Core Glossary
08 Core Glossary — Titus (English → Vietnamese)
This glossary consolidates every load-bearing term identified in 07_semantic_analysis.md across all three chapters of Titus, including the core passage (2:11–3:8). Terms already present in the baseline Romans translation_memory.json / bible_term_registry.json are marked [BASELINE — REUSED EXACTLY] and their recorded rendering, risk tier, and rejected alternatives are carried over unchanged. Terms new to this curriculum are marked [NEW — Titus] with a proposed rendering, risk tier, and rejected alternatives, ready for insertion into an updated translation memory file in a later phase.
Risk tiers follow the baseline definitions exactly:
- Critical — mistranslation destroys essential doctrine; mandatory human theologian review, every occurrence.
- High — significant theological confusion/syncretism risk; mandatory human theologian review.
- Medium — reduces clarity but preserves essential meaning; native speaker review recommended.
- Low — minor imprecision; automated review sufficient.
Table 1 — Baseline Terms Reused Exactly (Confirmed Present in Titus)
| English Term | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Doctrine | Titus Occurrences | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grace | ân điển | High | Grace | 1:4; 2:11; 3:7,15 | Central term of the whole letter; must never drift toward phước đức/công đức/ơn nghĩa |
| faith | đức tin | Medium | Faith | 1:1,4,13; 2:2,10; 3:15 | Object is Christ/God throughout |
| righteousness | sự công bình | High | Salvation | 2:12; 3:5 | Both adverbial (δικαίως, 2:12) and nominal (δικαιοσύνῃ, 3:5) forms |
| justification | sự xưng công bình / được xưng công bình | High | Salvation | 3:7 | Grounds heirship (κληρονόμος) |
| salvation | sự cứu rỗi | Critical | Salvation | 2:11 (σωτήριος); 3:5 (σώζω) | NEVER sự giải thoát |
| apostle | sứ đồ | Medium | Apostleship | 1:1 | Paul’s self-designation |
| holy (Spirit) | thánh (Đức Thánh Linh) | Critical | Sanctification/Regeneration | 3:5 | See “Holy Spirit” row below |
| glory | sự vinh hiển | Medium | Deity of Christ | 2:13 | ”glory of our great God and Savior” |
| election / elect | sự lựa chọn | Medium/High | Effectual Calling | 1:1 (ἐκλεκτῶν) | “God’s elect” |
| law | luật pháp | Medium | Covenant | 3:9,13 | Also root of νομικός |
| sin | tội lỗi | Medium | Universal Human Accountability | 3:11 (ἁμαρτάνω) | Verb form |
| exhort | khích lệ / khuyên bảo (context-sensitive per baseline note) | Low | Mutual Edification | 1:9; 2:6,15 | Use khuyên bảo where paired with rebuke |
| peace | sự bình an | Medium | Peace with God | 1:4 | Greeting formula |
| Father | Cha | High | Adoption | 1:4 | |
| God | Đức Chúa Trời | Critical | Deity of Christ | throughout | |
| Jesus | Đức Chúa Giê-xu | Critical | Lordship of Christ | throughout | |
| Christ | Đấng Christ (per AI instruction transliteration standard) | Critical | Christology | throughout | |
| Holy Spirit | Đức Thánh Linh | Critical | Regeneration | 3:5 | NEVER bare thần linh |
| prophet | tiên tri | Low | Inspiration of Scripture | 1:12 | Ironic secular usage (Cretan poet) |
| covenant (conceptual) | giao ước | Medium | Davidic Covenant / Covenant theology | 1:2 (ἐπαγγέλλομαι, conceptually) |
Table 2 — New Terms Introduced by Titus, Grouped by Curriculum Doctrine
Doctrine: Grace That Trains for Godly Living
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| training/trains | παιδεύω (paideuō) | dạy dỗ và rèn luyện | High | tu tập (self-cultivation) | Grace is grammatical subject; not self-effort |
| ungodliness | ἀσέβεια (asebeia) | sự không tin kính | Medium | — | Opposite of εὐσέβεια |
| worldly passions | κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας | những sự tham muốn của thế gian | Medium-High | — | “tham” overlaps Buddhist craving category; keep personal/relational framing |
| godliness | εὐσέβεια (eusebeia) | sự tin kính | High | đạo hiếu (Confucian filial piety performance) | 1:1; doctrinal anchor term |
| age (present) | αἰών (aiōn) | đời này / thời đại này | Low-Medium | — | Linear, not cyclical, time frame |
| appeared/appearing | ἐπιφαίνω / ἐπιφάνεια (epiphainō / epiphaneia) | đã hiện ra / sự hiện ra | High | hóa thân-style repeatable manifestation | Threefold pattern: 2:11, 2:13, 3:4 |
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| elder | πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros) | trưởng lão | High | — | Qualification-based office, not seniority-by-age |
| overseer/bishop | ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos) | giám mục | High | — | Must be taught as synonymous with trưởng lão, not a Catholic diocesan bishop |
| steward | οἰκονόμος (oikonomos) | người quản gia | Medium | — | Delegated stewardship, not personal ownership of authority |
| blameless | ἀνέγκλητος (anenklētos) | không chỗ trách được | Medium | — | |
| one-woman man | μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ | chồng của chỉ một vợ | Medium | — | Marital fidelity qualification |
| self-willed | αὐθάδης (authadēs) | tự phụ | Low | — | |
| quick-tempered | ὀργίλος (orgilos) | nóng giận | Low | — | |
| given to wine | πάροινος (paroinos) | mê rượu | Low | — | |
| violent | πλήκτης (plēktēs) | hung bạo | Low | — | |
| greedy for gain | αἰσχροκερδής (aischrokerdēs) | tham lợi bất chính | Medium | — | Overlaps Buddhist “tham” vocabulary; acceptable shared condemnation of greed |
| hospitable | φιλόξενος (philoxenos) | hay tiếp khách | Low | — | Reinforces existing Vietnamese hospitality value |
| lover of good | φιλάγαθος (philagathos) | yêu điều lành | Low | — | |
| self-controlled | σώφρων (sōphrōn) | tiết độ | Low-Medium | — | Established fruit-of-Spirit vocabulary |
| holy/devout | ὅσιος (hosios) | thánh sạch | Medium | — | Keep aligned with baseline “thánh” |
| disciplined | ἐγκρατής (egkratēs) | biết tự chủ | Low | — | |
