Semantic Analysis
07 Semantic Analysis — Hebrews 1–13 (English → Vietnamese)
Scope and Method
This document analyzes the entire book of Hebrews in the original Koine Greek, chapter by chapter, first to last, per the PRD Phase 1 Step 1 mandate for full-book coverage. The core passage, Hebrews 9:11–28, receives verse-by-verse treatment (Part A). Every other chapter receives a chapter-level treatment of its load-bearing theological terms (Part B). Terms already fixed in the baseline Romans translation_memory.json are reused exactly — they are marked “(reused from Romans TM)” below and are not re-argued. New terms are analyzed fresh and proposed for entry into an extended translation memory in Step 2 deliverables.
Risk tiers (Critical / High / Medium / Low) follow the definitions established in the baseline doctrine_risk_registry.json.
All Vietnamese renderings below follow the Bản Dịch Truyền Thống (1926) register mandated by the baseline 12_ai_translation_requirements.md.
PART A — Core Passage Verse-by-Verse: Hebrews 9:11–28
Preceding context note: Hebrews 9:1–10
Although outside the core passage boundary, 9:1–10 furnishes the tabernacle vocabulary the core passage assumes. These terms are listed here for full-book coverage and are cross-referenced throughout Part A.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tabernacle | σκηνή | skēnē | tent, dwelling | portable sacred tent; by extension any sacred dwelling-structure | tabernacle, tent | The earthly, man-made copy of the heavenly sanctuary where God met Israel | đền tạm (Medium — established term; must not be confused with a permanent temple/chùa) |
| Holy Place / Holy of Holies | τὰ ἅγια / Ἅγια Ἁγίων | ta hagia / Hagia Hagiōn | ”the holy things/places” / “holy of holies” | the outer sanctuary vs. the innermost sanctuary behind the veil | holy place, holiest of all, sanctuary | The graded stages of access to God under the old covenant, now superseded by direct access through Christ | nơi thánh / nơi rất thánh (High — must retain the graded-access contrast with 9:12’s “once for all”) |
| veil | καταπέτασμα | katapetasma | that which is spread across | the curtain separating Holy Place from Holy of Holies | veil, curtain | Barrier to God’s presence, later identified with Christ’s flesh (10:20) | bức màn / màn (High — theological weight carried forward into ch. 10) |
| mercy seat | ἱλαστήριον | hilastērion | place/means of propitiation | the golden lid of the ark where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement; also used abstractly for “propitiation” (cf. Rom 3:25) | mercy seat, propitiatory cover, place of atonement | The OT site where God’s wrath toward sin was appeased through blood — the direct type of Christ’s atoning work in 9:11–14 | nắp thi ân (Critical — no baseline Romans TM entry exists for this term though Romans 3:25 uses the same Greek word; must be established fresh and applied consistently; must not be confused with “cầu xin tổ tiên” ancestor-appeasement ritual) |
| ark of the covenant | κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης | kibōtos tēs diathēkēs | box/chest of the covenant | the sacred chest housing the tablets of the law | ark of the covenant | Physical locus of God’s covenant presence | hòm giao ước (Low — established OT term) |
| cherubim | χερουβίμ | cheroubim | (Hebrew loanword) angelic guardian figures | winged heavenly beings overshadowing the mercy seat | cherubim, cherubims | Heavenly beings marking the boundary of God’s holy presence | chê-ru-bin (Low — established transliteration) |
| made with hands | χειροποίητος | cheiropoiētos | made by hand | anything constructed by human craft, often contrasted with the divine/heavenly original | made with hands, man-made | Marks the earthly tabernacle as a mere copy, not the ultimate reality | do tay người làm ra (Medium — sets up the ch. 9:11 contrast) |
Hebrews 9:11
Greek: Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν γενομένων ἀγαθῶν διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτ’ ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| high priest | ἀρχιερεύς | archiereus | chief/ruling priest | the singular office presiding over Israel’s sacrificial system; in Hebrews, applied uniquely to Christ | high priest, chief priest | Christ’s fulfillment and supersession of the Levitical high priesthood — central to the doctrine “Christ as the Great High Priest” | thầy tế lễ thượng phẩm (High — established BDTT term, but “thầy” is also the common Vietnamese address for a Buddhist monk/master; context must keep Christ’s priesthood distinct from a Buddhist religious teacher) |
| greater and more perfect tabernacle | μείζων καὶ τελειοτέρα σκηνή | meizōn kai teleiotera skēnē | greater and more complete tent | the heavenly sanctuary, contrasted with the earthly copy | greater tabernacle, more perfect tabernacle | The heavenly reality of which the earthly tabernacle was only a shadow | đền tạm lớn hơn và trọn vẹn hơn (High — “trọn vẹn” ties to the book-wide perfection theme, must not read as self-achieved completeness) |
| creation | κτίσις | ktisis | that which is created | the created order, as opposed to the uncreated heavenly realm | creation, this world | Marks the heavenly sanctuary as belonging to a different order of reality than the created, physical world | cõi được tạo dựng / thế giới thọ tạo (Low) |
Hebrews 9:12
Greek: οὐδὲ διὰ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος, εἰσῆλθεν ἅπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blood | αἷμα | haima | blood | literal blood; by metonymy, sacrificial death | blood | The substance of both the OT type (goats/calves) and the NT fulfillment (Christ’s own blood) — foundational to “Access to God through Christ’s Blood” | huyết (High — Vietnamese Bible tradition reserves “huyết” for sacred/sacrificial blood, distinct from ordinary “máu”; consistency required across every occurrence) |
| once | ἅπαξ | hapax | one time | a single, non-repeated occurrence | once, once for all | The first of Hebrews’ repeated “once” markers contrasting Christ’s single entry with the high priest’s annual repetition | một lần (Critical — must be rendered consistently every occurrence; foundational to “The Once-for-All Atoning Sacrifice”) |
| redemption | λύτρωσις | lytrōsis | a releasing by payment of a ransom price | deliverance secured by payment; distinct from generic rescue | redemption, deliverance | Salvation obtained specifically through the payment of Christ’s blood, not self-attained liberation | sự cứu chuộc (High — new term, not in baseline Romans TM; must not collapse into “sự giải thoát,” the forbidden Buddhist liberation term, since both involve “release/freedom” imagery) |
