Core Glossary
08 Core Glossary — Philippians (English → Vietnamese)
How to Read This Glossary
- Status = baseline reuse: term and rendering are already fixed in the Romans
translation_memory.json; enforce exactly, no deviation permitted. - Status = new: term is new to the Philippians curriculum; Vietnamese rendering proposed here per the same doctrinal-fidelity method as the baseline, pending formal addition to translation memory in Phase 2 pre-flight.
- Risk tiers (Critical/High/Medium/Low) and review routing follow the baseline
doctrine_risk_registry.jsonconventions exactly: Critical/High → human theologian review; Medium → native speaker review; Low → automated review.
Table 1 — Core Passage Terms (Philippians 2:1–11)
| # | English term | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Status | Doctrine | Risk rationale (brief) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | encouragement | παράκλησις (paraklēsis) | sự khuyên bảo / sự an ủi | Low–Medium | New | Unity and Humility | Must stay tied to “in Christ” |
| 2 | consolation of love | παραμύθιον ἀγάπης (paramythion agapēs) | sự an ủi của lòng yêu thương | Medium | New | Unity and Humility | Inherits risk from ἀγάπη |
| 3 | fellowship of the Spirit | κοινωνία πνεύματος (koinōnia pneumatos) | sự thông công của Đức Thánh Linh | Medium (Holy Spirit clause Critical) | Baseline reuse (fellowship, Holy Spirit) | Unity and Humility | ”Đức Thánh Linh” mandatory in full |
| 4 | affection and mercy | σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί (splanchna kai oiktirmoi) | lòng yêu thương dịu dàng và sự thương xót | Medium | New | Unity and Humility | Avoid collapsing into cultivated Buddhist compassion (từ bi) |
| 5 | joy | χαρά (chara) | sự vui mừng | High | New | Joy in Suffering | Vs. Buddhist equanimity/detachment and Confucian stoicism |
| 6 | same mind / mindset | φρονέω (phroneō) | tâm tình | High | New | Unity and Humility | Vs. social-harmony face-saving deference |
| 7 | united in soul | σύμψυχοι (sympsychoi) | đồng lòng | Medium | New | Unity and Humility | — |
| 8 | selfish ambition | ἐριθεία (eritheia) | lòng tranh cạnh | Medium | New | Unity and Humility | — |
| 9 | vain conceit | κενοδοξία (kenodoxia) | sự khoe khoang hư không | Medium | New | Unity and Humility | Wordplay link to δόξα/glory |
| 10 | humility | ταπεινοφροσύνη (tapeinophrosynē) | sự khiêm nhường | High | New | Unity and Humility | Vs. Confucian hierarchical deference |
| 11 | look to others’ interests | σκοπέω (skopeō) | chú ý đến / quan tâm đến | Low | New | Unity and Humility | — |
| 12 | form of God | μορφῇ θεοῦ (morphē theou) | hình Đức Chúa Trời | Critical | New | Incarnation / Deity of Christ | Never framed as one of many “hóa thân” manifestations |
| 13 | existing/being | ὑπάρχων (hyparchōn) | vốn có | High | New | Deity of Christ | Prior, essential, non-acquired divine state |
| 14 | something to be grasped | ἁρπαγμός (harpagmos) | điều nên nắm giữ | High | New | Incarnation | Christ did not exploit divine status |
| 15 | equality with God | ἴσα θεῷ (isa theō) | sự bình đẳng với Đức Chúa Trời | Critical | New | Deity of Christ | Vs. folk apotheosis/deified heroes |
| 16 | he emptied himself (kenosis) | ἐκένωσεν (ekenōsen) | tự bỏ mình đi | Critical | New | Incarnation / Kenosis | Vs. Buddhist “vô ngã”/“tánh không” (no-self/emptiness) — highest risk term in book |
| 17 | form of a servant | μορφὴν δούλου (morphēn doulou) | hình tôi mọi | High | New | Incarnation / Humanity of Christ | Distinct from Paul’s self-designation “tôi tớ” |
| 18 | likeness of men | ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων (homoiōmati anthrōpōn) | trở nên giống như loài người | High | New | Humanity of Christ | Full genuine humanity, not illusory appearance |
| 19 | found in human form | σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος (schēmati heuretheis hōs anthrōpos) | có hình trạng như người | Medium | New | Humanity of Christ | — |
| 20 | he humbled himself | ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν (etapeinōsen heauton) | tự hạ mình xuống | High | New | Unity and Humility / Incarnation | Voluntary, not hierarchical role-obedience |
| 21 | obedient unto death | ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου (hypēkoos mechri thanatou) | vâng phục cho đến chết | High | New (uses baseline “vâng phục”) | Obedience of Faith (baseline) | Vs. đạo hiếu (filial duty) |
| 22 | death of a cross | θανάτου σταυροῦ (thanatou staurou) | chết trên cây thập tự | Medium | New | Incarnation | Intensifies shame of servant-death |
| 23 | highly exalted | ὑπερύψωσεν (hyperypsōsen) | đem Ngài lên rất cao | High | New | Lordship of Christ / Deity of Christ | Vs. folk apotheosis (e.g. Thánh Trần) |
| 24 | graciously gave/bestowed | ἐχαρίσατο (echarisato) | ban cho | Medium | New | Grace (baseline link) | Shares χάρις root |
| 25 | name above every name | τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα | danh trên hết mọi danh | High | New | Lordship of Christ | — |
| 26 | in the name of Jesus | ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ | trong danh Đức Chúa Giê-xu | Critical | Baseline reuse (Jesus) | Lordship of Christ | — |
| 27 | every knee bow | πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ (pan gony kampsē) | mọi gối phải quì xuống | High | New | Lordship of Christ | Vs. ancestor-veneration bowing (lạy, quỳ) |
| 28 | heavenly, earthly, under the earth | ἐπουρανίων, ἐπιγείων, καταχθονίων | trên trời, dưới đất, bên dưới đất | Medium–High | New | Lordship of Christ | ”Bên dưới đất” risk of confusion with âm phủ/spirit realm |
| 29 | confess/acknowledge | ἐξομολογήσηται (exomologēsētai) | xưng nhận | Medium–High | New | Lordship of Christ | Cross-reference Romans 10:9 verbatim rule |
| 30 | Jesus Christ is Lord | Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός | Đức Chúa Giê-xu Christ là Chúa | Critical | Baseline reuse (Lord, Jesus) | Lordship of Christ | Consistency with Rom 10:9 required |
| 31 | to the glory of God the Father | εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός | để tôn vinh Đức Chúa Trời, là Cha | High | Baseline reuse (glory, God, Father) | Deity of Christ / Trinitarian coherence | Guards against Godhead rivalry misreading |
Table 2 — Chapter 1 Additional Terms
| # | English term | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Status | Doctrine | Risk rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | bondservant (Paul’s self-designation) | δοῦλος (doulos) | tôi tớ | Medium–High | New | — | Distinct from “hình tôi mọi” used of Christ (2:7) |
| 33 | saints | ἅγιοι (hagioi) | các thánh đồ | High | Baseline reuse | Sainthood | Never bare “các thánh” |
| 34 | overseers and deacons | ἐπίσκοποι καὶ διάκονοι (episkopoi kai diakonoi) | người coi sóc và các chấp sự | Medium | New | Church as God’s People | Avoid “giám mục” (Catholic episcopal association) |
| 35 | gospel | εὐαγγέλιον | Tin Lành | Medium | Baseline reuse | Gospel | — |
| 36 | grace | χάρις | ân điển | High | Baseline reuse | Grace | — |
| 37 | peace | εἰρήνη | sự bình an | Medium | Baseline reuse | Peace with God | — |