| sound doctrine | ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία (hygiainousa didaskalia) | đạo lành | High | — | “đạo” is generic-religion-prone; anchor to specific apostolic content each occurrence |
| teaching/doctrine | διδαχή / διδασκαλία | sự dạy dỗ / giáo lý | Medium | — | |
| refute/rebuke | ἐλέγχω (elenchō) | quở trách | Medium | — | Also 1:13; 2:15 |
| contradict | ἀντιλέγω (antilegō) | cãi lại | Low-Medium | — | |
| insubordinate | ἀνυπότακτος (anypotaktos) | không chịu vâng phục | Medium-High | — | Negation of ὑποτάσσω |
| empty talker | ματαιολόγος (mataiologos) | kẻ nói khoác | Low-Medium | — | |
| deceiver | φρεναπάτης (phrenapatēs) | kẻ lừa dối | Low-Medium | — | |
| circumcision (party) | περιτομή (peritomē) | phái chịu cắt bì | Low | — | Requires OT background teaching |
| myth/fable | μῦθος (mythos) | chuyện hoang đường | Low-Medium | — | Note parallel to, and distinction from, Vietnamese ancestor-hero legend |
| defile | μιαίνω (miainō) | làm ô uế | Low-Medium | — | |
| conscience | συνείδησις (syneidēsis) | lương tâm | Low-Medium | — | |
| confess/profess | ὁμολογέω (homologeō) | xưng nhận | Low-Medium | — | |
| deny | ἀρνέομαι (arneomai) | chối bỏ | Low-Medium | — | 1:16, professed-but-denied-by-works |
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| good works | καλὰ/ἀγαθὰ ἔργα (kala/agatha erga) | việc lành | Critical | tích công đức, làm việc thiện để tích đức | Fruit/purpose of salvation, NEVER its means; occurs 1:16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14 |
| sound doctrine | ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία | đạo lành | High | (see above) | Cross-reference with “good works” — inseparable pair |
| example/pattern | τύπος (typos) | gương mẫu | Low-Medium | — | 2:7 |
| adorn | κοσμέω (kosmeō) | làm cho rạng rỡ / tô điểm | Low-Medium | — | 2:10, links conduct to doctrine’s credibility |
| profitable | ὠφέλιμος (ōphelimos) | có ích | Low | — | 3:8 |
| unfruitful | ἄκαρπος (akarpos) | không kết quả | Low | — | 3:14 |
| devote oneself to | προΐστημι (proistēmi) | chuyên tâm làm | Medium | — | 3:8,14 |
Doctrine: Salvation by Grace, Not Works
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| works (in righteousness) | ἔργα … ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ | những việc công bình chúng ta đã làm | Critical | — | 3:5; explicit negation of works as ground of salvation |
| mercy | ἔλεος (eleos) | sự thương xót | Medium-High | — | Distinguish from ân điển: mercy withholds judgment, grace bestows favor |
| saved (verb) | σώζω (sōzō) | cứu | Critical | — | Verb form of baseline “salvation” |
| trustworthy (saying) | πιστός (pistos) | đáng tin | Medium | — | 3:8, “the saying is trustworthy” |
| believed (in God) | πεπιστευκότες τῷ θεῷ | những người đã tin Đức Chúa Trời | Medium | — | 3:8 |
| grace-works contrast | (2:14/3:1/3:8 vs. 3:5) | — | Critical (structural) | — | Translator notes must always present both directions together |
Doctrine: Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| regeneration | παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia) | sự sinh lại | CRITICAL | tái sinh, đầu thai, luân hồi | Single greatest syncretism risk in curriculum; one-time, non-cyclical new birth |
| renewal | ἀνακαίνωσις (anakainōsis) | sự đổi mới | Medium | — | Ongoing, parallels sanctification |
| washing | λουτρόν (loutron) | sự rửa | Medium-High | — | Symbolic/spiritual, not ritual-merit washing |
| Holy Spirit | πνεῦμα ἅγιον (pneuma hagion) | Đức Thánh Linh | Critical [BASELINE] | thần linh | Agent of regeneration and renewal |
| poured out | ἐκχέω (ekcheō) | đổ ra | Low-Medium | — | 3:6, echoes OT Spirit-outpouring |
| heir | κληρονόμος (klēronomos) | người thừa kế / kẻ kế tự | High | — | Grace-given, not Confucian bloodline-earned |
| eternal life | ζωὴ αἰώνιος (zōē aiōnios) | sự sống đời đời | Medium-High | — | Linear permanence, not improved-rebirth destination |
| hope | ἐλπίς (elpis) | sự hy vọng | Medium | số phận (fate) | Confident expectation grounded in promise |
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| submit/be subject to | ὑποτάσσω (hypotassō) | vâng phục | High | — | Voluntary, gospel-motivated; not Confucian tam cương absolute hierarchy |
| rulers | ἀρχή (archē) | các đấng cầm quyền | Medium | — | 3:1 |
| authorities | ἐξουσία (exousia) | các quyền cao hơn mình | Medium | — | 3:1 |
| be obedient | πειθαρχέω (peitharcheō) | tuân theo | Medium | — | 3:1 |
| speak evil of | βλασφημέω (blasphēmeō) | nói xấu | Low-Medium | — | 2:5; 3:2 |
| peaceable | ἄμαχος (amachos) | không hay gây gổ | Low | — | 3:2 |
| gentle | ἐπιεικής (epieikēs) | hiền hòa | Low-Medium | — | 3:2 |
| gentleness/meekness | πραΰτης (prautēs) | sự nhu mì / sự mềm mại | Medium | vô ngã/xả (Buddhist detachment) | Strength under control, not extinguished desire |
| disobedient | ἀπειθής (apeithēs) | không vâng phục | Medium-High | — | 3:3, negation, mirrors “obedience of faith” baseline caution |
| slave to (passions) | δουλεύω (douleuō) | làm tôi mọi cho | Medium | — | 3:3 |
| master (of household) | δεσπότης (despotēs) | chủ | Low-Medium | — | 2:9 |
| slave/servant | δοῦλος (doulos) | tôi tớ | Medium-High | nô lệ (degrading) | 1:1; 2:9 |
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| divisive/factious person | αἱρετικὸς ἄνθρωπος (hairetikos anthrōpos) | kẻ gây chia rẽ | High | dị giáo/tà giáo (content-focused “heretic”) | Behavioral, relational focus; after repeated admonition |
| controversies/speculation | ζήτησις (zētēsis) | sự cãi lẽ vô ích | Medium-High | — | |
| genealogy | γενεαλογία (genealogia) | gia phả | Low | — | Distinguish from valued Vietnamese ancestral record-keeping |
| strife | ἔρις (eris) | sự cãi lẫy | Low-Medium | — | |
| quarrel/fight | μάχη (machē) | sự tranh cạnh | Low-Medium | — | |
