந்துகொள்ளுதல்
Transliteration: kadinthukolluthal
Doctrine: The Messianic Secret
Original: ἐπιτιμάω
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἐπιτιμάω, used identically for rebuking demons (1:25), the storm (4:39), Peter (8:33), and a stubborn spirit (9:25). ONE consistent Tamil verb throughout — varying by context would obscure Mark’s signal of ONE unified authority across every domain.
Ritual Clean Unclean
Approved rendering: தீட்டு
Transliteration: theettu
Doctrine: Ritual Purity and True Defilement
Rejected alternatives: endorsement of exclusionary purity-code framing
Original: καθαρός / κοινός (ἀκάθαρτος)
Category: Sin
NEW for this curriculum. Renders καθαρός/κοινός(ἀκάθαρτος) (7:1-23). Sits close to live Tamil purity-code categories (food rules, caste-linked pollution reckoning). Must land as liberation from ritual purity codes, never endorsement of any exclusionary purity system. Cross-reference the baseline Colossians freedom_from_legalism doctrine.
Messianic Silencing Formula
Approved rendering: கண்டிப்பாகக் கட்டளையிட்டு, “ஒருவருக்கும் சொல்லாதே” என்றார்
Transliteration: kandippaaga kattalaiyittu, “oruvarukkum sollaathe” endraar
Doctrine: The Messianic Secret
Rejected alternatives: inconsistent ad hoc renderings across occurrences
Original: διαστέλλομαι ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν
Category: Christology
NEW fixed formula for this curriculum. Renders the recurring διαστέλλομαι ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν pattern (1:34,44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; 9:9). ONE consistent Tamil formula reused verbatim at every occurrence; 9:9’s added qualifier (‘until the Son of Man had risen’) rendered as a visible addition, not a variant.
Not Even The Son
Approved rendering: குமாரனும் அறியார்
Transliteration: kumaranum ariyaar
Doctrine: The Son’s Voluntary Self-Limitation
Rejected alternatives: any rendering implying diminished eternal deity
Original: οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός (13:32). Must reflect voluntary kenotic self-limitation within the Son’s incarnate humanity (consistent with the fixed Philippians 2:6-8 Tamil pattern), never subordinationism, which would contradict the Critical-tier தேவனுடைய குமாரன் doctrine.
I Am Self Disclosure
Approved rendering: நான்தான்
Transliteration: naanthaan
Doctrine: The Trial, Confession, and Condemnation before the Sanhedrin
Original: ἐγώ εἰμι
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἐγώ εἰμι, spoken on the water (6:50) and, with full theophanic force echoing Exodus 3:14 LXX, at the Sanhedrin trial (14:62). Render identically at both occurrences; 14:62 is the moment the Messianic Secret is deliberately broken, immediately followed by the combined Daniel 7:13/Psalm 110:1 citation.
Deny Oneself
Approved rendering: தன்னைத்தானே மறுத்தல்
Transliteration: thannaithaane maruthal
Doctrine: Faith and Discipleship amid Fear
Original: ἀπαρνέομαι ἑαυτόν
Category: Discipleship
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἀπαρνέομαι ἑαυτόν (8:34), Mark’s programmatic discipleship-cost statement. Must not soften into generic humility/self-control (a live Tamil ethical category, e.g. அடக்கம்); must remain tied inseparably to சிலுவை (take up his cross), never standing alone as an achievement.
Transfiguration
Approved rendering: மறுரூபமாக்கப்படுதல்
Transliteration: marurupamaakkappaduthal
Doctrine: The Transfiguration and the Beloved Son
Original: μεταμορφόω
Category: Christology
NEW entry for this curriculum, reusing the மறுரூப- root fixed in the baseline Philippians extension (transform_our_body) for a distinct referent: Christ’s own PRESENT glory momentarily unveiled (9:2-8), a proleptic disclosure, not a future hope. The ‘beloved Son’ voice (9:7) must render identically to the baptismal voice (1:11).
Eloi Eloi Lema Sabachthani
Approved rendering: ஏலோயீ, ஏலோயீ, லாமா சபக்தானி
Transliteration: Eloyi, Eloyi, laama sabakthaani
Doctrine: The Crucifixion and the Cry of Dereliction
Original: Ἐλωΐ Ἐλωΐ, λεμὰ σαβαχθανί
Category: Narrative
NEW for this curriculum. Preserve the transliterated cry (15:34, quoting Psalm 22:1) with Mark’s own Greek gloss retained immediately after; the gloss must use கடவுளே per the God-word rule, never தேவனே. Risk is theological, not lexical — the starkest expression in Scripture of the ransom’s actual cost; must not be softened into mere physical agony.
