Abart

perversion

Abendmahl

Lord’s table / communion / eucharist

abfallen (vom Glauben)

fall away (from the faith)

ablehnen

reject

Ablehnung

rejection

abschaffen

abolish

absichtlich

deliberate

Absolution

absolution (Catholic term for forgiveness spoken by a priest)

Abtreibung

abortion

abweichen

deviate

Abweichung

deviation

Abwesenheit

absence

acht haben

be watchful

Achtung

respect

Adler

eagle

adoptieren

adopt

Advent, Ankunft

advent

Ähnlichkeit

likeness / similarity

Akkord

chord

Alkohol

alcohol

Alkoholiker/in

alcoholic

Allerheiligstes

Holy of Holies (specially holy part of Old Testament worship buildings)

allgemeines Priestertum

priesthood of all believers (the belief that all Christians have direct access to God and do not need a priest as a go-between)

allmächtig

almighty / omnipotent

Alt

alto

Altar

altar

altertümlich

ancient

Altes Testament

Old Testament (the part of the Bible written before the time of Jesus)

Älteste/r

elder / presbyter (member of the church leadership, particularly in free churches)

Anabaptist

Anabaptist

anbefehlen: ich befehle dich der Gnade Gottes an

I commit you to the grace of God

anbeten

worship

Anbetung

worship (honour given to God in prayer and/or song)

anbieten

offer

Andacht

devotion, reverence (as an attitude)

Andacht

devotions (as a personal time of prayer)

Andacht

short church service

Andreas

Andrew

Anerkennung

recognition

Anfechtung

temptation, tribulation

Angebot

offer

Angriff

attack

anklagen

accuse

ankündigen

announce

Anliegen

concern

anmaßend

arrogant

annehmen

accept

anrufen

call (on God) in prayer

anrühren

touch

Anskar-Kirche

Anskar Church (independent charismatic movement from a Lutheran background)

Anspruch: in Anspruch nehmen

appeal to, claim, call on

Anstand

propriety (correct behaviour)

anständig

decent, respectable

Anstrengung

effort

Anteil

share

Antlitz (veraltet/antiquated)

countenance

Apostel

apostle

apostolisch

apostolic

appellieren (an)

appeal (to)

Arbeitslosigkeit

unemployment

Arche

ark

arm

poor

Armut

poverty

Artikel

article (statement of belief)

Astrologie

astrology

Atem

breath (sometimes a symbol of life or of the Holy Spirit)

Atheismus

atheism

Atheist/in

atheist

aufdecken

uncover

Auferstehung

resurrection (especially refers to Jesus rising from death after the crucifixion; also used for the life of Christians after death)

Aufgabe

task

aufgehen

rise (especially sun and moon)

Auflehnung

rebellion

Aufmerksamkeit

attention

aufopferungsvoll

sacrificial

aufrechterhalten

uphold

aufrichtig

upright

Aufruf

appeal (GB) / altar call (USA)

Aufruhr

commotion, turmoil

aufrütteln

stir up

aufrüttelnd

stirring

Aufsicht

supervision

auftanken

recharge one’s (spiritual) batteries

aufzeichnen

record

Aufzeichnung

record

Auge um Auge

an eye for an eye (principle of revenge in the Old Testament)

ausbreiten, erweitern

expand

Ausbreitung

expansion

Ausdauer

perseverance

auserwählt

chosen

die Auserwählten

the elect, the chosen ones (i.e. those who have come to faith)

Ausgestoßene/r

outcast

ausgießen

pour out (refers especially to occasions when God gives the Holy Spirit to people in observable ways)

ausgraben

excavate

Ausgrabung

excavation (especially at historical sites, such as places that are mentioned in the Bible)

aushalten

endure

ausharren

persevere

auslassen

omit

Auslegung

interpretation

ausliefern: sich ausliefern

commit oneself

ausrüsten

equip

Ausrüstung

equipment

aussäen

sow

ausschweifend

wild, excessive, dissipated

Außensstehende/r

outsider (particularly used of people who have no link to the church)