| avoid/shun | περιΐστημι (periistēmi) | hãy lánh xa | Medium | — | Doctrine’s core verb |
| unprofitable | ἀνωφελής (anōphelēs) | không có ích | Low | — | |
| futile/empty | μάταιος (mataios) | vô ích | Low | — | |
| admonition | νουθεσία (nouthesia) | lời cảnh cáo | Medium | — | |
| reject/have nothing to do with | παραιτέομαι (paraiteomai) | hãy xa lánh | Low-Medium | — | |
| perverted/warped | ἐκστρέφω (ekstrephō) | đã trở nên hư hoại | Low-Medium | — | |
| self-condemned | αὐτοκατάκριτος (autokatakritos) | tự chuốc lấy sự đoán phạt cho mình | Low-Medium | — |
Cross-Cutting / Christological Terms (Support Multiple Doctrines)
| Term | Greek (Translit.) | Vietnamese Rendering | Risk | Alternatives Rejected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savior | σωτήρ (sōtēr) | Cứu Chúa | Critical | — | Applied to both God the Father (1:3; 3:4) and Jesus Christ (2:13; 3:6) — key Deity-of-Christ data; preserve single-referent grammar in 2:13 |
| appeared/appearing | ἐπιφαίνω/ἐπιφάνεια | đã hiện ra / sự hiện ra | High | — | Threefold epiphany structure (2:11 grace; 2:13 glory; 3:4 kindness) |
| redeem | λυτρόω (lytroō) | cứu chuộc | Medium-High | — | 2:14; one-time substitutionary payment, not merit-transfer |
| lawlessness | ἀνομία (anomia) | sự phạm luật pháp | Medium | — | 2:14 |
| people for his own possession | λαὸς περιούσιος | dân riêng | Medium | — | 2:14; covenant/election language |
| kindness | χρηστότης (chrēstotēs) | sự nhân từ | Medium | — | 3:4 |
| loving kindness | φιλανθρωπία (philanthropia) | lòng yêu thương loài người | Medium | — | 3:4 |
| love (agapē) | ἀγάπη (agapē) | tình yêu thương | High | ái (Buddhist craving/attachment) | 2:2,4; virtue to cultivate, not craving to extinguish |
| love (phileō) | φιλέω (phileō) | yêu mến | Low | — | 3:15, closing benediction; distinct from ἀγάπη |
| full knowledge | ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis) | sự hiểu biết | Medium-High | giác ngộ (Buddhist enlightenment) | 1:1; received revelation, not self-attained insight |
| truth | ἀλήθεια (alētheia) | lẽ thật | Medium | — | 1:1,14 |
| genuine | γνήσιος (gnēsios) | thật | Low | — | 1:4 |
| God who cannot lie | ἀψευδὴς θεός (apseudēs theos) | Đấng không hề nói dối | Low-Medium | — | 1:2; grounds hope in personal, truthful character |
| proclamation | κήρυγμα (kērygma) | sự truyền giảng | Medium | — | 1:3 |
| command/authority | ἐπιταγή (epitagē) | quyền | Low-Medium | — | 1:3; 2:15 |
| disregard/despise | περιφρονέω (periphroneō) | xem thường | Low | — | 2:15 |
| older man/woman (general) | πρεσβύτης / πρεσβύτις (presbytēs / presbytis) | người cao tuổi (ông già/bà già) | Low-Medium | — | Distinguish clearly from trưởng lão (elder office) |
| sober-minded | νηφάλιος (nēphalios) | tiết độ | Low | — | 2:2 |
| dignified | σεμνός (semnos) | đáng trọng | Low | — | 2:2 |
| endurance | ὑπομονή (hypomonē) | sự nhịn nhục | Low-Medium | — | 2:2 |
| loving husband/children | φίλανδρος / φιλότεκνος | yêu chồng / yêu con | Low | — | 2:4 (philia-root, distinct from agapē) |
| pure/chaste | ἁγνός (hagnos) | trong sạch | Medium | — | 2:5 |
| working at home | οἰκουργός (oikourgos) | chăm việc nhà | Low | — | 2:5 |
| integrity | ἀφθορία (aphthoria) | sự không hư nát | Low | — | 2:7 |
| dignity | σεμνότης (semnotēs) | sự nghiêm trang | Low | — | 2:7 |
| well-pleasing | εὐάρεστος (euarestos) | đẹp lòng | Low | — | 2:9 |
| pilfer/steal | νοσφίζομαι (nosphizomai) | ăn cắp vật riêng | Low | — | 2:10 |
Priority Flags for Phase 2 Routing
Mandatory human theologian review (Critical/High), first occurrence and every recurrence: παλιγγενεσία (sự sinh lại), σωτήρ (Cứu Chúa), καλὰ ἔργα (việc lành), ἔργα ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, ἐπιφαίνω/ἐπιφάνεια, ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία (đạo lành), πρεσβύτερος/ἐπίσκοπος (trưởng lão/giám mục), ὑποτάσσω (vâng phục), αἱρετικὸς ἄνθρωπος (kẻ gây chia rẽ), ἀγάπη (tình yêu thương), κληρονόμος (người thừa kế), εὐσέβεια (sự tin kính), δοῦλος (tôi tớ).
Native speaker review (Medium): all remaining Medium-tier terms listed above, especially those with noted cultural overlap (tham/greed vocabulary, gia phả/genealogy, giác ngộ/knowledge).
Automated review sufficient (Low): vice/virtue-list adjectives and closing travel/greeting vocabulary with no significant syncretism exposure.
This glossary should be merged into an updated translation_memory.json (version increment) before Phase 2 segment translation of Titus begins, per the enforcement procedure in 12_ai_translation_requirements.md.
Critical Risk Terms
Salvation
Approved rendering: sự cứu rỗi
Transliteration: su cuu roi
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: sự giải thoát
Original: σωτήριος / σώζω
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. CRITICAL: NEVER sự giải thoát. Occurs Titus 2:11 (σωτήριος, adjectival) and 3:5 (σώζω, verbal, ‘he saved us’). Titus 3:5 is the letter’s sharpest exclusion of works as salvation’s ground; must always be read with 2:14/3:8’s good-works statements as the fruit, never the cause.
Holy Spirit
Approved rendering: Đức Thánh Linh
Transliteration: Duc Thanh Linh
Doctrine: Sanctification
Rejected alternatives: thần linh
Original: πνεῦμα ἅγιον
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. CRITICAL: never bare thần linh. Titus 3:5 names the Holy Spirit as the agent of regeneration (παλιγγενεσία) and renewal (ἀνακαίνωσις) — the Trinitarian/pneumatological anchor for the curriculum’s Regeneration doctrine.
God
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Rejected alternatives: Ông Trời
Original: θεός
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. In Titus repeatedly identified as ‘our Savior’ (1:3; 3:4) alongside Christ (2:13; 3:6) — every occurrence should carry enough context that a personal, covenant-making God is meant, not impersonal Ông Trời.