| eternal | αἰώνιος | aiōnios | age-lasting, without end | everlasting duration, often of divine realities | eternal, everlasting | Marks the permanence of Christ’s redemptive achievement, contrasted with the temporary annual atonement | đời đời (Low — established) |
Hebrews 9:13–14
Greek: εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα τράγων καὶ ταύρων καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ Πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sprinkle | ῥαντίζω | rhantizō | to sprinkle | ritual application of blood/water for cleansing | sprinkle | The OT ceremonial method of applying atoning blood, later applied metaphorically to Christ’s blood (12:24) | rảy (Medium — established ritual term) |
| sanctify / purify | ἁγιάζω / καθαρίζω | hagiazō / katharizō | to make holy / to make clean | ceremonial or moral cleansing; setting apart | sanctify, purify, cleanse | Christ’s blood accomplishes what the OT blood could only symbolize: real inner cleansing, not ritual purity alone | nên thánh / làm cho sạch (High — “nên thánh” reuses the Romans TM sanctification concept; must be taught as inward moral cleansing, not ritual purification alone) |
| without spot/blemish | ἄμωμος | amōmos | unblemished | free from defect, used of sacrificial animals and, here, of Christ | unblemished, without spot, blameless | Christ is both the perfect priest and the perfect, sinless sacrificial victim | không tì vít / không chỗ trách được (High — must be understood as sinless moral perfection, not ritual physical flawlessness alone) |
| eternal Spirit | Πνεῦμα αἰώνιον | Pneuma aiōnion | eternal spirit | most interpreters take this as the Holy Spirit, though some see Christ’s own eternal divine nature | eternal Spirit, the eternal Spirit | The Spirit’s role in Christ’s self-offering; ties the atonement to the full Trinity | Đức Thánh Linh đời đời (Critical — reuses “Đức Thánh Linh” from Romans TM exactly; the divine Person, not a generic “eternal spirit”) |
| conscience | συνείδησις | syneidēsis | joint knowledge (with oneself); moral self-awareness | inner moral faculty that accuses or approves | conscience | Christ’s blood cleanses the inner moral consciousness of guilt — deeper than ritual cleansing | lương tâm (Medium — must be rooted in Christ’s blood, not self-cultivated moral virtue as in Confucian tradition) |
| dead works | νεκρὰ ἔργα | nekra erga | dead works | actions that cannot produce life or please God; likely includes both sin and empty ritual observance | dead works | Works done under the old, powerless system, contrasted with life-giving service to the living God | việc chết / công việc chết (Medium — descriptive rendering; guard against reading as merely “bad deeds” rather than “works incapable of giving life”) |
| serve | λατρεύω | latreuō | to render religious service/worship | cultic service or worship, often priestly | serve, worship | Priestly, worshipful service enabled by a cleansed conscience | hầu việc / thờ phượng (Medium) |
| living God | θεὸς ζῶν | theos zōn | living God | God as personally alive and active, contrasted with lifeless idols | the living God | Reinforces God’s personal, active nature — a recurring Hebrews motif (3:12; 10:31; 12:22) | Đức Chúa Trời hằng sống (High — reuses “Đức Chúa Trời” from Romans TM exactly; “hằng sống” must not default to the impersonal folk “Trời” register) |
Hebrews 9:15
Greek: καὶ διὰ τοῦτο διαθήκης καινῆς μεσίτης ἐστίν, ὅπως θανάτου γενομένου εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῶν ἐπὶ τῇ πρώτῃ διαθήκῃ παραβάσεων τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν λάβωσιν οἱ κεκλημένοι τῆς αἰωνίου κληρονομίας
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| new covenant | διαθήκη καινή | diathēkē kainē | new covenant/testament | the covenant inaugurated by Christ’s death, superseding the Mosaic covenant | new covenant, new testament | Central Hebrews doctrine: “The New Covenant versus the Old” | giao ước mới (High — reuses “giao ước” from Romans TM + “mới”; must be taught as a superior, once-for-all covenant, not merely a revised contract) |
| mediator | μεσίτης | mesitēs | one who stands in the middle | a go-between who secures or guarantees an agreement between two parties | mediator | Christ alone mediates the new covenant between God and humanity | Đấng Trung Gian (High — no baseline Romans TM entry; must be explicitly distinguished from a spirit-medium (đồng cốt) or shaman who mediates between the living and ancestor spirits/deities in Vietnamese folk religion) |
| promise | ἐπαγγελία | epangelia | announcement, pledge | a formal, binding pledge, especially God’s covenant pledges | promise | The inheritance secured by the new covenant is the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise | lời hứa (Medium — new term; God’s sure pledge, not a casual assurance) |
| redemption (of transgressions) | ἀπολύτρωσις | apolytrōsis | a releasing by ransom-payment | full/completed redemption; intensified form of λύτρωσις | redemption | Christ’s death redeems sins committed under the first covenant as well — retroactive, comprehensive atonement | sự cứu chuộc (khỏi những sự phạm tội) (High — same rendering as λύτρωσις in 9:12 for consistency) |
| inheritance | κληρονομία | klēronomia | that which is inherited | a possession received by right of relationship, not earned | inheritance | The eternal inheritance is the promised reward secured for “the called,” echoing sonship/adoption themes | cơ nghiệp (Medium — new term; establishment as heirs by grace, echoes “sự làm con nuôi” from Romans TM) |
| called | κεκλημένοι (< καλέω) | keklēmenoi | those having been called | perfect passive participle of “call” | the called, those who are called | Effectual calling to receive the promised inheritance | được kêu gọi (Medium — reused from Romans TM exactly) |
Hebrews 9:16–17
Greek: ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου· διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ ὁ διαθέμενος