Fear
Approved rendering: பயம்
Transliteration: bayam
Doctrine: Faith and Discipleship amid Fear
NEW tracked doctrinal term for this curriculum — no prior book in this pipeline needed to track φοβέομαι doctrinally. Mark’s structural faith/fear pairing (4:40; 5:36; 6:50; 9:32; 10:32; 16:8) requires பயம்/பயப்படுதல் to be fixed and consistent so the Tamil reader can trace the recurring narrative function of fear as both the false alternative to faith and appropriate awe before divine power. Must not be read through fatalistic resignation (தலைவிதி acceptance).
Medium Risk Terms
Baptism
Approved rendering: ஞானஸ்நானம்
Transliteration: gnanasnanam
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Rejected alternatives: தீர்த்தம், புனித நீராடல்
Original: βάπτισμα / βαπτίζω
Category: Salvation
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians extension (baptized_into_christ / baptism entries). Literal, sacramental sense at 1:4-11; 16:16. Risk escalates to High specifically at 10:38-39 and 14:36’s context, where the sense is metaphorical (overwhelmed by suffering unto death) — mandatory teaching note required distinguishing the two senses of the same lexeme.
Apostle
Approved rendering: அப்போஸ்தலன்
Transliteration: appostalan
Doctrine: The Calling of the Disciples
Rejected alternatives: குரு
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. The Twelve are named apostles at appointment (3:14) and sent with delegated ἐξουσία (6:7,30). Never குரு. Tamil Nadu’s Thomas-at-Mylapore apostolic tradition remains the relevant positive cultural anchor.
Forgiveness
Approved rendering: மன்னிப்பு
Transliteration: mannippu
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Original: ἄφεσις / ἀφίημι
Category: Sin
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians extension. First offered through John’s baptism (1:4), then demonstrated as Jesus’ own divine prerogative (2:5-10). Never substitutes alone for the fuller authority claim of 2:1-12 (see authority_to_forgive_sins).
Love
Approved rendering: அன்பு
Transliteration: anbu
Doctrine: The Greatest Commandment
Rejected alternatives: பக்தி, காதல்
Original: ἀγάπη / ἀγαπάω
Category: Ethics
Inherited from the baseline Galatians/Ephesians extensions. The greatest commandment’s totalizing, undivided love for God and neighbor (12:29-31) — never generic ethical goodwill, never பக்தி.
Cornerstone
Approved rendering: மூலைக்கல்
Transliteration: moolaikkal
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Original: κεφαλὴ γωνίας
Category: Christology
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians extension. The rejected stone that becomes the head of the corner (12:10, quoting Psalm 118:22), applied to the murdered son of the tenants’ parable — a veiled Passion prediction; direct cross-reference to Ephesians 2:20’s citation of the same Psalm.
Temple
Approved rendering: ஆலயம்
Transliteration: aalayam
Doctrine: The Cleansing of the Temple
Rejected alternatives: கோவில்
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians/Colossians extensions. Never கோவில். In Mark 11:15-19 and 15:38 this denotes the LITERAL historical Jerusalem temple building — a different referent from the later ecclesiological church-as-temple use of the identical Tamil word in Ephesians/Colossians; keep the referents distinct in translator awareness.
Servants Of Christ
Approved rendering: கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவின் ஊழியக்காரர்
Transliteration: Kiristhu Yesuvin oozhiyakkaarar
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Rejected alternatives: அடியார்
Inherited from the baseline Philippians extension. Root reference for Mark’s servant_minister term (ஊழியக்காரன்); establishes the ஊழியம் root already used pipeline-wide for διάκονος/διακονέω. Never அடியார்.
Deacons
Approved rendering: உதவிக்காரர்கள்
Transliteration: uthavikkaarargal
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Inherited from the baseline Ephesians extension. Cited as the established Tamil Bible term for the formal διάκονος OFFICE, distinct from Mark’s general ethical use of διάκονος in 9:35/10:43 (see servant_minister).
David
Approved rendering: தாவீது
Transliteration: thaaveethu
Doctrine: The Triumphal Entry and Messianic Expectation
Inherited from Romans package. Established Tamil Bible proper-name form; the crowd’s ‘kingdom of our father David’ (11:10) voices a Davidic-nationalist misreading of Jesus’ mission.
Exercise Authority Negative
Approved rendering: அதிகாரம் செலுத்துதல்
Transliteration: athigaram seluthuthal
Doctrine: Servanthood versus Worldly Greatness
Original: κατεξουσιάζω
Category: Ethics
NEW for this curriculum. Renders κατεξουσιάζω (10:42), self-serving domineering exercise of authority. Must be visibly distinguished from the positive அதிகாரம் used of Jesus elsewhere, even though the Greek shares the root.