Jesus
Approved rendering: Đức Chúa Giê-xu
Transliteration: Duc Chua Gie-xu
Doctrine: Lordship of Christ
Original: Ἰησοῦς
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Keep consistent across all Titus material, always in the fixed compound ‘Đức Chúa Giê-xu Christ’ where the Greek has Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Christ
Approved rendering: Đấng Christ
Transliteration: Dang Christ
Doctrine: Deity and Saviorhood of Christ
Rejected alternatives: Đấng được xức dầu (bare paraphrase), bare transliteration without honorific
Original: Χριστός
Category: Christology
[NEW - Titus] Per the established transliteration standard, use Đấng Christ, always correctly paired with Đức Chúa Giê-xu in the compound title ‘Jesus Christ our Savior’ (1:4; 2:13; 3:6). Never implies one deity among several.
Savior
Approved rendering: Cứu Chúa
Transliteration: Cuu Chua
Doctrine: Deity and Saviorhood of Christ
Original: σωτήρ
Category: Christology
[NEW - Titus] Renders σωτήρ, applied to both God the Father (1:3; 3:4) and Jesus Christ (2:13; 3:6). Titus 2:13’s Sharp’s-rule construction (‘our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’) identifies ONE referent, not two; Vietnamese rendering must preserve this single-referent grammatical force. Mandatory theologian review, every occurrence.
Good Works
Approved rendering: việc lành
Transliteration: viec lanh
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Rejected alternatives: tích công đức, làm việc thiện để tích đức
Original: καλὰ/ἀγαθὰ ἔργα
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus, single highest-collision term in the curriculum] Renders καλὰ/ἀγαθὰ ἔργα, occurring Titus 1:16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14. Vietnamese Buddhist culture is saturated with làm việc thiện/tích công đức (merit accumulation improving karmic outcome). Every occurrence must carry a translator note anchoring good works as the FRUIT and evidence of a salvation already secured by grace (3:5), never a contributing cause. Mandatory theologian review, every occurrence.
Regeneration
Approved rendering: sự sinh lại
Transliteration: su sinh lai
Doctrine: Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
Rejected alternatives: tái sinh, đầu thai, luân hồi
Original: παλιγγενεσία
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus, single greatest syncretism risk in the entire curriculum] Renders παλιγγενεσία, Titus 3:5. NEVER tái sinh, đầu thai, or luân hồi (rebirth within saṃsāra, a live and common Vietnamese Buddhist concept). Every occurrence requires a mandatory translator/theologian note: this is a single, unrepeatable, Spirit-given new-creation event granted once at conversion — the direct opposite of a cyclical process of repeated births across successive existences. Enforce with the same force as the baseline’s ‘resurrection’ and ‘salvation’ entries.
Works Of Righteousness
Approved rendering: những việc công bình chúng ta đã làm
Transliteration: nhung viec cong binh chung ta da lam
Doctrine: Salvation by Grace, Not Works
Original: ἔργα … ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἔργα … ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, Titus 3:5 — the letter’s single most direct statement excluding human merit as salvation’s ground. The negation (‘not because of works … but according to his mercy’) must never be softened, hedged, or balanced. Keep lexically distinct from việc lành (good works, 2:14/3:8) and always teach the two together: 3:5 excludes works as ground; 2:14/3:8 commend works as fruit. Mandatory theologian review, every occurrence.
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
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus intensifies the risk: in 2:11-12 grace is the grammatical SUBJECT that ‘trains’ (παιδεύω) believers toward godliness — Vietnamese sentence structure must keep ân điển as the acting agent, never demoted to a circumstance surrounding the believer’s own self-effort. Occurs Titus 1:4; 2:11; 3:7,15.
Righteousness
Approved rendering: sự công bình
Transliteration: su cong binh
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: đức hạnh
Original: δικαιοσύνη / δικαίως
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Occurs adverbially in Titus 2:12 (δικαίως, righteous living flowing from grace) and nominally in 3:5 (δικαιοσύνῃ, human works that cannot secure salvation) — never đức hạnh, the Confucian cultivated-virtue concept.
Justification
Approved rendering: được xưng công bình
Transliteration: duoc xung cong binh
Doctrine: Salvation
Original: δικαιωθέντες (δικαιόω)
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package (baseline form ‘sự xưng công bình’; verbal form used in Titus 3:7 is ‘được xưng công bình’). Directly grounds heirship (κληρονόμος) in the same verse; teach the two together.
Father
Approved rendering: Cha
Transliteration: Cha
Doctrine: Adoption into God’s Family
Original: πατήρ
Category: God
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 1:4 greeting. Emphasize grace and intimacy, not Confucian filial-duty hierarchy.
Epiphany
Approved rendering: đã hiện ra / sự hiện ra
Transliteration: da hien ra / su hien ra
Doctrine: Deity and Saviorhood of Christ
Rejected alternatives: hóa thân-style repeatable manifestation language
Original: ἐπιφαίνω / ἐπιφάνεια
Category: Christology
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐπιφαίνω/ἐπιφάνεια. Threefold structure unique to Titus: grace appearing (2:11), glory appearing (2:13), kindness appearing (3:4). Must be kept as a singular, historical, once-for-all (or future one-time) disclosure event, directly parallel to the baseline’s hóa thân caution on incarnation — never a repeatable divine manifestation.
Training
Approved rendering: dạy dỗ và rèn luyện
Transliteration: day do va ren luyen
Doctrine: Grace That Trains for Godly Living
Rejected alternatives: tu tập, tu thân
Original: παιδεύω
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders παιδεύω, Titus 2:12. Grace (ân điển) is the grammatical subject doing the training. Never tu tập (Buddhist self-cultivation) or tu thân (Confucian self-discipline by personal effort), both of which wrongly relocate agency to the believer.
Godliness
Approved rendering: sự tin kính
Transliteration: su tin kinh
Doctrine: Godliness (Eusebeia)
Rejected alternatives: đạo hiếu, lòng sùng đạo
Original: εὐσέβεια
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders εὐσέβεια, Titus 1:1; 2:12. Never đạo hiếu (Confucian filial-piety performance) nor lòng sùng đạo (generic religious devotion). Biblical godliness flows from grace-given new life, not performance of religious or familial duty.
Redeem
Approved rendering: cứu chuộc
Transliteration: cuu chuoc
Doctrine: Salvation
Rejected alternatives: merit-transfer framing
Original: λυτρόω
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus] Renders λυτρόω, Titus 2:14. Established Vietnamese Bible term; must not be flattened into a merit-transfer metaphor (as in folk-Buddhist merit-transfer rites for the deceased) but kept as a one-time historical, substitutionary payment by Christ.
Submit
Approved rendering: vâng phục
Transliteration: vang phuc
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ὑποτάσσω
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὑποτάσσω, applied to wives toward husbands (2:5) and to civil rulers (3:1). Reuses the root already established in the Romans baseline’s obedience_of_faith (sự vâng phục của đức tin). Must be distinguished from Confucian tam cương (absolute, permanent, rank-based hierarchy); biblical submission here is voluntary, gospel-motivated, and provisional to ‘the present age’ (2:12), not identity-defining.