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| covenant / testament (wordplay) | διαθήκη | diathēkē | disposition, arrangement | (a) a covenant/binding relational bond; (b) a legal last will/testament effective only upon the testator’s death | covenant, testament, will | Hebrews exploits both senses: the “new covenant” (theological sense) is validated the way a “last will” (legal sense) is validated — by the death of the one who made it | giao ước / di chúc (CRITICAL — the single Greek word carries two senses that Vietnamese “giao ước” alone cannot convey; this specific pericope [9:16-17] requires switching to “di chúc” (last will/testament) to preserve Paul’s legal wordplay, then returning to “giao ước” elsewhere; requires a translator note at every occurrence in this passage) |
| one who made the covenant/testator | διαθέμενος | diathemenos | the one who disposed/arranged | the party establishing a covenant or, here, a will | testator, covenant-maker | In the legal-will sense, points typologically to Christ, whose death activates the new covenant/will | người lập di chúc / Đấng lập giao ước (High — must track the same critical wordplay above) |
| firm/valid | βέβαιος | bebaios | firm, sure | legally binding, guaranteed | firm, of force, valid | The legal validity of a will only takes effect at death — applied typologically to Christ’s death validating the new covenant | có hiệu lực / vững chắc (Medium) |
Hebrews 9:18–19
Greek: ὅθεν οὐδὲ ἡ πρώτη χωρὶς αἵματος ἐγκεκαίνισται. Μωϋσέως γὰρ λαληθείσης πάσης ἐντολῆς κατὰ τὸν νόμον παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, λαβὼν τὸ αἷμα τῶν μόσχων καὶ τῶν τράγων μετὰ ὕδατος καὶ ἐρίου κοκκίνου καὶ ὑσσώπου, αὐτό τε τὸ βιβλίον καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν ἐρράντισεν
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| inaugurate/dedicate | ἐγκαινίζω | enkainizō | to renew, to initiate | to formally establish or dedicate a covenant through a ceremonial act | inaugurated, dedicated, established | The first (Mosaic) covenant was itself established through blood — foreshadowing that a covenant always requires blood | thiết lập / khánh thành (Medium — must connect back to the “no covenant without blood” principle) |
| law | νόμος | nomos | law | the Mosaic Law/Torah | law, the law | The Mosaic covenant’s commandments, mediated through blood at its founding | luật pháp (Medium — reused from Romans TM exactly) |
Hebrews 9:20–22
Greek: λέγων, Τοῦτο τὸ αἷμα τῆς διαθήκης ἧς ἐνετείλατο πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὁ θεός … καὶ σχεδὸν ἐν αἵματι πάντα καθαρίζεται κατὰ τὸν νόμον, καὶ χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blood of the covenant | αἷμα τῆς διαθήκης | haima tēs diathēkēs | blood of the covenant | the blood ratifying and sealing the Mosaic covenant (Exod 24:8), applied typologically to Christ’s blood ratifying the new covenant | blood of the covenant | Direct link between the covenant-ratifying blood at Sinai and Christ’s covenant-ratifying blood at the cross | huyết của giao ước (High — must be rendered consistently with “huyết” and “giao ước” as established, and cross-referenced to the Lord’s Supper institution words) |
| shedding of blood | αἱματεκχυσία | haimatekchysia | pouring-out of blood | the physical shedding/spilling of blood in death, especially sacrificially | shedding of blood, bloodshed | The absolute necessity of a violent, costly death for atonement — no bloodless substitute is possible | sự đổ huyết (High — core to “The Once-for-All Atoning Sacrifice”; must not be softened into a bloodless metaphor) |
| forgiveness/remission | ἄφεσις | aphesis | a sending away, release | release from a debt, guilt, or penalty; forgiveness of sins | forgiveness, remission | The purpose and result of atoning bloodshed: sins are actually released, not merely acknowledged | sự tha thứ (tội lỗi) (High — new term, not in baseline Romans TM; must be distinguished from karmic “release” of debt in Buddhist thought) |
Hebrews 9:23–24
Greek: Ἀνάγκη οὖν τὰ ὑποδείγματα τῶν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς τούτοις καθαρίζεσθαι, αὐτὰ δὲ τὰ ἐπουράνια κρείττοσιν θυσίαις παρὰ ταύτας. οὐ γὰρ εἰς χειροποίητα ἅγια εἰσῆλθεν Χριστός, ἀντίτυπα τῶν ἀληθινῶν, ἀλλ’ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανόν, νῦν ἐμφανισθῆναι τῷ προσώπῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| copy/pattern | ὑπόδειγμα | hypodeigma | that shown beneath; a pattern | an example or copy pointing to a greater reality | copy, pattern, example | The earthly tabernacle and its furnishings were only patterns of heavenly realities | mẫu / hình mẫu (Medium) |
| better | κρείττων | kreittōn | stronger, superior | comparative excellence; a recurring Hebrews term (covenant, promises, sacrifices, country, resurrection) | better | Governs the entire book’s comparative argument for Christ’s superiority | tốt hơn / hơn (Medium — consistency across all ~13 occurrences in Hebrews is important for the “Superiority of Christ” doctrine) |
| holy places made with hands | χειροποίητα ἅγια | cheiropoiēta hagia | hand-made holy places | the earthly, humanly constructed sanctuary | holy places made with hands | Contrasted with the true heavenly sanctuary that Christ entered | nơi thánh do tay người làm ra (Medium) |
| copy of the true / antitype | ἀντίτυπα τῶν ἀληθινῶν | antitypa tōn alēthinōn | counter-impressions of the true things | a corresponding copy or representation, as of a stamp made from a mold, contrasted with the “true” original | figures/copies of the true | The earthly tabernacle is a derivative copy; heaven is the true, original sanctuary | hình ảnh tương ứng với những điều thật / bản sao của những điều thật (Medium — must be kept distinct from χαρακτήρ “hình ảnh chân thực” used of Christ in 1:3, to avoid conflating Christ’s exact divine likeness with a mere derivative copy) |
| true/real | ἀληθινός | alēthinos | true, genuine, real | the ultimate reality behind a symbol or type | true, real, genuine | Heaven itself, and Christ’s heavenly ministry, is the substance to which the earthly system merely pointed | thật / chân thật (Low) |
| appear | ἐμφανίζω | emphanizō | to make visible/manifest | to appear before someone, especially in an official/legal sense | appear, present himself | Christ’s ongoing heavenly appearance before God on believers’ behalf — grounds his continuing high-priestly ministry | hiện ra / trình diện trước mặt (High — closely tied to intercession doctrine) |
Hebrews 9:25–26
Greek: οὐδ’ ἵνα πολλάκις προσφέρῃ ἑαυτόν, ὥσπερ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς εἰσέρχεται εἰς τὰ ἅγια κατ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν αἵματι ἀλλοτρίῳ· ἐπεὶ ἔδει αὐτὸν πολλάκις παθεῖν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου· νυνὶ δὲ ἅπαξ ἐπὶ συντελείᾳ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς ἀθέτησιν ἁμαρτίας διὰ τῆς θυσίας αὑτοῦ πεφανέρωται