Aussiedlergemeinde

church made up largely of immigrants from German ethnic groups in Eastern Europe

Austeilung

distribution

austreiben

drive out

Auswahl

selection

Auszug aus Ägypten

exodus from Egypt

Autor/in

writer

Autorität

authority

Band

volume

barmherzig

merciful

Barmherzigkeit

mercy

Bartholomäus

Bartholomew

Bass

bass

Bassgitarre

bass guitar

beabsichtigen

intend

Beamte/r

civil servant

beanspruchen

claim

beaufsichtigen

supervise

bedenken

consider

Bedeutung

meaning, significance

beenden

finish

beerdigen

bury

befähigen

enable

befestigen

fix

befreie uns von dem Bösen

deliver us from evil

befreien

deliver

Befreiung

Befreiung

deliverance, liberation

begehen (Mord/Ehebruch begehen)

commit (murder/adultery)

begehren

desire, envy

Begierde

lust

behindert

disabled

behütet

sheltered

Bekanntmachungsblatt

bulletin

bekennen

confess

Bekenntnis

confession

Bekenntnisbewegung

Confession movement (conservative evangelical movement within the established churches in Gemany)

belohnen

reward

Belohnung

reward

bemerkenswert

remarkable

beobachten

observe

Beobachter/in

observer

berauben

rob

bereichern

enrich

Bereicherung

enrichment

Bereitschaft

willingness

bereuen

regret

Berg

mountain, mount

Bergpredigt

Sermon on the Mount (open air sermon preached by Jesus, reported in the gospels)

berühren

touch

beschämend

shameful

beschneiden

circumcise

Beschneidung

circumcision (Old Testament rite; was performed on male babies)

Beschwerde

complaint

besessen 

possessed (under the control of evil spirits)

besessen (von einer Idee) 

obsessed (with an idea)

besiegen

defeat

besinnen (sich besinnen) 

come to one's senses

Besitz

possession(s)

besitzen

possess

besonnen

sober, level-headed

besorgt

concerned, worried

besprechen

discuss

besprengen

sprinkle (especially as a method of child baptism)

bestätigen

confirm, acknowledge

Bestätigung

confirmation, acknowledgement

beten

pray (speaking to God, can be aloud or silent, alone or in public)

betrügen

deceive, defraud

Betrüger

deceiver

beugen: sich beugen

humble oneself (literally: bow down)

Bewegung

movement

beweisen

prove

bewusstlos

unconscious

bezeugen

testify (give an account of one’s faith, usually from subjective experience)

Bibelschule

Bible college

Bibelstunde

Bible study meeting

Bibelwort

Bible verse, Bible passage

biblisch

scriptural (related to the Bible; consistent with the teaching of the Bible)

Bild

picture (sometimes used to describe a vision-like inner image with a spiritual significance)

Bischof/Bischöfin

bishop

bischöflich

episcopal

Bitte

request, prayer

bitten

ask

bleiben

remain

böse

wicked; angry

boshaft

malicious

Bosheit

malice

Bote/Botin

messenger

Botschafter/in

ambassador

brauchbar

useful

brechen

vomit

Brechen des Brotes

breaking of bread

Brot für die Welt

Protestant Third World aid agency

Brüdergemeinde

Brethren church

Bücher der Bibel

books of the Bible (the Bible is a collection of separate “books” – 66 in Protestant Bibles, 74 in Catholic Bibles)

Bund

association (national organisation of a church denomination)

Bund

covenant (an agreement involving mutual promises, especially between God and humans)

Bund freier evangelischer Gemeinden (FEG)

Association of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany

Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden (BFP)

Association of Free Pentecostal Churches in Germany

Bund: der neue Bund

the New Covenant (the new relationship with God that was made possible by Jesus)

Bürger/in

citizen

Bürgerrechte

civil rights

Buß- und Bettag

“Repentance and prayer day” (moveable feast in November in the German Protestant church calendar)

Buße

repentance

Buße tun

repent

Bußfertigkeit

brokenness, willingness to repent

Chor

choir

Choral

chorale

Chorleiter/in

choirmaster, choirmistress

Chorus

chorus (short, relatively modern worship song)