Servant
Approved rendering: tôi tớ
Transliteration: toi to
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Rejected alternatives: nô lệ
Original: δοῦλος
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders δοῦλος: Paul’s self-designation (1:1) and the household-code term for actual servants (2:9-10). NEVER nô lệ, which carries strongly negative, dehumanizing connotations compounded by Vietnam’s history with forced labor. Tôi tớ preserves the positive sense of devoted, total belonging to a good master.
Heir
Approved rendering: người thừa kế
Transliteration: nguoi thua ke
Doctrine: Adoption and Heirship
Original: κληρονόμος
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus] Renders κληρονόμος, Titus 3:7. Vietnamese inheritance expectations are strongly shaped by Confucian bloodline and primogeniture norms; must be taught as grace-given status secured entirely by justification in Christ, not earned by filial performance nor defined by birth-order hierarchy.
Mercy
Approved rendering: sự thương xót
Transliteration: su thuong xot
Doctrine: Salvation by Grace, Not Works
Original: ἔλεος
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἔλεος, Titus 3:5, the stated ground of salvation (‘according to his own mercy’). Must be kept distinguishable from ân điển (grace): mercy withholds deserved judgment; grace bestows undeserved favor. Both exclude merit.
Elder
Approved rendering: trưởng lão
Transliteration: truong lao
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Rejected alternatives: người lớn tuổi, bô lão
Original: πρεσβύτερος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders πρεσβύτερος, Titus 1:5. Vietnamese village/family culture carries a strong Confucian authority-by-seniority model; every occurrence must carry a note that this is a qualification-based office (character, doctrine, household management, 1:6-9), not automatic seniority.
Overseer
Approved rendering: giám mục
Transliteration: giam muc
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: ἐπίσκοπος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐπίσκοπος, Titus 1:7, used interchangeably with πρεσβύτερος. This rendering is also the standard Vietnamese Roman Catholic term for a diocesan bishop with regional hierarchical authority. Every occurrence requires a translator note stating Titus uses this word as a SYNONYM for trưởng lão — a single local congregational overseer, not a regional hierarch.
Sound Doctrine
Approved rendering: đạo lành
Transliteration: dao lanh
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὑγιαίνουσα διδασκαλία, a recurring structural refrain (1:9,13; 2:1,2,8). ‘Đạο’ is a broad Vietnamese term used generically across religious traditions (đạo Phật, đạo Nho, đạo Ông Bà, đạo Công giáo), reinforced by the folk saying ‘đạo nào cũng dạy làm lành’ (‘every religion teaches people to do good’). Every occurrence must carry a translator/theologian note anchoring đạo lành to the specific apostolic gospel content about Christ, never generic moral religious teaching. Mandatory theologian review, every occurrence.
Love Agape
Approved rendering: tình yêu thương
Transliteration: tinh yeu thuong
Doctrine: Christian Love
Rejected alternatives: ái
Original: ἀγάπη
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus, notably absent from the Romans baseline] Renders ἀγάπη, Titus 2:2,4. Bare Sino-Vietnamese ‘ái’ carries strong residual Buddhist doctrinal weight as taṇhā (craving/attachment, a root cause of suffering to be extinguished, not cultivated). Use the native compound tình yêu thương, already established in Vietnamese Protestant usage. Every occurrence should note the contrast: agapē is a virtue cultivated and increased; ái/tham is a craving extinguished.
Divisive Person
Approved rendering: kẻ gây chia rẽ
Transliteration: ke gay chia re
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Rejected alternatives: dị giáo, tà giáo
Original: αἱρετικὸς ἄνθρωπος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders αἱρετικὸς ἄνθρωπος, Titus 3:10. Avoid dị giáo/tà giáo (‘heterodox/heretical teaching’), content-focused with strong inquisitorial overtones in Vietnamese translation history. Titus’s concern is primarily relational/behavioral — persistent, unrepentant factiousness after repeated admonition — and a mistranslation risks licensing harsh treatment of ordinary doctrinal disagreement.
Medium Risk Terms
Faith
Approved rendering: đức tin
Transliteration: duc tin
Doctrine: Faith
Original: πίστις
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Occurs Titus 1:1,4,13; 2:2,10; 3:15. Object is always Christ/God.
Apostle
Approved rendering: sứ đồ
Transliteration: su do
Doctrine: Apostleship
Original: ἀπόστολος
Category: Church
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Occurs Titus 1:1, Paul’s self-designation, paired with tôi tớ (servant/slave of God).
Holy
Approved rendering: thánh
Transliteration: thanh
Doctrine: Sanctification
Original: ἅγιος / ὅσιος
Category: Sanctification
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Underlies ὅσιος (devout, thánh sạch) in the elder qualifications, 1:8.
Glory
Approved rendering: sự vinh hiển
Transliteration: su vinh hien
Doctrine: Deity of Christ
Original: δόξα
Category: Christology
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 2:13: ‘the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’ — part of the letter’s clearest deity-of-Christ argument; must be read together with the new term ‘savior’ below.
Election
Approved rendering: sự lựa chọn
Transliteration: su lua chon
Doctrine: Effectual Calling
Rejected alternatives: số mệnh
Original: ἐκλεκτῶν (ἐκλεκτός)
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 1:1, ‘the faith of God’s elect’ (τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν θεοῦ). Never số mệnh (fixed fate/destiny).
Law
Approved rendering: luật pháp
Transliteration: luat phap
Doctrine: Fulfillment of Prophecy
Original: νόμος / νομικός
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Occurs Titus 3:9 (‘quarrels about the law’) and 3:13 (νομικός, ‘the lawyer,’ of Zenas).
Sin
Approved rendering: tội lỗi
Transliteration: toi loi
Doctrine: Universal Human Accountability
Rejected alternatives: nghiệp xấu
Original: ἁμαρτάνω (ἁμαρτία)
Category: Sin
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Verb form (ἁμαρτάνω, phạm tội) describes the self-condemned divisive person in Titus 3:11.
Peace
Approved rendering: sự bình an
Transliteration: su binh an
Doctrine: Peace with God
Original: εἰρήνη
Category: Salvation
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 1:4 greeting formula, ‘ân điển và sự bình an.‘
Covenant
Approved rendering: giao ước
Transliteration: giao uoc
Doctrine: Davidic Covenant
Original: ἐπαγγέλλομαι (conceptual)
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 1:2 conceptually invokes covenant-promise language (‘which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began’) without using the noun διαθήκη directly.
Ungodliness
Approved rendering: sự không tin kính
Transliteration: su khong tin kinh
Doctrine: Grace That Trains for Godly Living
Original: ἀσέβεια
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀσέβεια, Titus 2:12, direct antonym of godliness (εὐσέβεια).