Life Soul
Approved rendering: ஜீவன்
Transliteration: jeevan
Doctrine: The Ransom for Many
Rejected alternatives: detachable/reincarnating ஆத்மா-family vocabulary
Original: ψυχή
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ψυχή, the whole living self (8:35-37; 10:45). ψுχή here is Jesus’ own concrete, historical human life laid down once — never a soul destined for another body.
Repentance
Approved rendering: மனந்திரும்புதல்
Transliteration: mananthirumbuthal
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Original: μετάνοια / μετανοέω
Category: Kingdom
NEW standalone entry for this curriculum. Renders μετάνοια/μετανοέω (1:4,15; 6:12). Established Tamil Christian term; must be taught as an ongoing reorientation of the whole person, not a single emotional remorse-event, and kept paired with faith (1:15, ‘repent and believe the gospel’).
Will Of God
Approved rendering: கடவுளுடைய சித்தம்
Transliteration: kadavuludaiya sitham
Doctrine: The True Family of God
Original: θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ
Category: Kingdom
NEW for this curriculum. Renders θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ (3:35), redefining Jesus’ true family as those who do it, not blood kinship — socially significant in strongly kinship-ordered Tamil culture.
Tradition Of The Elders
Approved rendering: மூப்பர்களின் பாரம்பரியம்
Transliteration: mooppargalin paaramparyam
Doctrine: Ritual Purity and True Defilement
Original: παράδοσις τῶν πρεσβυτέρων
Category: Sin
NEW for this curriculum. Renders παράδοσις τῶν πρεσβυτέρων (7:3-13). Must be handled so the critique lands on substituting human tradition for God’s command, not as a blanket dismissal of tradition or elder-reverence, which carries strong positive value in Tamil culture.
Eternal Life
Approved rendering: நித்திய ஜீவன்
Transliteration: nithiya jeevan
Doctrine: Eternal Life and the Rich Young Man
Rejected alternatives: merit-reward framing
Original: ζωὴν αἰώνιον
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ζωὴν αἰώνιον (10:17,30). The rich young man’s performance-based assumption is corrected into a kingdom-gift received through dependence — must not be heard as an individual merit-reward (கிருபை, never புண்ணியம்).
Delivered Up Betrayed
Approved rendering: காட்டிக்கொடுக்கப்படுதல்
Transliteration: kaattikkodukkappaduthal
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: παραδίδοται / παραδίδωμι
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders παραδίδοται/παραδίδωμι, tracking the chain of human agency (Judas, Sanhedrin, Pilate) through which the necessary divine plan is accomplished (10:33; 14:10-11,18,21,41-42; 15:1,10,15). Preserve BOTH real human culpability AND divine necessity simultaneously — neither cancels the other.
Tribulation
Approved rendering: உபத்திரவம்
Transliteration: upathiravam
Doctrine: The Olivet Discourse and Eschatological Watchfulness
Original: θλῖψις
Category: Eschatology
NEW standalone entry for this curriculum (established Tamil Bible term, already used in the baseline Colossians extension). Renders θλῖψις (13:19,24).
False Christs And Prophets
Approved rendering: போலி கிறிஸ்துக்கள் / போலித் தீர்க்கதரிசிகள்
Transliteration: poli kiristhukkal / poli theerkkadharisigal
Doctrine: The Olivet Discourse and Eschatological Watchfulness
Original: ψευδόχριστοι / ψευδοπροφῆται
Category: Eschatology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ψευδόχριστοι/ψευδοπροφῆται (13:22), reusing established கிறிஸ்து/தீர்க்கதரிசி roots with போலி (established in the baseline Galatians extension’s false_brothers).
Raised Resuscitation
Approved rendering: எழுந்திரு
Transliteration: ezhunthiru
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Rejected alternatives: உயிர்த்தெழுதல் (reserved for the eschatological resurrection)
Original: ἐγείρω
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ἐγείρω at Mark 5:41-42 (Jairus’s daughter), a temporary resuscitation, NOT the eschatological resurrection. Must NOT be rendered உயிர்த்தெழுதல்; this girl (and others in resuscitation narratives) will die again.
King Of The Jews
Approved rendering: யூதருடைய ராஜா
Transliteration: yootharudaiya raajaa
Doctrine: The Crucifixion and the Cry of Dereliction
Original: ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων, the mocking trial/crucifixion inscription (15:2,9,12,18,26) — unwittingly true dramatic irony that must be preserved, not flattened.
Unbelief
Approved rendering: அவிசுவாசம்
Transliteration: avishvaasam
Doctrine: Faith and Discipleship amid Fear
NEW coined term for this curriculum, built transparently on the established விசுவாசம் root with the standard Tamil negating அ- prefix. Fills a genuine vocabulary gap for faith’s opposite at Mark 6:6 (Jesus’ amazement at unbelief) and 9:24 (‘I believe; help my unbelief’) — keep visibly paired with விசுவாசம் in the same utterance at 9:24.