| 38 | thanksgiving | εὐχαριστία | sự cảm tạ | Low | Baseline reuse | Thanksgiving | — |
| 39 | partnership in the gospel | κοινωνία εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον | sự thông công trong Tin Lành | Medium | Baseline reuse (fellowship), extended | Partnership in the Gospel | Includes material/financial partnership, not social fellowship alone |
| 40 | day of Christ | ἡμέρα Χριστοῦ (hēmera Christou) | ngày của Đấng Christ | Medium | New | — | Linear historical event, not cyclical era |
| 41 | chains/imprisonment | δεσμά (desma) | xiềng xích | Low–Medium | New | Joy in Suffering | — |
| 42 | defense of the gospel | ἀπολογία (apologia) | sự binh vực Tin Lành | Low–Medium | New | — | — |
| 43 | boldness | παρρησία (parrēsia) | sự dạn dĩ | Low | New | — | — |
| 44 | to live is Christ, to die is gain | τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος | sống là Đấng Christ, chết là ích lợi | High | New | Christian Identity in Christ | Vs. ancestor-veneration death anxieties |
| 45 | it was granted to suffer | ἐχαρίσθη…πάσχειν (echaristhē… paschein) | được ban ơn để chịu khổ | High | New | Joy in Suffering and Imprisonment | Vs. suffering-as-karma (nghiệp) |
Table 3 — Chapter 2 Additional Terms (beyond core passage 2:1–11)
| # | English term | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Status | Doctrine | Risk rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | work out your salvation | σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε (sōtērian katergazesthe) | hãy làm công việc của sự cứu rỗi mình cho đến trọn | Critical | Baseline reuse (salvation) | Salvation / Sanctification | Sanctifying outworking, not works-based salvation |
| 47 | God who works in you | ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν (ho energōn en hymin) | Đức Chúa Trời hành động trong anh em | Medium | New | Power of God (baseline family) | — |
| 48 | grumbling | γογγυσμός (goggysmos) | sự lằm bằm | Low | New | — | — |
| 49 | children of God without blemish | τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα | con cái Đức Chúa Trời không chỗ trách được | Medium | New (links baseline adoption) | Adoption | — |
| 50 | poured out as a drink offering | σπένδομαι (spendomai) | đổ ra làm lễ quán | High | New | Joy in Suffering | Vs. ancestor-veneration libation offerings |
| 51 | messenger (generic) | ἀπόστολος, generic sense (Epaphroditus) | sứ giả | Medium | New | — | Distinct from technical office “sứ đồ” |
| 52 | risking his life | παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ | liều mạng sống mình | Low–Medium | New | — | — |
Table 4 — Chapter 3 Additional Terms
| # | English term | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Status | Doctrine | Risk rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | circumcision | περιτομή (peritomē) | phép cắt bì | Low–Medium | New | — | OT background required |
| 54 | righteousness from the law / through faith | δικαιοσύνη ἐκ νόμου / διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ | sự công bình bởi luật pháp / qua đức tin trong Đấng Christ | Critical | Baseline reuse (righteousness, faith, law) | Righteousness by Faith vs. the Law | Direct restatement of Romans imputed-righteousness doctrine |
| 55 | rubbish/dung | σκύβαλα (skybala) | rơm rác | Medium | New | — | Register calibration for rhetorical force |
| 56 | gain / loss | κέρδος / ζημία | lợi ích / thiệt hại | Medium | New | — | — |
| 57 | fellowship in his sufferings | κοινωνία τῶν παθημάτων αὐτοῦ | sự thông công trong sự đau đớn của Ngài | High | Baseline reuse (fellowship), extended | Joy in Suffering | Vs. karma |
| 58 | power of his resurrection | δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ | quyền năng của sự sống lại của Ngài | Critical | Baseline reuse (resurrection, power_of_god) | Resurrection of Christ | Never đầu thai/luân hồi |
| 59 | conformed to his death | συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ | trở nên giống như sự chết của Ngài | High | New | Christian Identity in Christ | Links μορφή word-family to core passage |
| 60 | the resurrection [from the dead] | ἐξανάστασις (exanastasis) | sự sống lại | Critical | Baseline reuse | Resurrection of Christ | — |
| 61 | press on / prize / goal / heavenly calling | διώκω / βραβεῖον / τέλος / ἄνω κλήσεως | đeo đuổi / giải thưởng / mục tiêu / sự kêu gọi từ trên | Medium–High | New (calling = baseline reuse) | Pressing on toward the Goal | Vs. merit-earning misreading of race imagery |
| 62 | mature/perfect | τέλειοι (teleioi) | trọn vẹn | Medium | New | — | — |
| 63 | enemies of the cross | ἐχθροὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ | kẻ nghịch thù thập tự giá | Medium | New | — | — |
| 64 | the belly is their god | ἡ κοιλία θεός | bụng của mình là chúa/thần của họ | Low | New | — | Preserve satirical idiom |
| 65 | citizenship in heaven | τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς (also verb 1:27) | quyền công dân trên trời | High | New | Citizenship in Heaven | Vs. state/political citizenship allegiance |
| 66 | Savior | σωτήρ (sōtēr) | Cứu Chúa | Critical | New (links baseline salvation) | Salvation | Exclusive title for Christ only |
| 67 | will transform | μετασχηματίσει (metaschēmatisei) | biến đổi | High | New | Resurrection / Citizenship in Heaven | Never “biến hóa” (folk shape-shifting) |
| 68 | body of humiliation / body of glory | τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως / τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ | thân thể hèn mạt / thân thể vinh hiển | Medium–High | Baseline reuse (glory), extended | Resurrection | Links humility word-family to future hope |
Table 5 — Chapter 4 Additional Terms
| # | English term | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Status | Doctrine | Risk rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | same mind in the Lord | τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν Κυρίῳ | có tâm tình như nhau trong Chúa | High | Baseline-linked (φρονέω, Lord) | Unity and Humility | — |
| 70 | book of life | βίβλος ζωῆς (biblos zōēs) | sách sự sống | High | New | Salvation / Assurance | Vs. karmic underworld ledgers (sổ sinh tử) |
| 71 | rejoice in the Lord always | χαίρετε ἐν Κυρίῳ πάντοτε | hãy vui mừng trong Chúa luôn luôn | High | New (χαρά family) | Joy in Suffering | — |
| 72 | gentleness | τὸ ἐπιεικές (to epieikes) | sự nhân từ | Low | New | — | — |
| 73 | the Lord is at hand | ὁ Κύριος ἐγγύς (ho Kyrios eggys) | Chúa đã gần rồi | High | Baseline reuse (Lord) | Lordship of Christ | — |
| 74 | be anxious for nothing / prayer, supplication, thanksgiving | μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε / προσευχή, δέησις, εὐχαριστία | đừng lo lắng gì hết / sự cầu nguyện, khẩn nguyện, sự cảm tạ | Low–Medium | New (thanksgiving = baseline reuse) | Contentment / Prayer | Connects to baseline Prayer and Intercession family |
| 75 | peace of God surpassing understanding | ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν | sự bình an của Đức Chúa Trời vượt quá mọi sự hiểu biết | Medium | Baseline reuse (peace) | Peace with God | — |