Worldly Passions
Approved rendering: những sự tham muốn của thế gian
Transliteration: nhung su tham muon cua the gian
Doctrine: Grace That Trains for Godly Living
Original: κοσμικαὶ ἐπιθυμίαι
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders κοσμικαὶ ἐπιθυμίαι, Titus 2:12. ‘Tham’ overlaps the Buddhist craving/attachment category; ‘của thế gian’ must stay attached at every occurrence to anchor this as moral rebellion against a personal God, not an impersonal mental-attachment state to be extinguished through insight.
Present Age
Approved rendering: đời này / thời đại này
Transliteration: doi nay / thoi dai nay
Doctrine: Grace That Trains for Godly Living
Original: αἰών
Category: Eschatology
[NEW - Titus] Renders αἰών, Titus 2:12, contrasted with the ‘blessed hope’ of 2:13. Establishes linear eschatological time, not cyclical cosmology.
Lawlessness
Approved rendering: sự phạm luật pháp
Transliteration: su pham luat phap
Doctrine: Sin
Original: ἀνομία
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀνομία, Titus 2:14, that from which Christ redeems. Related to baseline luật pháp.
Covenant People
Approved rendering: dân riêng
Transliteration: dan rieng
Doctrine: Election and the Covenant People of God
Original: λαὸς περιούσιος
Category: Covenant
[NEW - Titus] Renders λαὸς περιούσιος, Titus 2:14, echoing Exodus 19:5/Deut 14:2 LXX. Requires OT background teaching; ties directly to baseline election/covenant doctrine.
Rebuke
Approved rendering: quở trách
Transliteration: quo trach
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: ἐλέγχω
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐλέγχω, Titus 1:9,13; 2:15. Pastoral authority grounded in sound doctrine, not personal harshness.
Command
Approved rendering: quyền
Transliteration: quyen
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: ἐπιταγή
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐπιταγή, Titus 1:3 (Paul’s apostolic charge); 2:15 (Titus’s delegated authority).
Rulers
Approved rendering: các đấng cầm quyền
Transliteration: cac dang cam quyen
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ἀρχή
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀρχή, Titus 3:1.
Authorities
Approved rendering: các quyền cao hơn mình
Transliteration: cac quyen cao hon minh
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ἐξουσία
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐξουσία, Titus 3:1.
Obey
Approved rendering: tuân theo
Transliteration: tuan theo
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: πειθαρχέω
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders πειθαρχέω, Titus 3:1. Same submission-doctrine caution as vâng phục.
Gentle
Approved rendering: hiền hòa
Transliteration: hien hoa
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ἐπιεικής
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐπιεικής, Titus 3:2.
Gentleness
Approved rendering: sự nhu mì
Transliteration: su nhu mi
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Rejected alternatives: vô ngã, xả
Original: πραΰτης
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders πραΰτης, Titus 3:2. Must not be confused with vô ngã/xả (Buddhist detachment rooted in extinguishing desire); this is Christlike strength under control, actively exercised toward others.
Disobedient
Approved rendering: không vâng phục
Transliteration: khong vang phuc
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ἀπειθής
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀπειθής, Titus 3:3, describing pre-conversion humanity; mirrors the baseline’s High-risk caution on ‘obedience of faith’ as its negation.
Enslaved To Passions
Approved rendering: làm tôi mọi cho
Transliteration: lam toi moi cho
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: δουλεύοντες ἐπιθυμίαις (δουλεύω)
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders δουλεύοντες ἐπιθυμίαις, Titus 3:3. Sets up the grace-freedom contrast with the true ‘slave of God’ identity in 1:1.
Master
Approved rendering: chủ
Transliteration: chu
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: δεσπότης
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders δεσπότης, Titus 2:9, paired with δοῦλος/tôi tớ in household instructions to servants.
Renewal
Approved rendering: sự đổi mới
Transliteration: su doi moi
Doctrine: Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
Original: ἀνακαίνωσις
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀνακαίνωσις, Titus 3:5. Ongoing renewal, distinguished from the once-for-all sự sinh lại; parallels the baseline’s justification/sanctification pairing.
Washing
Approved rendering: sự rửa
Transliteration: su rua
Doctrine: Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
Original: λουτρόν
Category: Salvation
[NEW - Titus] Renders λουτρόν, Titus 3:5. Must be taught as inward, Spirit-wrought spiritual cleansing (likely evoking baptism), not a ritual act producing merit (given Vietnamese familiarity with ritual purification acts, e.g., ceremonial statue-bathing).
Eternal Life
Approved rendering: sự sống đời đời
Transliteration: su song doi doi
Doctrine: Hope of Eternal Life
Original: ζωὴ αἰώνιος
Category: Eschatology
[NEW - Titus] Renders ζωὴ αἰώνιος, Titus 1:2; 3:7. ‘Đời đời’ conveys linear, unending duration; must be preserved as clearly distinct from an improved rebirth destination within an ongoing cycle.
Hope
Approved rendering: sự hy vọng
Transliteration: su hy vong
Doctrine: Hope of Eternal Life
Rejected alternatives: số phận
Original: ἐλπίς
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐλπίς, Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7. Confident expectation grounded in God’s character and promise, distinct from a vague wish or fatalistic resignation to số phận (fixed fate).
Trustworthy Saying
Approved rendering: đáng tin
Transliteration: dang tin
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: πιστὸς ὁ λόγος
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, Titus 3:8, marking settled apostolic teaching referring back to 3:4-7. Shares root with đức tin.
Steward
Approved rendering: người quản gia
Transliteration: nguoi quan gia
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: οἰκονόμος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders οἰκονόμος, Titus 1:7. Frames the elder’s authority as delegated stewardship under God, not personal ownership.
Blameless
Approved rendering: không chỗ trách được
Transliteration: khong cho trach duoc
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: ἀνέγκλητος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀνέγκλητος, Titus 1:6-7.
One Woman Man
Approved rendering: chồng của chỉ một vợ
Transliteration: chong cua chi mot vo
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ, Titus 1:6. No single-word Vietnamese equivalent; requires a teaching note on marital fidelity, relevant given historical Vietnamese concubinage practice in some communities.
Greedy For Gain
Approved rendering: tham lợi bất chính
Transliteration: tham loi bat chinh
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: αἰσχροκερδής
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders αἰσχροκερδής, Titus 1:7. Overlaps Buddhist ‘tham’ (greed) vocabulary; acceptable shared condemnation of greed, but should not be over-theologized as a Buddhist category.
Self Controlled
Approved rendering: tiết độ
Transliteration: tiet do
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: σώφρων
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders σώφρων, Titus 1:8; also νηφάλιος (sober-minded), 2:2. Established fruit-of-the-Spirit-adjacent vocabulary.