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| offer | προσφέρω | prospherō | to bring/carry to; to present | technical sacrificial term for presenting an offering | offer, present as an offering | Christ’s self-offering, contrasted with the high priest’s repeated annual offerings | dâng (chính mình) (High — Christ as both priest who offers and the sacrifice offered) |
| end of the ages | συντέλεια τῶν αἰώνων | synteleia tōn aiōnōn | completion/consummation of the ages | the climactic turning-point of redemptive history | end of the world, end of the ages, consummation of the ages | Christ’s sacrifice is the hinge-point of all history, not a repeatable ritual event | cuối cùng của các thời đại (Medium — must not be read through a cyclical time framework; history is linear, moving toward this one climax) |
| put away / annul | ἀθέτησις | athetēsis | a setting aside, annulment | to nullify or do away with something’s power/claim | put away, do away with | Sin’s condemning claim is decisively nullified by Christ’s one sacrifice | sự cất bỏ / dẹp bỏ (tội lỗi) (High) |
| manifest/appear | φανερόω (πεφανέρωται) | phaneroō | to make visible | to be revealed openly, historically | he hath appeared, was manifested | Christ’s atoning sacrifice was a real, historical, one-time public event, not a mythic or repeatable cosmic pattern | được tỏ ra / hiện ra (Medium) |
Hebrews 9:27–28
Greek: καὶ καθ’ ὅσον ἀπόκειται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἅπαξ ἀποθανεῖν, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο κρίσις, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἅπαξ προσενεχθεὶς εἰς τὸ πολλῶν ἀνενεγκεῖν ἁμαρτίας, ἐκ δευτέρου χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας ὀφθήσεται τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀπεκδεχομένοις εἰς σωτηρίαν
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| judgment | κρίσις | krisis | a separating, a decision | divine judgment following death | judgment | Death is followed by certain divine judgment, framing the necessity of Christ’s atonement | sự phán xét (High — must be maintained as certain and final, not softened) |
| bear (sins) | ἀναφέρω | anapherō | to carry up/away | to bear away or carry sins as a substitute | bear, take away | Christ substitutionarily bears the sins of “many,” echoing Isaiah 53 | mang lấy / gánh lấy (tội lỗi) (High — substitutionary bearing, not merely “removing” in an impersonal sense) |
| second time | ἐκ δευτέρου | ek deuterou | from a second (time) | Christ’s future return, contrasted with his first coming to bear sin | the second time, a second time | Establishes the doctrine of Christ’s future return, distinct from and dependent on the finished first advent | lần thứ hai (Medium — foundational to a linear, two-advent Christology, not a cyclical return) |
| eagerly await | ἀπεκδέχομαι | apekdechomai | to await eagerly/intently | confident, expectant waiting | wait for, look for | Believers wait expectantly, not fearfully, for Christ’s return, because judgment for sin has already been dealt with | trông đợi (Medium — hopeful expectation, ties to “sự trông cậy”/hope theme in ch. 6, 10, 11) |
| salvation | σωτηρία | sōtēria | deliverance, safety | full deliverance and reconciliation with God through Christ | salvation | The final, consummated deliverance awaiting believers at Christ’s second appearing | sự cứu rỗi (Critical — reused from Romans TM exactly; never “sự giải thoát”) |
PART B — Chapter-by-Chapter Survey, Hebrews 1–13
Chapter 1 — The Son Superior to Angels
Doctrine focus: The Superiority of Christ over Angels; Deity/Sonship of Christ (reused Critical terms: Con Đức Chúa Trời, Đức Chúa Giê-xu, Đức Chúa Trời).
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| radiance/brightness | ἀπαύγασμα | apaugasma | effulgence, shining-forth | radiance emanating from a light source, of the same essence as the source | brightness, radiance, effulgence | The Son perfectly radiates God’s own glory — not a separate, lesser light | sự rạng ngời (của sự vinh hiển) (High — must convey the Son shares the Father’s very glory, not merely reflects an external light like a folk deity’s aura) |
| exact representation | χαρακτήρ | charaktēr | an engraved mark, stamp | the precise impression/likeness produced by a die or seal | express image, exact imprint, representation | The Son is the exact imprint of God’s essential being — full deity, not a symbolic likeness | hình ảnh chân thực (của bản thể Ngài) (High — must be kept terminologically distinct from τύπος/ἀντίτυπος “hình mẫu/bản sao” used later of the tabernacle’s merely derivative copies, so Christ’s deity is never read as “just another copy”) |
| substance/essence | ὑπόστασις | hypostasis | that which stands under; substance | (1) essential nature/being (here, of God); (2, in ch.11) the ground/substance underlying hope | substance, person, essence, nature | God’s very essence, perfectly represented in the Son — foundational to the deity of Christ | bản thể (High — this ch.1 sense must be tracked separately from the distinct ch.11 sense “sự biết chắc”; do not collapse the two into one Vietnamese word) |
| firstborn | πρωτότοκος | prototokos | first-born | preeminence in rank/inheritance, not necessarily birth order | firstborn | Christ’s supreme rank over the angels, brought into the world with universal angelic worship due him | con đầu lòng (Medium — rank/preeminence, not merely chronological birth order) |
| throne | θρόνος | thronos | seat of a ruler | royal, divine authority to rule | throne | The eternal throne belongs to the Son, unlike any angel | ngôi (Low) |
| ministering spirits | λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα | leitourgika pneumata | serving spirits | angels in their role as servants, not co-rulers | ministering spirits | Angels serve; the Son reigns — reinforces the superiority argument | các thần phục vụ / đấng hầu việc (Low-Medium) |
| inherit | κληρονομέω | klēronomeō | to receive as an heir | to receive a possession by right of sonship | inherit, obtain by inheritance | The Son’s name and status are received by inheritance-right, not earned achievement | được thừa hưởng (Medium — ties to κληρονομία, “cơ nghiệp,” in ch. 9) |
Chapter 2 — Christ’s Humanity and Suffering for Salvation
Doctrine focus: Humanity of Christ; beginning of “Christ as the Great High Priest.”