| 76 | excellence/virtue | ἀρετή (aretē) | đức hạnh | High | New (special case) | — | Only positive Pauline use; must not bleed into righteousness/justification doctrine |
| 77 | contentment / self-sufficient | αὐτάρκης (autarkēs) | sự thỏa lòng | High | New | Contentment in All Circumstances | Vs. Stoic self-sufficiency and Buddhist non-attachment |
| 78 | I have learned the secret (initiation term) | μεμύημαι (memyēmai) | tôi đã học được bí quyết | High | New | Contentment in All Circumstances | Vs. esoteric/occult initiation rites (lên đồng, bí truyền) |
| 79 | him who strengthens me | ὁ ἐνδυναμῶν με (ho endynamōn me) | Đấng ban thêm sức cho tôi | Medium | New | Contentment | — |
| 80 | shared in my affliction | συνκοινωνήσαντες τῇ θλίψει | cùng thông công trong sự khó khăn của tôi | High | Baseline reuse (fellowship), extended | Partnership in the Gospel / Joy in Suffering | — |
| 81 | giving and receiving | δόσις καὶ λῆψις (dosis kai lēpsis) | sự cho và nhận | Low–Medium | New | Partnership in the Gospel | — |
| 82 | fruit to your account | καρπὸν… εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν | bông trái càng thêm về phần anh em | High | New | Grace / Partnership in the Gospel | Vs. merit-accumulation (phước đức/công đức) framing |
| 83 | fragrant offering, acceptable sacrifice | ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, θυσίαν δεκτήν | hương thơm ngào ngạt, một lễ vật đáng nhận, đẹp lòng Đức Chúa Trời | High | New | Partnership in the Gospel | Vs. ancestor-veneration incense/food offerings |
| 84 | riches in glory | τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐν δόξῃ | sự giàu có của Ngài trong sự vinh hiển | Medium | Baseline reuse (glory) | — | — |
Table 6 — Proper Names
| English | Greek (transliteration) | Vietnamese rendering | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippians (book name) | Φιλιππησίους | Phi-líp (sách Phi-líp) | Low | Established Vietnamese Bible book-name convention |
| Paul | Παῦλος (Paulos) | Phao-lô | Low | Baseline-consistent transliteration |
| Timothy | Τιμόθεος (Timotheos) | Ti-mô-thê | Low | — |
| Epaphroditus | Ἐπαφρόδιτος (Epaphroditos) | Ê-pa-phô-đích | Low | — |
| Euodia | Εὐοδία (Euodia) | Ơ-vô-đi | Low | — |
| Syntyche | Συντύχη (Syntychē) | Sin-ty-cơ | Low | — |
| Clement | Κλήμης (Klēmēs) | Cơ-lê-măn | Low | — |
| Caesar | Καῖσαρ (Kaisar) | Sê-sa | Low | — |
Table 7 — Baseline (Romans) Terms Reused Without Modification in Philippians
The following terms occur in Philippians and MUST use the exact Vietnamese rendering already fixed in the baseline translation_memory.json. No new entries are created for these; they are listed here only to confirm full-book coverage.
| Term | Vietnamese rendering | Risk (baseline) | Key Philippians occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|
| gospel | Tin Lành | Medium | 1:5, 1:7, 1:12, 1:16, 1:27, 2:22, 4:3, 4:15 |
| grace | ân điển | High | 1:2, 1:7, 4:23 |
| faith | đức tin | Medium | 1:25, 1:27, 3:9, 3:19 |
| righteousness | sự công bình | High | 1:11, 3:6, 3:9 |
| justification (conceptually, via imputed righteousness) | sự công bình được kể cho | Critical | 3:9 |
| salvation | sự cứu rỗi | Critical | 1:19, 1:28, 2:12 |
| saints | các thánh đồ | High | 1:1, 4:21-22 |
| holy_spirit | Đức Thánh Linh | Critical | 1:19, 2:1, 3:3 |
| god | Đức Chúa Trời | Critical | throughout |
| jesus | Đức Chúa Giê-xu | Critical | throughout |
| lord | Chúa | Critical | 1:2, 2:11, 2:19, 2:24, 2:29, 3:1, 3:8, 3:20, 4:1, 4:2, 4:4, 4:5, 4:10, 4:23 |
| father | Cha | High | 1:2, 2:11, 4:20 |
| glory | sự vinh hiển | Medium | 1:11, 2:11, 3:19, 3:21, 4:19-20 |
| resurrection | sự sống lại | Critical | 3:10-11 |
| fellowship | sự thông công | Low | 1:5, 2:1, 3:10, 4:14-15 |
| peace | sự bình an | Medium | 4:7, 4:9 |
| thanksgiving | sự cảm tạ | Low | 1:3, 4:6 |
| calling | sự kêu gọi | Medium | 3:14 |
| church (conceptual; term itself not present as ἐκκλησία but doctrine applies) | Hội Thánh | Medium | congregational context throughout |
| law | luật pháp | Medium | 3:5-6, 3:9 |
| exhort/entreaty | khích lệ / khuyên nài (context-sensitive) | Low | 4:2 (khuyên nài — entreaty context) |
Cross-Document Consistency Notes
- All Critical-risk terms carried over from Romans (God, Jesus, Lord, Salvation, Resurrection, Holy Spirit, Righteousness/Imputed Righteousness) must render identically in Philippians materials as in Romans materials — no Philippians-specific variation permitted.
- Newly proposed Philippians terms rated Critical (kenosis/ἐκένωσεν, form of God/μορφῇ θεοῦ, equality with God/ἴσα θεῷ, work out salvation/σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε, righteousness by faith/δικαιοσύνη διὰ πίστεως, Savior/σωτήρ, resurrection-family terms) must be formally added to translation memory before any Phase 2 segment translation begins, per the Pre-flight Checklist in
12_ai_translation_requirements.md. - The μορφή/σχῆμα/ταπεινο- word-families recur across chapters 2 and 3 (2:6-8, 3:10, 3:21) and should be flagged for consistent, cross-referenced rendering so learners can trace Paul’s theological argument across the whole letter.
- Two recurring cultural-collision clusters require standing teaching notes wherever they recur: (a) suffering-as-grace vs. karma (1:29, 3:10); (b) sacrificial/offering language vs. ancestor-veneration ritual offerings (2:17, 4:18).
Critical Risk Terms
Salvation
Approved rendering: sự cứu rỗi
Transliteration: su cuu roi
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: sự giải thoát
Original: σωτηρία
Category: Salvation
CRITICAL: NEVER use sự giải thoát (Buddhist liberation from rebirth). Occurs Phil 1:19, 1:28, 2:12. Inherited from Romans package.
Resurrection
Approved rendering: sự sống lại
Transliteration: su song lai
Doctrine: Resurrection of Christ
Rejected alternatives: sự đầu thai, luân hồi
Original: ἀνάστασις
Category: Eschatology
CRITICAL: NEVER use sự đầu thai or luân hồi (rebirth/reincarnation). Occurs Phil 3:10-11 (δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως, ἐξανάστασις) and underlies 3:20-21. Inherited from Romans package.
Son Of God
Approved rendering: Con Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: Con Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Sonship of Christ
CRITICAL: Full phrase required; conveys eternal, unique Sonship. Underlies the doctrine of Phil 2:6 even where the literal phrase does not recur verbatim. Inherited from Romans package.
Incarnation
Approved rendering: Ngôi Lời trở nên xác thịt
Transliteration: Ngoi Loi tro nen xac thit
Doctrine: Incarnation
Rejected alternatives: hóa thân
CRITICAL: NEVER use hóa thân alone. Philippians 2:6-8 is the fullest NT exposition of how this incarnation happened from the Son’s own vantage point; cross-reference explicitly. Inherited from Romans package.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: Đức Thánh Linh
Transliteration: Duc Thanh Linh
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: thần linh
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
CRITICAL: Never bare thần linh. Occurs Phil 1:19, 2:1 (κοινωνία πνεύματος, ‘fellowship of the Spirit’ — see fellowship_of_the_spirit entry), 3:3. Inherited from Romans package.