Devout
Approved rendering: thánh sạch
Transliteration: thanh sach
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: ὅσιος
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὅσιος, Titus 1:8. Keep aligned with baseline thánh; must not drift toward ritual-purity-only connotations.
Teaching
Approved rendering: sự dạy dỗ / giáo lý
Transliteration: su day do / giao ly
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: διδαχή / διδασκαλία
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders διδαχή / διδασκαλία, the general content Titus must guard and transmit.
Contradict
Approved rendering: cãi lại
Transliteration: cai lai
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: ἀντιλέγω
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀντιλέγω, Titus 1:9, of those who contradict sound teaching.
Insubordinate
Approved rendering: không chịu vâng phục
Transliteration: khong chiu vang phuc
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: ἀνυπότακτος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀνυπότακτος, Titus 1:10, negation of ὑποτάσσω; mirrors the Submission to Authority doctrine’s caution.
Myth
Approved rendering: chuyện hoang đường
Transliteration: chuyen hoang duong
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: μῦθος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders μῦθος, Titus 1:14; 3:9. May be pedagogically compared to Vietnamese ancestor-hero legend, but Scripture must never be implied to belong to the same category as rival teachers’ speculative material.
Conscience
Approved rendering: lương tâm
Transliteration: luong tam
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: συνείδησις
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders συνείδησις, Titus 1:15.
Confess
Approved rendering: xưng nhận
Transliteration: xung nhan
Doctrine: Authentic Faith versus Empty Profession
Original: ὁμολογέω
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὁμολογέω, Titus 1:16, ‘they profess to know God but deny him by their works’ — anticipates the good-works doctrine of authentic faith.
Deny
Approved rendering: chối bỏ
Transliteration: choi bo
Doctrine: Authentic Faith versus Empty Profession
Original: ἀρνέομαι
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀρνέομαι, Titus 1:16, denial demonstrated by works despite verbal profession.
Full Knowledge
Approved rendering: sự hiểu biết
Transliteration: su hieu biet
Doctrine: Godliness (Eusebeia)
Rejected alternatives: giác ngộ
Original: ἐπίγνωσις
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐπίγνωσις, Titus 1:1, ‘the knowledge of the truth.’ Must be taught as knowledge received through revelation and grace, not self-attained insight (contrast with Buddhist giác ngộ, ‘enlightenment’).
Truth
Approved rendering: lẽ thật
Transliteration: le that
Doctrine: Godliness (Eusebeia)
Original: ἀλήθεια
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀλήθεια, Titus 1:1,14. Established Vietnamese Bible term.
God Who Cannot Lie
Approved rendering: Đấng không hề nói dối
Transliteration: Dang khong he noi doi
Doctrine: Inspiration and Truthfulness of God
Original: ἀψευδὴς θεός
Category: God
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀψευδὴς θεός, Titus 1:2, grounding the promise of eternal life. Positively distinguishes the personal, truthful Christian God from the impersonal, fate-dispensing Ông Trời of everyday folk speech.
Proclamation
Approved rendering: sự truyền giảng
Transliteration: su truyen giang
Doctrine: Inspiration and Truthfulness of God
Original: κήρυγμα
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders κήρυγμα, Titus 1:3, the entrusted apostolic message. Conceptually related to baseline mission term (công cuộc truyền giáo).
Pure
Approved rendering: trong sạch
Transliteration: trong sach
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: ἁγνός
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἁγνός, Titus 2:5.
Example
Approved rendering: gương mẫu
Transliteration: guong mau
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: τύπος
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders τύπος, Titus 2:7, Titus as a model in good works.
Adorn
Approved rendering: làm cho rạng rỡ
Transliteration: lam cho rang ro
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: κοσμέω
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders κοσμέω, Titus 2:10. Vividly links faithful conduct to the credibility of sound doctrine before outsiders.
Controversies
Approved rendering: sự cãi lẽ vô ích
Transliteration: su cai le vo ich
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: ζήτησις
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ζήτησις, Titus 3:9.
Avoid
Approved rendering: hãy lánh xa
Transliteration: hay lanh xa
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: περιΐστημι
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders περιΐστημι, Titus 3:9, the doctrine’s core verb.
Admonition
Approved rendering: lời cảnh cáo
Transliteration: loi canh cao
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: νουθεσία
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders νουθεσία, Titus 3:10, given twice before a divisive person is avoided.
Devote Oneself
Approved rendering: chuyên tâm làm
Transliteration: chuyen tam lam
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: προΐστημι
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders προΐστημι, Titus 3:8,14, diligent devotion to good works.
Believed
Approved rendering: những người đã tin Đức Chúa Trời
Transliteration: nhung nguoi da tin Duc Chua Troi
Doctrine: Authentic Faith versus Empty Profession
Original: πεπιστευκότες τῷ θεῷ
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders οἱ πεπιστευκότες τῷ θεῷ, Titus 3:8, perfect participle stressing settled, abiding belief. Shares the đức tin root.
Low Risk Terms
Exhort
Approved rendering: khích lệ / khuyên bảo
Transliteration: khich le / khuyen bao
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: παρακαλέω
Category: Faith
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Context-sensitive: use khuyên bảo where paired with rebuke, as in Titus 2:15; khích lệ for pure encouragement, as in 2:6.
Prophet
Approved rendering: tiên tri
Transliteration: tien tri
Doctrine: Inspiration of Scripture
Rejected alternatives: thầy bói
Original: προφήτης
Category: Covenant
Inherited from Romans package, value unchanged. Titus 1:12 uses this word ironically of a Cretan poet — a secular usage distinct from the technical OT prophetic office elsewhere.
Disregard
Approved rendering: xem thường
Transliteration: xem thuong
Doctrine: Mutual Edification
Original: περιφρονέω
Category: Church
[NEW - Titus] Renders περιφρονέω, Titus 2:15, ‘let no one disregard you.‘
Speak Evil
Approved rendering: nói xấu
Transliteration: noi xau
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: βλασφημέω
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders βλασφημέω of people, Titus 2:5; 3:2 (distinct from phạm thượng, used of blaspheming God elsewhere).
Peaceable
Approved rendering: không hay gây gổ
Transliteration: khong hay gay go
Doctrine: Submission to Authority
Original: ἄμαχος
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἄμαχος, Titus 3:2.
Poured Out
Approved rendering: đổ ra
Transliteration: do ra
Doctrine: Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
Original: ἐκχέω
Category: God
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐκχέω, Titus 3:6, echoing OT/Pentecostal Spirit-outpouring language.
Self Willed
Approved rendering: tự phụ
Transliteration: tu phu
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: αὐθάδης
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders αὐθάδης, Titus 1:7.
Quick Tempered
Approved rendering: nóng giận
Transliteration: nong gian
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: ὀργίλος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὀργίλος, Titus 1:7.