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pioneer/author | ἀρχηγός | archēgos | chief leader, originator | one who leads the way as first, founding a path others follow; also “captain” | captain, author, pioneer | Christ, as pioneer of salvation, goes first through suffering to open the way for others (echoed in 12:2) | Đấng khai khởi / Đấng dẫn đầu (Medium-High — must be rendered consistently with the 12:2 occurrence) |
| perfect/complete | τελειόω | teleioō | to bring to completion/maturity | to make fully fit for a purpose; a major structural theme in Hebrews (2:10; 5:9; 7:28; 10:14; 11:40; 12:23) | perfect, make perfect, complete | Christ was perfected — made fully qualified as sympathetic high priest — through the experience of suffering, not through moral deficiency | làm cho trọn vẹn (High — must not be confused with Buddhist “giác ngộ hoàn toàn”/self-achieved enlightenment or Confucian self-cultivated virtue; this is God’s action bringing Christ, and believers, to their intended goal) |
| make propitiation | ἱλάσκομαι | hilaskomai | to appease, to make propitiation | to satisfy divine justice concerning sin through sacrifice | make reconciliation, make propitiation, atone | Christ’s priestly work of atoning for the sins of the people — root of the doctrine “The Once-for-All Atoning Sacrifice” | chuộc tội (Critical — no baseline Romans TM entry; must not be modeled on ritual appeasement of ancestor spirits or Buddhist merit-based atonement for wrongdoing) |
| devil | διάβολος | diabolos | slanderer, accuser | the personal, malevolent spiritual enemy holding the power of death | the devil | A personal spiritual enemy defeated through Christ’s death — distinct from impersonal malevolent forces in folk cosmology | ma quỷ / Sa-tan (Medium) |
| tempt/test | πειράζω | peirazō | to test, to try | to be tested by trial or temptation | tempted, tried | Christ’s genuine human temptation qualifies him to help those who are tempted | bị cám dỗ / chịu thử thách (Low-Medium) |
Chapter 3 — Christ Greater Than Moses; the Warning of Unbelief
Doctrine focus: Superiority of Christ over Moses; The Danger of Apostasy and Warning Passages.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| faithful | πιστός | pistos | trustworthy, reliable | faithfulness in fulfilling a role or trust | faithful | Both Moses and Christ are faithful, but Christ as Son is faithful over the house, Moses as servant within it | trung tín (Low — established) |
| heavenly calling | κλῆσις ἐπουρανίου | klēsis epouraniou | calling from heaven | God’s summons originating from and directed toward heaven | heavenly calling | Believers share a calling that comes from above, not an earthly religious status | sự kêu gọi từ trời (Medium — reuses “sự kêu gọi” from Romans TM) |
| harden (the heart) | σκληρύνω | sklērynō | to make hard/stiff | stubborn resistance to God’s voice | harden | Warns against the Israelite generation’s unbelief in the wilderness as a pattern to avoid | làm cứng (lòng) (Medium) |
| unbelief | ἀπιστία | apistia | lack of trust | the opposite of saving faith; distrust of God | unbelief | The root cause of Israel’s failure to enter God’s rest — a warning to the church | sự vô tín / sự không tin (Medium) |
| fall away/depart | ἀφίστημι | aphistēmi | to stand away from, to depart | to defect or apostatize from a former commitment | depart from, fall away | The first of Hebrews’ major apostasy warnings: departing from the living God | lìa bỏ (Critical — apostasy term; must be distinguished from the ch. 6 term παραπίπτω “sa ngã,” which describes a further stage of the same danger) |
| rest | κατάπαυσις | katapausis | a ceasing, a resting-place | the promised place/state of rest with God (also ch. 4) | rest | God’s covenantal rest, forfeited by unbelief — not extinction of self (nirvana) nor mere death | sự yên nghỉ (High — must be taught as relational rest in God’s presence, not the Buddhist cessation of craving/rebirth, nor a mere euphemism for death) |
| firm/steadfast | βέβαιος | bebaios | firm, sure | confidence maintained without wavering | steadfast, firm, sure | Believers must hold their confidence firm to the end as proof of genuine faith | vững vàng (Low) |
Chapter 4 — Entering God’s Rest; the Living Word; Bold Access
Doctrine focus: Perseverance and Assurance (rest); Access to God through Christ (introduced).
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabbath-rest | σαββατισμός | sabbatismos | Sabbath-keeping/resting | the ongoing, promised state of covenant rest for God’s people | Sabbath rest, a rest | The rest still open to believers today, fulfilled ultimately in Christ | sự yên nghỉ ngày Sa-bát (Medium) |
| living and active (word) | ζῶν καὶ ἐνεργής | zōn kai energēs | living and effective | Scripture’s personal, penetrating, life-giving power | living and powerful, living and active, quick and powerful | God’s Word actively discerns hearts — not a static text or a magic formula | hằng sống và có quyền năng (High — deliberately avoid the common Vietnamese folk-religious term “linh nghiệm” [efficacious, as of an amulet or answered petition at a spirit shrine]; God’s Word’s power is personal and moral, not magical) |
| boldness/confidence | παρρησία | parrēsia | freedom of speech, boldness | confident, unashamed access, especially before authority | boldness, confidence | Believers may approach God’s throne with confidence because of Christ’s priestly work — foundational to “Access to God through Christ’s Blood” | sự dạn dĩ (High — recurs at 10:19, 10:35; must convey grace-given confidence, not human presumption or arrogance) |
| draw near | προσέρχομαι | proserchomai | to come/approach | to approach God in worship or prayer | come, draw near, approach | The central verb of the “access” doctrine, recurring through 7:19, 10:22, 11:6, 12:22 | đến gần (High — must be rendered consistently across all occurrences to preserve the book-wide access motif) |
| sympathize | συμπαθέω | sympatheō | to suffer with, to feel with | compassionate identification with another’s weakness | sympathize, have compassion | Christ’s high priesthood is marked by genuine compassion born of shared human experience | cảm thương (Low) |
Chapter 5 — Christ’s Qualification as High Priest; Melchizedek Introduced; Spiritual Immaturity
Doctrine focus: Christ as the Great High Priest; Superiority over the Levitical Priesthood (Melchizedek order introduced).