Jesus
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Giê-xu
Transliteration: Duc Chua Gie-xu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
CRITICAL: Standard 1926 Vietnamese Protestant Bible form. Occurs throughout Philippians, including 2:10-11. Inherited from Romans package.
Righteousness By Faith Vs Law
Approved rendering: sự công bình bởi luật pháp / qua đức tin trong Đấng Christ
Transliteration: su cong binh boi luat phap / qua duc tin trong Dang Christ
Doctrine: Righteousness by Faith versus the Law
Rejected alternatives: công đức tích lũy, đức hạnh
Original: δικαιοσύνη ἐκ νόμου / διὰ πίστεως Χριστοῦ
Category: Salvation
Philippians 3:9 is Paul’s clearest single-verse restatement of the Romans imputed-righteousness doctrine, contrasting his own accumulated Pharisaic credentials (3:4-6) with a credited status. Must preserve the antithetical (‘not…but’) structure, not an additive both/and reading. Human theologian review mandatory.
Work Out Your Salvation
Approved rendering: hãy làm công việc của sự cứu rỗi mình cho đến trọn
Transliteration: hay lam cong viec cua su cuu roi minh cho den tron
Doctrine: Sanctification and Working Out Salvation
Original: τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε
Category: Sanctification
κατεργάζομαι = ‘work out to completion,’ describing sanctifying outworking of a salvation already given (Phil 2:12), NOT the earning of salvation by works. Must be read together with 2:13 (‘God who works in you’). Mandatory teaching note; human theologian review required.
Savior
Approved rendering: Cứu Chúa
Transliteration: Cuu Chua
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: σωτήρ
Category: Salvation
The exclusive divine title for Jesus as rescuer, awaited from heaven (Phil 3:20). Must always denote Christ personally, never a generic deliverer-figure or deified hero.
Power Of His Resurrection
Approved rendering: quyền năng của sự sống lại của Ngài
Transliteration: quyen nang cua su song lai cua Ngai
Doctrine: Resurrection Hope
Original: δύναμις τῆς ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ
Category: Eschatology
Phil 3:10. Compound of God’s own personal power and a bodily, historical, once-for-all resurrection — never đầu thai/luân hồi.
Form Of God
Approved rendering: hình Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: hinh Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: The Incarnation and Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: hóa thân
Original: μορφῇ θεοῦ
Category: Christology
Phil 2:6. μορφή denotes outward form corresponding to inward essence, not mere appearance. Never one of many hóa thân manifestation-forms of a deity/bodhisattva. Christ eternally possesses divine form; he does not merely appear in it. Pair every occurrence with ‘vốn có’ (see existing_in_prior_divine_state) to lock the prior, essential, non-acquired sense.
Equality With God
Approved rendering: sự bình đẳng với Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: su binh dang voi Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: The Incarnation and Deity of Christ
Original: ἴσα θεῷ
Category: Christology
Phil 2:6, ἴσα θεῷ. Co-equal, eternal divine status held by right, not a rank a devotee or deified folk hero (such as Thánh Trần) might aspire to or be elevated toward through Vietnamese folk apotheosis traditions.
Kenosis Self Emptying
Approved rendering: tự bỏ mình đi
Transliteration: tu bo minh di
Doctrine: The Self-Emptying of Christ (Kenosis)
Rejected alternatives: hóa thân, tánh không, vô ngã
Original: ἐκένωσεν
Category: Christology
SINGLE HIGHEST-RISK TERM IN THE PHILIPPIANS CURRICULUM. Phil 2:7, ἐκένωσεν. Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist doctrine centers on tánh không (śūnyatā, emptiness) and vô ngã (anatta, no-self) — dissolution/non-existence of a fixed self as the goal of practice. Christ’s self-emptying must be taught as the voluntary self-giving action of a real, eternal, fully divine Person who remains fully himself and fully God throughout — NOT loss, dissolution, or extinguishing of selfhood, and NOT attainment of impersonal ‘emptiness.’ Mandatory translator/teaching note and human theologian review at every occurrence, with no exception.
Jesus Christ Is Lord
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Giê-xu Christ là Chúa
Transliteration: Duc Chua Gie-xu Christ la Chua
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός
Category: Christology
Phil 2:11, Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. Must remain verbally consistent with the Romans 10:9 mandated confession wherever this recurs; built from baseline Lord and Jesus entries, not a new coinage.
High Risk Terms
Grace
Approved rendering: ân điển
Transliteration: an dien
Doctrine: Grace
Rejected alternatives: phước đức, công đức, ơn nghĩa
Original: χάρις
Category: Salvation
Never use phước đức or công đức (Buddhist accumulated merit) or ơn nghĩa (Confucian reciprocal-debt favor). Ân điển must be taught as a gift creating no debt to repay. Also underlies ἐχαρίσατο (Phil 2:9) and ἐχαρίσθη (Phil 2:9) and ἐχαρίσθη…πάσχειν (1:29). Occurs Phil 1:2, 1:7, 4:23. Inherited from Romans package.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: sự công bình
Transliteration: su cong binh
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: đức hạnh
Original: δικαιοσύνη
Category: Salvation
Right standing before God received by faith, never đức hạnh (cultivated Confucian virtue). Occurs Phil 1:11, 3:6, 3:9. Note: Phil 4:8’s ἀρετή is the single deliberate exception permitted to render as đức hạnh; that exception must never bleed back onto this term. Inherited from Romans package.
Justification
Approved rendering: sự xưng công bình
Transliteration: su xung cong binh
Doctrine: Salvation
The forensic declaration of right standing; conveys being declared, not made, righteous. Underlies the doctrine restated in Phil 3:9. Inherited from Romans package.
Saints
Approved rendering: các thánh đồ
Transliteration: cac thanh do
Doctrine: Sainthood
Rejected alternatives: các thánh
Original: ἅγιοι
Category: Church
Never shorten to bare các thánh (deified folk heroes such as Thánh Trần worshipped at đền). Occurs Phil 1:1 (addressed to an entire ordinary congregation), 4:21-22. Inherited from Romans package.
Adoption
Approved rendering: sự làm con nuôi
Transliteration: su lam con nuoi
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Full legal son-status with inheritance rights, not primarily hierarchical đạo hiếu obligation. Underlies Phil 2:15 ‘children of God without blemish’ (see children_of_god_without_blemish entry). Inherited from Romans package.
Lord
Approved rendering: Chúa
Transliteration: Chua
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: κύριος
Category: Christology
Exclusive, supreme Lordship, distinguished from generic address. Occurs Phil 1:2, 2:11, 2:19, 2:24, 2:29, 3:1, 3:8, 3:20, 4:1, 4:2, 4:4, 4:5, 4:10, 4:23. Inherited from Romans package.
Obedience Of Faith
Approved rendering: sự vâng phục của đức tin
Transliteration: su vang phuc cua duc tin
Doctrine: Obedience of Faith
Rejected alternatives: đạo hiếu
Obedience flowing from faith, not đạo hiếu (Confucian filial duty). Its root vâng phục is reused for Christ’s own obedience at Phil 2:8 (see obedient_unto_death entry), where the direction is the Son’s voluntary obedience to the Father, not the reverse. Inherited from Romans package.
God
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: Ông Trời
Original: θεός
Category: God
Teach as personal, covenant-making God, not impersonal Ông Trời. Occurs throughout Philippians. Inherited from Romans package.
Father
Approved rendering: Cha
Transliteration: Cha
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
God as personal, relational Father; emphasize grace and intimacy over đạo hiếu hierarchy. Occurs Phil 1:2, 2:11, 4:20. Inherited from Romans package.