Christ/in

Christian

Christentum

Christianity

christlich

Christian

Christliches Zentrum

central charismatic/Pentecostal church in a town/city

Dämon

demon

Dämonenaustreibung

driving out demons, deliverance, exorcism

dankbar

thankful, grateful

Dankbarkeit

gratitude

danken

thank

Dankopfer

thank offering

Danksagung

thanksgiving

Dekan/in

dean

Demonstration

demonstration

Demut

humility

demütig

humble

Demütigung

humilitation

denken: der Mensch denkt, aber Gott lenkt

man proposes, but God disposes

Depression

depression

Deserteur

deserter

Diakon/in

deacon

Diakonie

social ministry

Diakonisse

uniformed "sister" in Protestant church-based social ministry

dienen

serve

Diener/in

servant

Dienst

ministry, service

Dienst

service

Disziplin

discipline

Donner

thunder

Dorn

thorn

Drache

dragon

drängen

urge

Dreieinigkeit

trinity (belief that the one God exists as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

dreschen

thresh

dringend

urgent

Dringlichkeit

urgency

dunkel

dark

Dunkelheit

darkness

durchbohren

pierce

dürfen

be allowed to

dürres Land

thirsty land

Durst

thirst

echt

genuine

edel

noble

Ehebrecher

adulterer

Ehebrecherin

adulteress

Ehebruch

adultery

Ehefrau

wife

Ehemann

husband

Ehescheidung

divorce

Ehrfurcht

awe

ehrlich

honest

ehrlich währt am längsten

honesty is the best policy

Eid

oath

Eifer

zeal

eifersüchtig

jealous (sometimes used to show that God wants us to follow him completely, without any compromise)

eigensüchtig

self-seeking

Eigenwille

self will

Eile mit Weile

more haste, less speed

eindringlich bitten

urge

einfältig

simple-minded

Eingang

entrance

eingebildet

vain

Eingebung

inspiration (unexpected insight; often used for thoughts that are believed to come directly from God)

eingegeben: von Gott eingegeben

inspired (especially used of the divine origin of the texts of the Bible)

Einheit

unity

Einigkeit macht stark

united we stand, divided we fall

Einkehrtage

retreat

Einkehrzeit

retreat

einladen

invite

Einladung

invitation

einsam

lonely

Einsamkeit

loneliness

einschließen

surround

Einwand

objection

eitel

vain

Eitelkeit

vanity

Elia

Elijah

Elisa

Elisha

Eltern

parents

Elternteil

parent

empfehlen

recommend

Empfehlung

recommendation

empfindlich (für)

sensitive (to)

Ende gut, alles gut

all’s well that ends well

enge Pforte

narrow gate/door

Engel

angel

enger Pfad

narrow path (symbol of a life-style as a follower of Christ)

entehren

dishonour (GB), dishonor (USA)

entfernen

remove

Enthaltsamkeit

temperance

enthüllen

reveal

entmutigen

discourage

Entmutigung

discouragement

Entmythologisierung

demythologism

Entrückung

Rapture (doctrine that Christians will be taken from the earth before the Last Days)

entscheiden

decide

Entscheidung

decision

Entschlossenheit

determination

enttäuschen

disappoint

Entweihung

desecration

erbaulich

edifying (encouraging, building up a person’s faith)

Erbe

heir (person); inheritance (property etc.)

erben

inherit

Erbsünde

original sin (doctrine that all men and women are sinners, and that this goes back to the sin of Adam and Eve)

erfrischen

refresh

erfüllt mit dem Heiligen Geist

filled with the Holy Spirit

ergreifen

seize

ergründen

fathom

Erlass

edict

erleuchten

enlighten, illuminate

Erlöser

redeemer, Saviour (term used for Jesus)

Erlösung

redemption (refers to the belief that Jesus has freed us from the guilt of our sin)

ermahnen

exhort

Ermahung

exhortation

ermutigen

encourage

Ermutigung

encouragement

erneuern

renew

Erneuerung

renewal (used to describe a renewed intensity of spiritual life)

Ernte

harvest

Erntedankfest

harvest festival (harvest thanksgiving celebration in the church year)

erquicken

refresh

erreichen

attain

Erscheinung

appearance

Erschöpfung

exhaustion

erschrecken

scare, frighten

Erstgeborener

firstborn (the first son had a special status in Jewish families in biblical times)

Erstlinge

firstfruits (the first part of the harvest and the first offspring of farm animals played a special role in the Old Testament)

Erwählung

election (belief that we become Christians because God has chosen us)

Erweckung

revival (especially when many people come to faith converted in a short time; sometimes used to describe personal renewal)