Given To Wine
Approved rendering: mê rượu
Transliteration: me ruou
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: πάροινος
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders πάροινος, Titus 1:7.
Violent
Approved rendering: hung bạo
Transliteration: hung bao
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: πλήκτης
Category: Ministry
[NEW - Titus] Renders πλήκτης, Titus 1:7.
Hospitable
Approved rendering: hay tiếp khách
Transliteration: hay tiep khach
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: φιλόξενος
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders φιλόξενος, Titus 1:8. Reinforces an existing Vietnamese hospitality value.
Lover Of Good
Approved rendering: yêu điều lành
Transliteration: yeu dieu lanh
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: φιλάγαθος
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders φιλάγαθος, Titus 1:8.
Disciplined
Approved rendering: biết tự chủ
Transliteration: biet tu chu
Doctrine: Qualifications for Elders
Original: ἐγκρατής
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐγκρατής, Titus 1:8.
Empty Talker
Approved rendering: kẻ nói khoác
Transliteration: ke noi khoac
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: ματαιολόγος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ματαιολόγος, Titus 1:10.
Deceiver
Approved rendering: kẻ lừa dối
Transliteration: ke lua doi
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: φρεναπάτης
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders φρεναπάτης, Titus 1:10.
Circumcision Party
Approved rendering: phái chịu cắt bì
Transliteration: phai chiu cat bi
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: περιτομή
Category: Covenant
[NEW - Titus] Renders περιτομή, Titus 1:10, a Jewish/Judaizing faction. Requires OT background teaching; no live cultural-analogue collision risk in Vietnam.
Commandment
Approved rendering: điều răn
Transliteration: dieu ran
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: ἐντολή
Category: Covenant
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐντολή, Titus 1:14, contrasted with mere human rules of false teachers.
Defile
Approved rendering: làm ô uế
Transliteration: lam o ue
Doctrine: Rejection of False Teaching and Myths
Original: μιαίνω
Category: Sin
[NEW - Titus] Renders μιαίνω, Titus 1:15.
Love Phileo
Approved rendering: yêu mến
Transliteration: yeu men
Doctrine: Christian Love
Original: φιλέω
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders φιλέω, Titus 3:15, the closing benediction (‘those who love us in the faith’). Distinct from ἀγάπη; the two must not be flattened into a single Vietnamese term without note.
Genuine
Approved rendering: thật
Transliteration: that
Doctrine: Apostleship
Original: γνήσιος
Category: Faith
[NEW - Titus] Renders γνήσιος, Titus 1:4, describing Titus as a ‘genuine child’ in the faith.
Older Man Woman
Approved rendering: người cao tuổi
Transliteration: nguoi cao tuoi
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: πρεσβύτης / πρεσβύτις
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders πρεσβύτης / πρεσβύτις, Titus 2:2-3, a general age description, NOT the elder office (πρεσβύτερος). Must be kept clearly distinguished from trưởng lão despite the shared root.
Sober Minded
Approved rendering: tiết độ
Transliteration: tiet do
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: νηφάλιος
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders νηφάλιος, Titus 2:2.
Dignified
Approved rendering: đáng trọng
Transliteration: dang trong
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: σεμνός
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders σεμνός, Titus 2:2.
Endurance
Approved rendering: sự nhịn nhục
Transliteration: su nhin nhuc
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: ὑπομονή
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὑπομονή, Titus 2:2.
Loving Husband Children
Approved rendering: yêu chồng / yêu con
Transliteration: yeu chong / yeu con
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: φίλανδρος / φιλότεκνος
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders φίλανδρος / φιλότεκνος, Titus 2:4, built on philia, distinct from ἀγάπη.
Working At Home
Approved rendering: chăm việc nhà
Transliteration: cham viec nha
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: οἰκουργός
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders οἰκουργός, Titus 2:5.
Integrity
Approved rendering: sự không hư nát
Transliteration: su khong hu nat
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: ἀφθορία
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀφθορία, Titus 2:7.
Dignity
Approved rendering: sự nghiêm trang
Transliteration: su nghiem trang
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: σεμνότης
Category: Ethics
[NEW - Titus] Renders σεμνότης, Titus 2:7.
Well Pleasing
Approved rendering: đẹp lòng
Transliteration: dep long
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: εὐάρεστος
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders εὐάρεστος, Titus 2:9, describing servants pleasing their masters.
Pilfer
Approved rendering: ăn cắp vật riêng
Transliteration: an cap vat rieng
Doctrine: Household Order and Family Roles
Original: νοσφίζομαι
Category: Household
[NEW - Titus] Renders νοσφίζομαι, Titus 2:10, a vice forbidden to servants.
Genealogy
Approved rendering: gia phả
Transliteration: gia pha
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: γενεαλογία
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders γενεαλογία, Titus 3:9. Carries distinct cultural weight given ancestor veneration (thờ cúng tổ tiên); the text targets speculative religious genealogical disputes only, not valued family record-keeping generally — a distinction worth an explicit teaching note.
Strife
Approved rendering: sự cãi lẫy
Transliteration: su cai lay
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: ἔρις
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἔρις, Titus 3:9.
Quarrel
Approved rendering: sự tranh cạnh
Transliteration: su tranh canh
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: μάχη
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders μάχη, Titus 3:9, ‘quarrels about the law.‘
Unprofitable
Approved rendering: không có ích
Transliteration: khong co ich
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: ἀνωφελής
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἀνωφελής, Titus 3:9.
Futile
Approved rendering: vô ích
Transliteration: vo ich
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: μάταιος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders μάταιος, Titus 3:9.
Reject
Approved rendering: hãy xa lánh
Transliteration: hay xa lanh
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: παραιτέομαι
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders παραιτέομαι, Titus 3:10, final action toward an unrepentant divisive person.
Perverted
Approved rendering: đã trở nên hư hoại
Transliteration: da tro nen hu hoai
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: ἐκστρέφω
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἐκστρέφω, Titus 3:11.
Self Condemned
Approved rendering: tự chuốc lấy sự đoán phạt cho mình
Transliteration: tu chuoc lay su doan phat cho minh
Doctrine: Avoiding Divisive Controversies
Original: αὐτοκατάκριτος
Category: Polemics
[NEW - Titus] Renders αὐτοκατάκριτος, Titus 3:11.
Unfruitful
Approved rendering: không kết quả
Transliteration: khong ket qua
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: ἄκαρπος
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders ἄκαρπος, Titus 3:14. Reinforces the good-works doctrine one final time.
Profitable
Approved rendering: có ích
Transliteration: co ich
Doctrine: Sound Doctrine and Good Works
Original: ὠφέλιμος
Category: Sanctification
[NEW - Titus] Renders ὠφέλιμος, Titus 3:8.
Referenced passages