Fellowship Of The Spirit
Approved rendering: sự thông công của Đức Thánh Linh
Transliteration: su thong cong cua Duc Thanh Linh
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: κοινωνία πνεύματος
Category: Church
Phil 2:1. Full form Đức Thánh Linh mandatory; must not be read as social camaraderie divorced from the Spirit’s personal presence.
The Lord Is At Hand
Approved rendering: Chúa đã gần rồi
Transliteration: Chua da gan roi
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: ὁ Κύριος ἐγγύς
Category: Christology
Phil 4:5. Likely double sense of Christ’s nearness in presence and in his coming return; do not flatten into generic reassurance detached from Christ’s person.
Will Transform
Approved rendering: biến đổi
Transliteration: bien doi
Doctrine: Resurrection Hope
Rejected alternatives: biến hóa
Original: μετασχηματίσει
Category: Eschatology
Phil 3:21. NEVER biến hóa, the standard Vietnamese term for a deity’s/spirit’s repeatable, magical shape-shifting in folklore. This is once-for-all bodily resurrection transformation.
Body Of Humiliation And Glory
Approved rendering: thân thể hèn mạt / thân thể vinh hiển
Transliteration: than the hen mat / than the vinh hien
Doctrine: Resurrection Hope
Original: τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως / τὸ σῶμα τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ
Category: Eschatology
Phil 3:21. The ταπείνωσις root links to the humility word-family running through 2:3, 2:8; teach the connection between believers’ future glorification and Christ’s own pattern of humiliation-then-exaltation.
Fellowship In His Sufferings
Approved rendering: sự thông công trong sự đau đớn của Ngài
Transliteration: su thong cong trong su dau don cua Ngai
Doctrine: Suffering as Participation with Christ
Rejected alternatives: nghiệp
Original: κοινωνία τῶν παθημάτων αὐτοῦ
Category: Suffering
Phil 3:10. Intimate participation with Christ, not karmic misfortune (nghiệp) or impersonal punishment.
Shared In My Affliction
Approved rendering: cùng thông công trong sự khó khăn của tôi
Transliteration: cung thong cong trong su kho khan cua toi
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Original: συνκοινωνήσαντες τῇ θλίψει
Category: Suffering
Phil 4:14. Concrete, costly material and relational partnership with Paul in suffering, not detached sympathy.
Existing In Prior Divine State
Approved rendering: vốn có
Transliteration: von co
Doctrine: The Incarnation and Deity of Christ
Original: ὑπάρχων
Category: Christology
Phil 2:6, ὑπάρχων. Established BDT idiom (‘he originally/inherently possessed’). Must be preserved to avoid implying Christ’s deity was a temporary or acquired state.
Something To Be Grasped
Approved rendering: điều nên nắm giữ
Transliteration: dieu nen nam giu
Doctrine: The Incarnation and Deity of Christ
Original: ἁρπαγμός
Category: Christology
Phil 2:6, ἁρπαγμός. Debated Greek term; either reading supports the same theological point: Christ did not exploit or cling to his divine prerogatives for his own advantage.
Form Of A Servant
Approved rendering: hình tôi mọi
Transliteration: hinh toi moi
Doctrine: The Full Humanity of Christ
Original: μορφὴν δούλου
Category: Christology
Phil 2:7, μορφὴν δούλου. Must not be softened into ordinary hired-servant imagery, nor read as implying diminishment of Christ’s underlying divine nature. Distinct from Paul’s own self-designation tôi tớ (1:1) — see bondservant_pauls_self_designation.
Likeness Of Men
Approved rendering: trở nên giống như loài người
Transliteration: tro nen giong nhu loai nguoi
Doctrine: The Full Humanity of Christ
Original: ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος
Category: Christology
Phil 2:7, ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων. Must be taught as full, genuine humanity, not an illusory or temporary appearance donned by a deity or bodhisattva who reverts afterward — a recognizable pattern in Vietnamese folk-religious stories.
He Humbled Himself
Approved rendering: tự hạ mình xuống
Transliteration: tu ha minh xuong
Doctrine: The Obedience and Humility of Christ
Original: ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν
Category: Christology
Phil 2:8, ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν. Voluntary self-giving from a position of full divine status, not hierarchical role-submission as in Confucian obedience patterns.
Obedient Unto Death
Approved rendering: vâng phục cho đến chết
Transliteration: vang phuc cho den chet
Doctrine: The Obedience and Humility of Christ
Rejected alternatives: đạo hiếu
Original: ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου
Category: Christology
Phil 2:8. Reuses baseline vâng phục root. Must be distinguished from đạo hiếu (Confucian filial obedience owed by hierarchical role) — this is the Son’s voluntary, loving obedience to the Father, freely given.
Highly Exalted
Approved rendering: đem Ngài lên rất cao
Transliteration: dem Ngai len rat cao
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: ὑπερύψωσεν
Category: Christology
Phil 2:9, ὑπερύψωσεν. Must not be read through Vietnamese folk apotheosis (deification of historical heroes such as Thánh Trần elevated after death and venerated at đền). This is the Father’s vindication of the eternal, already-divine Son, not a human promoted to divine rank.
Name Above Every Name
Approved rendering: danh trên hết mọi danh
Transliteration: danh tren het moi danh
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα
Category: Christology
Phil 2:9. Universal, supreme sovereignty and authority; ties directly to the Critical Lordship of Christ doctrine confirmed at v.11.
Every Knee Bow
Approved rendering: mọi gối phải quì xuống
Transliteration: moi goi phai qui xuong
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ
Category: Christology
Phil 2:10. Kneeling/bowing gestures (quỳ, lạy) are central to Vietnamese ancestor veneration at the family altar and folk-temple worship. Must be taught as worshipful submission to Christ’s unique Lordship, never analogous to bowing before ancestors or spirits, and must not be softened into a merely respectful gesture.
Heavenly Earthly Under The Earth
Approved rendering: trên trời, dưới đất, bên dưới đất
Transliteration: tren troi, duoi dat, ben duoi dat
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων
Category: Christology
Phil 2:10. ‘Bên dưới đất’ could be misheard alongside the Vietnamese underworld/spirit realm (âm phủ) inhabited by ancestors; requires a clarifying note affirming Christ’s sovereignty over all realms, not communication with or veneration of the dead.
Confess Acknowledge
Approved rendering: xưng nhận
Transliteration: xung nhan
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: ἐξομολογήσηται
Category: Christology
Phil 2:11, ἐξομολογήσηται. Cross-reference the Romans 10:9 mandated verbatim rendering ‘Đức Chúa Giê-xu là Chúa’ to preserve theological/verbal consistency across the whole pipeline.
Glory Of God The Father
Approved rendering: để tôn vinh Đức Chúa Trời, là Cha
Transliteration: de ton vinh Duc Chua Troi, la Cha
Doctrine: The Exaltation and Lordship of Christ
Original: εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός
Category: God
Phil 2:11, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός. Must show Christ’s exaltation terminating in the Father’s glory, not rivalry within the Godhead — guards Trinitarian coherence.
Joy
Approved rendering: sự vui mừng
Transliteration: su vui mung
Doctrine: Joy in Suffering and Imprisonment
Original: χαρά
Category: Church
Occurs Phil 1:4, 1:18, 1:25, 2:2, 4:4. Must be taught as Spirit-given, Christ-grounded joy that coexists with real suffering — not Buddhist equanimity/detachment (tâm bất động, xả) nor Confucian stoic endurance.