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melchizedek | Μελχισέδεκ | Melchisedek | (Heb.) “king of righteousness” | the Genesis 14 priest-king, type of Christ’s eternal, non-Levitical priesthood | Melchizedek | Establishes the OT typological basis for Christ’s superior, order-transcending priesthood (developed fully in ch. 7) | Mên-chi-xê-đéc (Medium — established Genesis transliteration; typological significance must be taught, not assumed) |
| order | τάξις | taxis | arrangement, rank | a class or succession, here a priestly order/line | order | Christ’s priesthood belongs to a different order than Aaron’s, established by divine oath, not lineage | ban / thứ tự (Low-Medium) |
| reverence/godly fear | εὐλάβεια | eulabeia | caution, reverence | pious reverence toward God, especially in prayer | godly fear, reverence | Christ’s own prayers were heard because of his reverent submission to the Father | lòng kính sợ (Medium) |
| mature/perfect | τέλειος | teleios | complete, full-grown | spiritual maturity, adjectival form of τελειόω | perfect, mature, full-grown | Contrasted with spiritual infancy; connects to the book’s perfection theme | trọn vẹn / trưởng thành (Medium) |
| obedience | ὑπακοή | hypakoē | compliance, obedience | submission learned through experience, here of Christ himself | obedience | Christ “learned obedience” through suffering — obedience flowing from relationship, not mere rule-compliance | sự vâng phục (High — distinct context from Romans TM’s compound “sự vâng phục của đức tin”; here of Christ’s own submission to the Father, not believers’ faith-response; still must avoid framing as Confucian đạo hiếu hierarchical duty) |
Chapter 6 — Warning Against Falling Away; the Anchor of Hope
Doctrine focus: The Danger of Apostasy and Warning Passages; Perseverance and Assurance.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fall away | παραπίπτω | parapiptō | to fall beside, to fall away | decisive apostasy after having tasted the blessings of the gospel | fall away, commit apostasy | The most severe warning in Hebrews: those who fall away after full exposure to gospel blessing | sa ngã (Critical — must be distinguished from the milder ch.3 term ἀφίστημι “lìa bỏ”; this describes a further, more severe stage; central to the “Warning Passages” doctrine and requires theologian-level review at every occurrence) |
| anchor | ἄγκυρα | ankyra | ship’s anchor | a stabilizing, securing device | anchor | Hope in God’s promise anchors the soul securely amid trial | mỏ neo (Low) |
| hope | ἐλπίς | elpis | expectation | confident, certain expectation grounded in God’s character and promise, not wishful desire | hope | Distinguished from casual optimism; grounded in God’s unchangeable oath | sự trông cậy (High — preferred over generic “hy vọng,” which can carry a merely wishful or fatalistic connotation in everyday Vietnamese speech; must be rendered consistently, especially alongside “đức tin” and “sự cứu rỗi”) |
| oath | ὅρκος | horkos | a sworn pledge | a solemn, binding promise sworn by an authority | oath, sworn promise | God’s oath to Abraham guarantees the certainty of his promise | lời thề (Low) |
| unchangeable | ἀμετάθετος | ametathetos | not to be altered | fixed, immutable | unchangeable, immutable | God’s promise and oath are doubly immutable, grounding assurance | không hề đổi / chẳng hề thay đổi (Medium) |
Chapter 7 — The Priesthood of Melchizedek; Christ’s Permanent Priesthood
Doctrine focus: Superiority of Christ over the Levitical Priesthood; Christ as the Great High Priest; The Once-for-All Atoning Sacrifice (introduced).
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| priesthood | ἱερωσύνη | hierōsynē | priestly office | the office and function of priestly mediation | priesthood | The change from a Levitical to a Melchizedekian priesthood signals a change in the entire covenant system | chức tế lễ (Medium) |
| permanent/unchangeable | ἀπαράβατος | aparabatos | not to be transgressed/passed by | permanent, non-transferable | unchangeable, permanent, that does not pass away | Christ’s priesthood, unlike the Levitical succession broken by death, never passes to a successor | chức tế lễ đời đời chẳng đổi (Medium) |
| intercede | ἐντυγχάνω | entynchanō | to meet with, to petition on behalf of | to intercede/plead on another’s behalf before an authority | make intercession | Christ’s ongoing heavenly intercession for believers, grounded in his finished atoning work | cầu thay (Critical — reused from Romans TM exactly; every occurrence requires the established note distinguishing Christ’s present intercession, grounded in his completed sacrifice, from petitioning a deceased ancestor at the family altar) |
| once for all | ἐφάπαξ | ephapax | once, for all time | a single act with permanent, unrepeatable effect | once for all | The decisive Hebrews term for the finality and sufficiency of Christ’s self-offering | một lần đủ cả (Critical — established Vietnamese Protestant phrase; must be the fixed rendering at every occurrence, including 9:12’s related ἅπαξ and 10:10) |
| guarantor/surety | ἔγγυος | engyos | one who pledges, a guarantor | one who personally guarantees the fulfillment of an agreement | surety, guarantee | Christ personally guarantees the new covenant’s promises, unlike the Levitical system which offered no such personal guarantee | Đấng bảo đảm (Medium) |
Chapter 8 — The Better Covenant Announced
Doctrine focus: The New Covenant versus the Old.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| new covenant | διαθήκη καινή | diathēkē kainē | new covenant | (see 9:15 above) the covenant announced in Jeremiah 31, now inaugurated in Christ | new covenant, new testament | Direct citation of Jeremiah’s new covenant promise as fulfilled in Christ | giao ước mới (High — consistent with 9:15) |
| better | κρείττων | kreittōn | superior | comparative excellence, applied here to “better promises” | better | The new covenant rests on better promises than the old — a key comparative term throughout Hebrews | tốt hơn (Medium — same term as 9:23; consistency required) |
| shadow | σκιά | skia | shadow | a dim outline anticipating, but not identical to, the substantial reality | shadow, foreshadowing | The old covenant system was a shadow of the substance now present in Christ | bóng (Medium) |
| pattern/type | τύπος | typos | mark, model, pattern | an OT person, event, or institution divinely designed to foreshadow its NT fulfillment | pattern, example, type, figure | Moses was shown a heavenly “pattern” for the earthly tabernacle — typology is a structural principle in Hebrews | hình mẫu (Medium — kept distinct from χαρακτήρ, “hình ảnh chân thực,” used of Christ’s deity in ch. 1, to prevent conflating typological foreshadowing with Christ’s own essential divine likeness) |
| become obsolete | παλαιόω | palaioō | to make/become old | to age and lose force, becoming ready to vanish | become old, become obsolete, ready to vanish away | The old covenant is declared obsolete in light of the new — a strong supersession claim requiring careful, non-triumphalist framing given Jewish-Christian relations | trở nên cũ (Low-Medium) |
Chapter 9 — The Earthly Sanctuary and Christ’s Better Sacrifice (Core Passage Chapter)
Chapter 9 contains the core passage. Verses 1–10 (context vocabulary: σκηνή, τὰ ἅγια, καταπέτασμα, ἱλαστήριον, κιβωτός, χερουβίμ, χειροποίητος) and verses 11–28 (full verse-by-verse) are treated in Part A above. No additional chapter-level terms beyond those already covered there.