Low Risk Terms
Abba
Approved rendering: அப்பா
Transliteration: appa
Doctrine: The Necessity of the Cross
Original: Ἀββά
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package. Placed directly in Jesus’ mouth at Gethsemane (14:36), his hour of deepest anguish. Tamil’s unique zero-gap asset (Appa is every Tamil speaker’s ordinary word for father) intensifies rather than lessens the weight of this moment.
Prophet
Approved rendering: தீர்க்கதரிசி
Transliteration: theerkkadharisi
Doctrine: Jesus as the Suffering Servant and Son of God
Rejected alternatives: ஜோசியன்
Original: προφήτης
Category: Kingdom
Inherited from Romans package. Applied to John the Baptist (1:2), Jesus as ‘a prophet without honor’ (6:4), and warned-of false prophets (13:22). Never ஜோசியன் (astrologer/fortune-teller).
Parable
Approved rendering: உபமானம்
Transliteration: upamaanam
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Original: παραβολή
Category: Kingdom
NEW for this curriculum. Renders παραβολή, Jesus’ primary kingdom-teaching method (Mark 4).
Talitha Koum
Approved rendering: தலீத்தா கூமி
Transliteration: Talitha koomi
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Original: Ταλιθα κουμ
Category: Narrative
NEW for this curriculum. Preserve the transliterated Aramaic (5:41) with Mark’s own built-in gloss retained immediately after, parallel to the Abba precedent, though Tamil has no equivalent zero-gap phonetic parallel here.
Hosanna
Approved rendering: ஓசன்னா
Transliteration: osanna
Doctrine: The Triumphal Entry and Messianic Expectation
Original: ὡσαννά
Category: Narrative
NEW for this curriculum. Preserve as an established transliterated liturgical exclamation (11:9-10).
Corban
Approved rendering: கொற்பான்
Transliteration: korpaan
Doctrine: Ritual Purity and True Defilement
Original: κορβᾶν
Category: Narrative
NEW for this curriculum. A vow-formula term (7:11) dedicating property to God, used by some to evade filial duty; transliterate with a brief bracketed gloss (தேவனுக்கு அர்ப்பணம் என்ற பொருள்).
Low-Medium Risk Terms
Proclaim
Approved rendering: பிரசங்கித்தல்
Transliteration: pirasangithal
Doctrine: The Kingdom of God Breaking In
Original: κηρύσσω
Category: Kingdom
NEW for this curriculum. Renders κηρύσσω, distinct from private teaching (διδάσκω); carries the force of a town-crier’s public announcement of a ruler’s decree, appropriate to Mark’s urgent narrative register (1:14,38-39; 13:10; 16:15).
Compassion
Approved rendering: மனதுருகுதல்
Transliteration: manathuruguthal
Doctrine: Jesus’ Authority over Sickness, Sin, and Nature
Original: σπλαγχνίζομαι
Category: Discipleship
NEW for this curriculum. Renders σπλαγχνίζομαι (1:41; 6:34; 8:2; 9:22), establishing compassion, not power-display, as the emotional ground of Jesus’ authoritative acts.
Watch Stay Alert
Approved rendering: விழித்திருங்கள்
Transliteration: vizhithirungal
Doctrine: Faith and Discipleship amid Fear
Original: γρηγορέω
Category: Eschatology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders γρηγορέω (13:33-37), the Olivet Discourse’s climactic command. Connects to confident readiness, not anxious date-calculation, given 13:32’s explicit denial that the day is knowable.
Son Of The Blessed
Approved rendering: ஸ்தோத்திரிக்கப்பட்டவருடைய குமாரன்
Transliteration: sthothirikkappattavarudaiya kumaran
Doctrine: The Trial, Confession, and Condemnation before the Sanhedrin
Original: υἱὸς τοῦ εὐλογητοῦ
Category: Christology
NEW for this curriculum. Renders υἱὸς τοῦ εὐλογητοῦ (14:61), a reverent circumlocution for God effectively equivalent to Son of God in this context; gloss as equivalent to தேவனுடைய குமாரன் in teaching notes.
Medium-High Risk Terms
Veil Curtain
Approved rendering: திரைச்சீலை
Transliteration: thiraiccheelai
Doctrine: The Crucifixion and the Cry of Dereliction
Original: καταπέτασμα
Category: Salvation
NEW for this curriculum. Renders καταπέτασμα (15:38), torn in two at Jesus’ death, signaling direct, unmediated access to God. Connects thematically to the baseline Ephesians/Colossians church-as-temple doctrine (ஆலயம்) — flag for cross-reference in teaching material.
Referenced passages