Same Mind
Approved rendering: tâm tình
Transliteration: tam tinh
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: φρονέω / τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν
Category: Church
φρονέω / τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν. Occurs Phil 2:2, 2:5 (the hinge verse linking to Christ’s example in 2:6-8), and 4:2. Vietnamese social-harmony culture (giữ hòa khí, giữ thể diện) risks reducing this to face-saving conflict-avoidance rather than the costly, Christ-modeled self-giving disposition. Every occurrence needs a teaching note tying it back to 2:6-8.
Humility
Approved rendering: sự khiêm nhường
Transliteration: su khiem nhuong
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: ταπεινοφροσύνη
Category: Church
ταπεινοφροσύνη. Occurs Phil 2:3 (commanded), embodied by Christ at 2:8. In Confucian-shaped Vietnamese culture, khiêm nhường is often practiced as hierarchical deference. Biblical humility is voluntary self-lowering by one who already has full standing, for the benefit of others — not a status-based social obligation. Requires a teaching note at every occurrence.
To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain
Approved rendering: sống là Đấng Christ, chết là ích lợi
Transliteration: song la Dang Christ, chet la ich loi
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 1:21. Death-attitude teaching in Vietnam is heavily shaped by ancestor-veneration concerns (proper burial, filial remembrance, ‘chết có nơi có chốn’). Paul’s confidence must be grounded in union with Christ and resurrection hope, not indifference to family duty nor karmic resignation.
Granted To Suffer
Approved rendering: được ban ơn để chịu khổ
Transliteration: duoc ban on de chiu kho
Doctrine: Joy in Suffering and Imprisonment
Rejected alternatives: nghiệp xấu
Original: ἐχαρίσθη … πάσχειν
Category: Suffering
Phil 1:29, ἐχαρίσθη…πάσχειν. Directly collides with nghiệp (karma) framing of suffering in Vietnamese Buddhist folk thought. Must be explicitly distinguished: neither punishment for wrongdoing nor bad karmic fortune, but a grace-given honor of sharing in Christ’s own sufferings (cf. 3:10). Human theologian review required for every occurrence.
Poured Out As A Drink Offering
Approved rendering: đổ ra làm lễ quán
Transliteration: do ra lam le quan
Doctrine: Joy in Suffering and Imprisonment
Rejected alternatives: rượu cúng
Original: σπένδομαι
Category: Suffering
Phil 2:17, σπένδομαι. Vietnamese ancestor veneration prominently includes pouring libations (rượu cúng) and food offerings before the family altar. Requires a teaching note distinguishing this OT/NT self-giving-sacrifice metaphor, offered to God alone through Christ, from ritual offerings made to ancestors or spirits.
Conformed To His Death
Approved rendering: trở nên giống như sự chết của Ngài
Transliteration: tro nen giong nhu su chet cua Ngai
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:10, συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ. Same μορφή root as 2:6-7; believers are conformed to the same self-giving pattern Christ himself embodied, not merely imitating an abstract moral example.
Press On Toward The Goal
Approved rendering: cố sức đuổi theo / đeo đuổi / giải thưởng / mục tiêu / sự kêu gọi từ trên
Transliteration: co suc duoi theo / deo duoi / giai thuong / muc tieu / su keu goi tu tren
Doctrine: Pressing on toward the Goal in Christ
Rejected alternatives: phước đức, công đức
Original: ἐπεκτείνομαι / διώκω / βραβεῖον / τέλος / ἄνω κλήσεως
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:12-14. The athletic prize/goal imagery could be misread through a merit-earning or karmic-accumulation lens rather than energetic response to a salvation already secured by grace. Pair with the baseline grace/merit distinction (Romans 3-4, 11:5-6).
Citizenship In Heaven
Approved rendering: quyền công dân trên trời
Transliteration: quyen cong dan tren troi
Doctrine: Citizenship in Heaven
Original: τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς / πολιτεύεσθε
Category: Eschatology
Phil 3:20 (noun); verb form at 1:27. Modern Vietnamese quốc tịch/công dân vocabulary is tied to state allegiance, risking a reading of divided political loyalty or otherworldly escapism (a pattern with real precedent in Buddhist detachment teaching). Must be taught as positive, covenantal, future-oriented belonging secured by Christ, while believers remain conscientious residents of their earthly homeland.
Excellence Virtue
Approved rendering: đức hạnh
Transliteration: duc hanh
Doctrine: Christian Virtue and Character
Original: ἀρετή
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:8, ἀρετή — Paul’s only positive use of this classical Greek term, and the single deliberate exception to the baseline’s blanket rejection of đức hạnh (rejected elsewhere for righteousness/δικαιοσύνη due to Confucian merit-cultivation overtones). Requires a mandatory teaching note preventing doctrinal bleed-through onto sự công bình; must never be extended to any δικαιοσύνη-family term.
Contentment
Approved rendering: sự thỏa lòng
Transliteration: su thoa long
Doctrine: Contentment in All Circumstances
Rejected alternatives: tự lực, vô chấp, xả ly
Original: αὐτάρκης
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:11, αὐτάρκης. Must be distinguished from Stoic self-sufficiency (echoed in Confucian quân tử ideals) and from Buddhist non-attachment (vô chấp, xả ly) cultivated through personal meditative discipline. Explicitly relational and Christ-empowered per v.13, not self-achieved detachment.
Learned The Secret
Approved rendering: tôi đã học được bí quyết
Transliteration: toi da hoc duoc bi quyet
Doctrine: Contentment in All Circumstances
Rejected alternatives: bí truyền
Original: μεμύημαι
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:12, μεμύημαι, a Greco-Roman mystery-initiation term Paul repurposes. Must not use vocabulary suggestive of esoteric initiation rites, secret societies, or occult/spiritist practices (lên đồng, bí truyền). This ‘secret’ is openly taught Christian teaching, not restricted esoteric knowledge.
Fruit To Your Account
Approved rendering: bông trái càng thêm về phần anh em
Transliteration: bong trai cang them ve phan anh em
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Rejected alternatives: phước đức, công đức
Original: καρπὸν … εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν
Category: Church
Phil 4:17. Commercial-ledger metaphor risks assimilation to merit-accumulation (phước đức/công đức) if not carefully taught: this describes grace-given blessing flowing from gospel partnership, not merit purchasing divine favor.
Fragrant Offering Acceptable Sacrifice
Approved rendering: hương thơm ngào ngạt, một lễ vật đáng nhận, đẹp lòng Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: huong thom ngao ngat, mot le vat dang nhan, dep long Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Rejected alternatives: cúng lễ vật
Original: ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, θυσίαν δεκτήν, εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ
Category: Church
Phil 4:18. Closely echoes vocabulary used in Vietnamese ancestor-veneration ritual (hương thơm/incense, lễ vật/offerings, cúng lễ vật). Requires a teaching note distinguishing this OT/NT metaphor of a gift offered to God alone through Christ from ritual offerings made to ancestors or spirits.
Book Of Life
Approved rendering: sách sự sống
Transliteration: sach su song
Doctrine: Assurance and the Book of Life
Rejected alternatives: sổ sinh tử, sổ Nam Tào
Original: βίβλος ζωῆς
Category: Eschatology
Phil 4:3, βίβλος ζωῆς. Vietnamese Buddhist/folk cosmology includes bureaucratic underworld record-books kept by Diêm Vương recording deeds for karmic judgment/rebirth destiny. Must be taught as God’s gracious record of those who belong to him through faith in Christ, never a karmic ledger determining rebirth.
Medium Risk Terms
Gospel
Approved rendering: Tin Lành
Transliteration: tin lanh
Doctrine: Gospel
Rejected alternatives: tin tức tốt lành
Original: εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Salvation
Established Vietnamese Protestant Bible term (‘good news’). Must still be anchored to the specific proclamation of salvation through Christ. Occurs Phil 1:5, 1:7, 1:12, 1:16, 1:27, 2:22, 4:3, 4:15. Inherited from Romans package.