Chapter 10 — The Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice; Exhortation to Persevere
Doctrine focus: The Once-for-All Atoning Sacrifice; The Danger of Apostasy; Perseverance and Assurance; Access to God through Christ’s Blood.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sanctify | ἁγιάζω | hagiazō | to make holy | to be set apart and made holy, here through Christ’s single offering (10:10, 10:14) | sanctified, made holy | Believers are declared sanctified once for all through Christ’s one offering, even as ongoing sanctification continues | được nên thánh (High — reuses “sự nên thánh” concept from Romans TM; must hold together the once-for-all declarative sense with the ongoing-process sense without contradiction) |
| veil (=his flesh) | καταπέτασμα | katapetasma | curtain | here explicitly identified with Christ’s flesh, torn to open access to God | veil, curtain | The veil, once a barrier, is now revealed as the very means of access — Christ’s body torn open the way | bức màn (là chính thân xác Ngài) (High — direct doctrinal payoff of the term introduced in ch.9) |
| confession | ὁμολογία | homologia | acknowledgment, profession | a public, verbal declaration of one’s faith commitment | confession, profession of faith | Believers are exhorted to hold fast their public confession without wavering | sự xưng nhận / lời tuyên xưng (Medium) |
| assembling together | ἐπισυναγωγή | episynagōgē | a gathering together | the practice of regular corporate church gathering | assembling together | Warns against neglecting corporate worship — foundational for the doctrine of the church as community of perseverance | sự nhóm lại (với nhau) (Medium) |
| sin willfully | ἑκουσίως ἁμαρτάνω | hekousiōs hamartanō | to sin voluntarily/deliberately | deliberate, willful continuance in sin after receiving knowledge of the truth | sin willfully, sin deliberately | The most severe warning passage: no further sacrifice remains for deliberate apostate sin | cố ý phạm tội (Critical — a defining “Warning Passages” term requiring theologian review at every occurrence) |
| endurance/perseverance | ὑπομονή | hypomonē | a remaining under; endurance | steadfast patience under pressure, oriented toward a future reward | endurance, patience, perseverance | The positive counterpart to the warning passages: believers are called to persevere in confident endurance | sự bền đỗ (High — key “Perseverance and Assurance” term; must be distinguished from mere passive resignation to fate) |
| draw back / shrink back | ὑποστολή (ὑποστέλλομαι) | hypostolē | a drawing back | timid retreat from a commitment, contrasted with persevering faith | draw back, shrink back | The alternative to perseverance is described as a fatal drawing back that destroys the soul | thối lui / lui bước (High) |
Chapter 11 — The Faith of the Old Testament Saints
Doctrine focus: Faith of the Old Testament Saints.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| substance/assurance | ὑπόστασις | hypostasis | that which stands under; ground | (here) the underlying reality/ground that makes hoped-for things certain, functioning as “assurance” or “title-deed” | substance, assurance, confidence | Faith gives hoped-for future realities present certainty — the defining statement on biblical faith | sự biết chắc (vững vàng) (High — same Greek word as ch. 1’s “bản thể,” but a distinct sense; must not be collapsed into that ontological term; renders faith’s confident grounding, not God’s essential being) |
| evidence/conviction | ἔλεγχος | elenchos | proof, means of proving | conviction/certainty regarding what is not seen | evidence, conviction, proof | Faith operates with a certainty analogous to physical evidence, though its object is unseen | bằng cớ (Medium) |
| strangers and pilgrims | ξένος καὶ παρεπίδημος | xenos kai parepidēmos | foreigner and temporary resident | one who lives as a resident-alien, without full rights of citizenship, awaiting a homeland elsewhere | strangers and pilgrims, foreigners and exiles | The patriarchs’ self-understanding as people awaiting a better, heavenly homeland — model for the whole church’s identity | khách lạ và người tạm trú (Medium) |
| heavenly | ἐπουράνιος | epouranios | above the sky, heavenly | belonging to the heavenly realm, as opposed to the earthly | heavenly | The “better country” the patriarchs sought was heavenly, not merely a return to an earthly homeland | trên trời / thiên thượng (Low-Medium) |
| Old Testament saints (proper names) | Ἄβελ, Ἐνώχ, Νῶε, Ἀβραάμ, Σάρρα, Ἰσαάκ, Ἰακώβ, Ἰωσήφ, Μωϋσῆς, Ῥαάβ, Γεδεών, Σαμψών, Δαυίδ, Σαμουήλ, κ.ἄ. | Habel, Enōch, Nōe, Abraam, Sarra… | (proper names) | the roll call of OT exemplars of faith | Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, etc. | Each figure models faith as confident trust acted upon despite not yet seeing the promise fulfilled | Established BDTT transliterated forms (A-bên, Hê-nóc, Nô-ê, Áp-ra-ham, Sa-ra, Y-sác, Gia-cốp, Giô-sép, Môi-se, Ra-háp, Ghi-đê-ôn, Sam-sôn, Đa-vít, Sa-mu-ên, etc.) (Low — standard OT transliterations; no new doctrinal risk beyond consistency) |
Chapter 12 — Discipline, the Race of Faith, and Mount Zion