Faith
Approved rendering: đức tin
Transliteration: duc tin
Doctrine: Faith
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Object of faith must always be specified as Christ. Occurs Phil 1:25, 1:27, 3:9, 3:19. Inherited from Romans package.
Apostle
Approved rendering: sứ đồ
Transliteration: su do
Doctrine: Apostleship
Reserved for the technical apostolic office. In Phil 2:25 Epaphroditus is called ἀπόστολος in the generic ‘messenger’ sense and must render as sứ giả instead — see messenger_generic entry — to avoid implying he held apostolic office. Inherited from Romans package.
Called
Approved rendering: được kêu gọi
Transliteration: duoc keu goi
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Context-sensitive per baseline notes. Inherited from Romans package.
Calling
Approved rendering: sự kêu gọi
Transliteration: su keu goi
Doctrine: Divine Calling
Rejected alternatives: số phận
Original: κλῆσις
Category: Salvation
Never conflate with số phận (fixed fate/destiny). Occurs Phil 3:14 as ἄνω κλήσεως (‘the calling from above’), rendered sự kêu gọi từ trên. Inherited from Romans package.
Holy
Approved rendering: thánh
Transliteration: thanh
Doctrine: Sanctification
Set apart for God and morally pure. Inherited from Romans package.
Sanctification
Approved rendering: sự nên thánh
Transliteration: su nen thanh
Doctrine: Sanctification
The Spirit’s ongoing work of making believers holy. Underlies the doctrine at Phil 2:12-13 (work_out_your_salvation entry carries the Critical risk for that specific verse). Inherited from Romans package.
Peace
Approved rendering: sự bình an
Transliteration: su binh an
Doctrine: Peace with God
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Relational peace with God, not merely inner calm sought through meditation practice. Occurs Phil 4:7, 4:9. Inherited from Romans package.
Church
Approved rendering: Hội Thánh
Transliteration: Hoi Thanh
Doctrine: Church as God’s People
Rejected alternatives: đền, chùa
Original: ἐκκλησία
Category: Church
The gathered people of God, never đền or chùa. Applies conceptually to the Philippian congregation throughout, though the specific noun ἐκκλησία is not the letter’s focal term. Inherited from Romans package.
Law
Approved rendering: luật pháp
Transliteration: luat phap
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Original: νόμος
Category: Covenant
Mosaic Law. Occurs Phil 3:5-6, 3:9. Inherited from Romans package.
Glory
Approved rendering: sự vinh hiển
Transliteration: su vinh hien
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: δόξα
Category: God
God’s radiant honor and majesty. Occurs Phil 1:11, 2:11, 3:19, 3:21, 4:19-20. Wordplay with κενοδοξία (‘empty glory,’ 2:3) should be flagged in teaching notes. Inherited from Romans package.
Power Of God
Approved rendering: quyền năng của Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: quyen nang cua Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Power of God for Salvation
God’s own power. Reused in compounds at Phil 2:13 (see god_who_works_in_you) and Phil 3:10 (see power_of_his_resurrection). Inherited from Romans package.
Partnership In The Gospel
Approved rendering: sự thông công trong Tin Lành
Transliteration: su thong cong trong Tin Lanh
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Original: κοινωνία εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον
Category: Church
Phil 1:5. Includes active, sacrificial material/financial co-participation (cf. 4:10-18), not passive social fellowship alone.
Peace Of God Surpassing Understanding
Approved rendering: sự bình an của Đức Chúa Trời vượt quá mọi sự hiểu biết
Transliteration: su binh an cua Duc Chua Troi vuot qua moi su hieu biet
Doctrine: Prayer and the Peace of God
Original: ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν
Category: Salvation
Phil 4:7. God’s gift accompanying prayer, not self-generated inner calm.
Found In Human Form
Approved rendering: có hình trạng như người
Transliteration: co hinh trang nhu nguoi
Doctrine: The Full Humanity of Christ
Original: σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
Category: Christology
Phil 2:7, σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος. σχῆμα is more surface-level than μορφή; reinforces total, observable humanity.
Death Of A Cross
Approved rendering: chết trên cây thập tự
Transliteration: chet tren cay thap tu
Doctrine: The Obedience and Humility of Christ
Original: θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ
Category: Christology
Phil 2:8. Established BDT phrase; intensifies the humiliation of the servant-status assumed in v.7.
Graciously Bestowed
Approved rendering: ban cho
Transliteration: ban cho
Doctrine: Grace
Original: ἐχαρίσατο
Category: Salvation
Phil 2:9, ἐχαρίσατο. Shares the χάρις root; pair with ân điển in teaching notes to preserve the verbal link.
Encouragement
Approved rendering: sự khuyên bảo / sự an ủi
Transliteration: su khuyen bao / su an ui
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: παράκλησις
Category: Church
Phil 2:1, παράκλησις. Distinct from baseline’s khích lệ (reserved for edifying encouragement). Must stay tied to ‘in Christ’ so as not to read as generic pep-talk.
Consolation Of Love
Approved rendering: sự an ủi của lòng yêu thương
Transliteration: su an ui cua long yeu thuong
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: παραμύθιον ἀγάπης
Category: Church
Phil 2:1, παραμύθιον ἀγάπης. The comfort flowing specifically from Christian love, not generic affection.
Affection And Mercy
Approved rendering: lòng yêu thương dịu dàng và sự thương xót
Transliteration: long yeu thuong diu dang va su thuong xot
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Rejected alternatives: từ bi
Original: σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί
Category: Church
Phil 2:1, σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί. Must not collapse into detached politeness (lễ độ), nor be read as importing Buddhist compassion (từ bi) as its theological ground — the source is union with Christ.
United In Soul
Approved rendering: đồng lòng
Transliteration: dong long
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: σύμψυχοι
Category: Church
Phil 2:2, σύμψυχοι. Reinforces φρονέω above.
Selfish Ambition
Approved rendering: lòng tranh cạnh
Transliteration: long tranh canh
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: ἐριθεία
Category: Church
Phil 2:3, ἐριθεία. The self-serving motive Christ’s example directly overturns.
Vain Conceit
Approved rendering: sự khoe khoang hư không
Transliteration: su khoe khoang hu khong
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: κενοδοξία
Category: Church
Phil 2:3, κενοδοξία. Wordplay with δόξα (‘glory’) should be preserved in teaching notes.
Bondservant Pauls Self Designation
Approved rendering: tôi tớ
Transliteration: toi to
Doctrine: Sainthood and Church Leadership
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Church
Phil 1:1, δοῦλος. Paul and Timothy’s voluntary self-identification as Christ’s possession. Distinct from the harsher hình tôi mọi describing Christ’s far greater self-abasement at 2:7. Must avoid conflation with literal social slave status.
Overseers And Deacons
Approved rendering: người coi sóc và các chấp sự
Transliteration: nguoi coi soc va cac chap su
Doctrine: Sainthood and Church Leadership
Rejected alternatives: giám mục
Original: ἐπίσκοποι καὶ διάκονοι
Category: Church
Phil 1:1. Prefer người coi sóc (functional description) over giám mục, which imports Catholic hierarchical/episcopal expectations foreign to Paul’s simple usage here. Chấp sự (deacon) is well-established Protestant usage.
Day Of Christ
Approved rendering: ngày của Đấng Christ
Transliteration: ngay cua Dang Christ
Doctrine: Resurrection Hope
Original: ἡμέρα Χριστοῦ
Category: Eschatology
Phil 1:6, 1:10, ἡμέρα Χριστοῦ. A linear, historical, future event tied to Christ’s bodily return, not a cyclical cosmic era.
God Who Works In You
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Trời hành động trong anh em
Transliteration: Duc Chua Troi hanh dong trong anh em
Doctrine: Sanctification and Working Out Salvation
Original: ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν
Category: God
Phil 2:13, ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν. Grounds the command of 2:12; connects to baseline power_of_god family.
Children Of God Without Blemish
Approved rendering: con cái Đức Chúa Trời không chỗ trách được
Transliteration: con cai Duc Chua Troi khong cho trach duoc
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα
Category: Salvation
Phil 2:15, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα. Connects to baseline Adoption doctrine (High).
Messenger Generic
Approved rendering: sứ giả
Transliteration: su gia
Doctrine: Sainthood and Church Leadership
Rejected alternatives: sứ đồ
Original: ἀπόστολος (generic sense)
Category: Church
Phil 2:25, ἀπόστολος used generically of Epaphroditus. Must render as sứ giả, NOT sứ đồ (reserved for the technical Apostle office), to avoid wrongly implying Epaphroditus held apostolic office.
Circumcision
Approved rendering: phép cắt bì
Transliteration: phep cat bi
Doctrine: Righteousness by Faith versus the Law
Original: περιτομή
Category: Covenant
Phil 3:5, περιτομή. Requires OT covenant-background teaching.
Rubbish Dung
Approved rendering: rơm rác
Transliteration: rom rac
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: σκύβαλα
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:8, σκύβαλα. Needs a rendering forceful enough to preserve Paul’s rhetorical intensity without being needlessly vulgar for the formal target register.
Gain Loss
Approved rendering: lợi ích / thiệt hại
Transliteration: loi ich / thiet hai
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: κέρδος / ζημία
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:7-8, κέρδος / ζημία. Commercial-accounting metaphor recalculating former credentials as loss, Christ as gain.
Mature Perfect
Approved rendering: trọn vẹn
Transliteration: tron ven
Doctrine: Pressing on toward the Goal in Christ
Original: τέλειοι
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:15, τέλειοι.
Enemies Of The Cross
Approved rendering: kẻ nghịch thù thập tự giá
Transliteration: ke nghich thu thap tu gia
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: ἐχθροὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:18, ἐχθροὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ.
Him Who Strengthens Me
Approved rendering: Đấng ban thêm sức cho tôi
Transliteration: Dang ban them suc cho toi
Doctrine: Contentment in All Circumstances
Original: ὁ ἐνδυναμῶν με
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:13, ὁ ἐνδυναμῶν με. The source of Paul’s contentment.
Anxious For Nothing Prayer
Approved rendering: đừng lo lắng gì hết… bằng sự cầu nguyện, khẩn nguyện, với sự cảm tạ
Transliteration: dung lo lang gi het… bang su cau nguyen, khan nguyen, voi su cam ta
Doctrine: Contentment in All Circumstances
Original: μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε / προσευχή καὶ δέησις μετὰ εὐχαριστίας
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:6. Addresses God the Father directly through Christ, connecting to the baseline Prayer and Intercession doctrine family, though this is general exhortation to prayer rather than the intercession-specific Romans 8 texts.
Riches In Glory
Approved rendering: sự giàu có của Ngài trong sự vinh hiển
Transliteration: su giau co cua Ngai trong su vinh hien
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Original: τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτοῦ ἐν δόξῃ
Category: God
Phil 4:19-20. Extends baseline glory.
Low Risk Terms
Thanksgiving
Approved rendering: sự cảm tạ
Transliteration: su cam ta
Doctrine: Thanksgiving
Original: εὐχαριστία
Category: Faith
Standard term; no significant doctrinal risk. Occurs Phil 1:3, 4:6. Inherited from Romans package.
Fellowship
Approved rendering: sự thông công
Transliteration: su thong cong
Doctrine: Christian Fellowship
Original: κοινωνία
Category: Church
Shared participation in Christ, distinguished from merely social association. Occurs Phil 1:5, 2:1, 3:10, 4:14-15. Inherited from Romans package.
Exhort
Approved rendering: khích lệ
Transliteration: khich le
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: παρακαλέω
Category: Faith
Context-sensitive: khuyên nài for entreaty (used at Phil 4:2), khích lệ for encouragement. Inherited from Romans package.
Look To Others Interests
Approved rendering: chú ý đến / quan tâm đến
Transliteration: chu y den / quan tam den
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: σκοπέω
Category: Church
Phil 2:4, σκοπέω. The practical outworking of ταπεινοφροσύνη.
Chains Imprisonment
Approved rendering: xiềng xích
Transliteration: xieng xich
Doctrine: Joy in Suffering and Imprisonment
Original: δεσμά
Category: Suffering
Phil 1:7, 1:13-14, 1:17, δεσμά. Paul’s literal Roman imprisonment, reframed as gospel advance.
Defense Of The Gospel
Approved rendering: sự binh vực Tin Lành
Transliteration: su binh vuc Tin Lanh
Doctrine: Gospel Proclamation and Defense
Original: ἀπολογία
Category: Church
Phil 1:7, 1:16, ἀπολογία.
Boldness
Approved rendering: sự dạn dĩ
Transliteration: su dan di
Doctrine: Gospel Proclamation and Defense
Original: παρρησία
Category: Church
Phil 1:20, παρρησία.
Grumbling
Approved rendering: sự lằm bằm
Transliteration: su lam bam
Doctrine: Unity and Humility in the Church
Original: γογγυσμός
Category: Church
Phil 2:14, γογγυσμός.
Risking His Life
Approved rendering: liều mạng sống mình
Transliteration: lieu mang song minh
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Original: παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ
Category: Church
Phil 2:30, παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ.
Belly Is Their God
Approved rendering: bụng của mình là chúa/thần của họ
Transliteration: bung cua minh la chua/than cua ho
Doctrine: Christian Identity in Christ
Original: ἡ κοιλία θεός
Category: Christian Identity
Phil 3:19, ἡ κοιλία θεός. Preserve the idiom’s satirical force without implying a literal deity is meant.
Gentleness
Approved rendering: sự nhân từ
Transliteration: su nhan tu
Doctrine: Christian Virtue and Character
Original: τὸ ἐπιεικές
Category: Christian Living
Phil 4:5, τὸ ἐπιεικές.
Giving And Receiving
Approved rendering: sự cho và nhận
Transliteration: su cho va nhan
Doctrine: Partnership in the Gospel
Original: δόσις καὶ λῆψις
Category: Church
Phil 4:15, δόσις καὶ λῆψις. The concrete financial dimension of gospel partnership.
Philippians Book Name
Approved rendering: Phi-líp
Transliteration: Phi-lip
Doctrine: Proper Name
Established Vietnamese Bible book-name convention. Cite as ‘sách Phi-líp’.
Paul
Approved rendering: Phao-lô
Transliteration: Phao-lo
Doctrine: Proper Name
Baseline-consistent transliteration.
Timothy
Approved rendering: Ti-mô-thê
Transliteration: Ti-mo-the
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 1:1, 2:19.
Epaphroditus
Approved rendering: Ê-pa-phô-đích
Transliteration: E-pa-pho-dich
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 2:25, 4:18.
Euodia
Approved rendering: Ơ-vô-đi
Transliteration: O-vo-di
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 4:2.
Syntyche
Approved rendering: Sin-ty-cơ
Transliteration: Sin-ty-co
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 4:2.
Clement
Approved rendering: Cơ-lê-măn
Transliteration: Co-le-man
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 4:3.
Caesar
Approved rendering: Sê-sa
Transliteration: Se-sa
Doctrine: Proper Name
Phil 4:22, ‘those of Caesar’s household’.
Referenced passages