Doctrine focus: Perseverance and Assurance; The Danger of Apostasy (Esau warning); Superiority of the New Covenant assembly.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discipline/chastening | παιδεία | paideia | child-training, discipline | formative correction motivated by love, not punitive rejection | chastening, discipline, training | God disciplines believers as a loving Father to produce holiness, not as punishment severing the relationship | sự sửa phạt (High — must be distinguished from impersonal karmic retribution [nghiệp báo] and from the fear of ancestral curses for family dishonor; grounded instead in secured sonship, cf. Romans TM “sự làm con nuôi”) |
| race/contest | ἀγών | agōn | a contest, struggle | an athletic contest requiring endurance | race, contest | The Christian life pictured as an endurance race run with eyes fixed on Christ | cuộc đua / cuộc chạy (Low) |
| finisher/perfecter | τελειωτής | teleiōtēs | one who brings to completion | one who both originates and completes a work (paired with ἀρχηγός) | finisher, perfecter | Christ both begins and completes the believer’s faith — a summary Christological title paired with 2:10’s “pioneer” | Đấng làm cho trọn vẹn / Đấng hoàn tất (High — must be paired consistently with ch. 2’s “Đấng khai khởi” as a matched set) |
| Zion | Σιών | Siōn | (Heb. place name) | Mount Zion, here representing the heavenly Jerusalem, contrasted with Sinai | Mount Zion, Zion | New covenant believers approach not a mountain of terror (Sinai) but the joyful heavenly Zion | Si-ôn (Low — established transliteration) |
| assembly/church of the firstborn | ἐκκλησία πρωτοτόκων | ekklēsia prōtotokōn | assembly of the firstborn ones | the heavenly gathering of all the redeemed, sharing Christ’s “firstborn” status and inheritance rights | church of the firstborn, assembly of the firstborn | A heavenly, universal assembly distinct from any single local congregation | hội của các con đầu lòng (Medium — use cautiously alongside “Hội Thánh” [Romans TM]; this is the heavenly universal assembly, not a local congregation, and the term should not be shortened in a way that suggests a class of especially favored believers) |
| unshakeable kingdom | βασιλεία ἀσάλευτος | basileia asaleutos | kingdom that cannot be shaken | God’s kingdom, permanent amid the shaking/removal of all created, temporary things | kingdom which cannot be moved, unshakeable kingdom | Contrasted with every earthly, political, or created order, all destined to be shaken and removed | nước không thể rúng động (Medium — ties to “Nước Đức Chúa Trời” from Romans TM) |
| consuming fire | πῦρ καταναλίσκον | pyr katanaliskon | fire that consumes | God’s holy, judging presence, from Deuteronomy 4:24 | consuming fire | A sober closing reminder of God’s holiness that grounds reverent worship, not casual approach | lửa thiêu đốt (Medium) |
Chapter 13 — Closing Exhortations
Doctrine focus: Practical outworking of the preceding doctrines; brief closing benediction repeats covenant/shepherd Christology.
| Term | Original | Transliteration | Literal Meaning | Semantic Range | English Variants | Contextual Theological Meaning | Vietnamese Rendering & Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| brotherly love | φιλαδελφία | philadelphia | love of brothers | familial love extended to the whole church family | brotherly love | The church as a new spiritual family transcending blood kinship | tình yêu thương anh em (Low) |
| hospitality | φιλοξενία | philoxenia | love of strangers | active welcome extended to strangers and travelers | hospitality | Practical outworking of the pilgrim identity described in ch. 11 | lòng hiếu khách (Low) |
| leaders | ἡγούμενοι | hēgoumenoi | those leading | those who exercise spiritual oversight and teaching in the congregation | leaders, those who rule over you | Congregational submission to spiritual leaders who watch over souls | những người dắt dẫn (Medium) |
| altar | θυσιαστήριον | thysiastērion | place of sacrifice | the place where sacrificial offerings are made; here, metaphorically, believers’ access to Christ’s sacrifice | altar | Believers “have an altar” in Christ’s sacrifice, distinct from the OT sacrificial system | bàn thờ (High — “bàn thờ” is also the standard Vietnamese term for the household ancestor-veneration altar [bàn thờ tổ tiên] found in most Vietnamese homes; every occurrence requires explicit context that this names Christ’s once-for-all sacrificial altar, never a family ancestor-worship altar) |
| sacrifice of praise | θυσία αἰνέσεως | thysia aineseōs | sacrifice of praise | verbal, worshipful praise offered as a “sacrifice” replacing animal offerings | sacrifice of praise | Worship, not ritual offering, is now the acceptable sacrifice believers bring | tế lễ (bằng lời) ngợi khen (Medium) |
| great shepherd of the sheep | ὁ ποιμὴν τῶν προβάτων ὁ μέγας | ho poimēn tōn probatōn ho megas | the great shepherd of the sheep | a Christological title drawn from Ezekiel/Psalm shepherd imagery, tied to the resurrection | the great shepherd of the sheep | Christ’s resurrection (reused Critical term “sự sống lại”) is grounded explicitly in his role as shepherd who secures his flock | Đấng Chăn Chiên lớn (Medium) |
| everlasting covenant | διαθήκη αἰώνιος | diathēkē aiōnios | eternal covenant | the permanent, unbreakable new covenant, closing the book’s covenant argument | everlasting covenant | Closing doxological summary of the entire book’s covenant theology | giao ước đời đời (High — reuses “giao ước” from Romans TM + “đời đời”; final consistency check for the whole book) |
End of semantic analysis. See analysis/08_core_glossary.md for the consolidated, risk-tiered glossary drawn from every chapter above.