Erzählung

story, narration

Erzbischof/in

archbishop

Erzengel

archangel

Eschatologie

eschatology (doctrine of the final days before the second coming of Jesus)

Esel

donkey

evangelikal

conservative evangelical

Evangelisation

evangelism

evangelische (Landes-)Kirche

state church, established Protestant church

Evangelische Allianz

Evangelical Alliance

Evangelisch-Freikirchliche Gemeinde (Baptisten & Brüdergemeinden)

association of Baptist and Brethren churches in Germany

Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche (Methodisten)

Methodist church

Evangelium

gospel

Existentialismus

Existentialism

Existenz

existence

Existenz Gottes

existence of God

existieren

exist

Exorzismus

exorcism (term used for driving out evil spirits; usually in a sensationalist context)

Fähigkeit

ability

Falle

trap

fasten

fast

Faulheit

laziness

feiern

celebrate

Feige

fig

Festmahl

banquet

Festung

stronghold

Feuer

fire (sometimes used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit or of God’s judgement)

Feuersäule

pillar of fire (visible phenomenon that accompanied the Israelites under Moses on the way from Egypt to Canaan)

feurige Pfeile

fiery arrows (symbol of temptation or difficulties)

Fischer

fisher(men)

Fleischwerdung

incarnation (refers to the fact that the Son of God became human)

Fluch

curse (term used to describe misfortune, condemnation or other negative circumstances)

freier Wille

free will

Freiheit

freedom

Freiwillige/r

volunteer

Freizeit

houseparty, retreat

Freude

joy

freuen: sich freuen

rejoice

Friede

peace

Friedefürst

Prince of Peace (title used for Jesus)

Friedensbewegung

pacifist movement

Friedensstifter

peacemaker

Friedhof

cemetery

frohlocken

rejoice

fromm

pious

fromm werden

get religious

Frömmigkeit

piety

Frucht des Geistes

fruit of the Spirit (character qualities looked for in Christians)

fruchtbar

fruitful

Führung

guidance (especially used for insights from God which are helpful in making important decisions)

Fülle

fullness (often a symbol of a life style that shows the power and love of God)

Fundamentalismus

fundamentalism (movement that adheres strictly to the letter of the biblical text, largely excluding contextual questions)

für immer

for ever

Fürbitte

intercession (prayer for specific people or situations)

Fürbitte tun

intercede

Fürbitter/in

intercessor

Fußstapfen

footsteps

Gabe

gift, gifting (special ability given by God)

Gabe der Heilung

gift of healing

Garten Eden

garden of Eden (sometimes known as "paradise")

Gastfreundschaft

hospitality

Gastgeber/in

host

Gebet

prayer (speaking to God, can be aloud or silent, alone or in public)

Gebetsanliegen

prayer request

Gebetskette

prayer chain (arrangement to pass on prayer requests to others so that several people can pray for a situation)

Gebiet

territory, region

Gebot

commandment

Gebundenheit

bondage (sometimes denotes slavery to negative thoughts, habits etc.)

Gedächtnis

memory

Gedränge

crush

Geduld

patience

geduldig

patient

Gefährte

companion

gefallen

give pleasure to

Gefangene/r

prisoner

Gefängnis

prison

gefühlsmäßig

emotional

Gegenwart Gottes

presence of God

gegenwärtig

present

gehässig

spiteful

Geheimnis

secret

geheimnisvoll

mysterious

geh’ in Frieden

go in peace

gehorchen

obey

Gehorsam

obedience

Geist

spirit

Geistesgabe

spiritual gift (supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit)

Geisteskrankheit

mental illness

geistig

mental (sometimes wrongly used to mean spiritual)

geistlich

spiritual

geistliche Kampfführung

spiritual warfare (the struggle against invisible supernatural forces that oppose God)

geistliche Nahrung

spiritual food

geistlicher Hunger

spiritual hunger

Geistlichkeit

clergy (general term for ordained ministers)

gelähmt

paralysed, paralytic

Gelehrte/r

scholar

gelobtes Land

promised land (especially the land of Canaan for the Israelites under Moses)

Gelübde

vow

gemäßigt

temperate

Gemeindegründung

church planting (setting up new local churches)

Gemeindestunde

church meeting

Gemeindewachstum

church growth (growth in the quality of church life or the number of church members)

Gemeindezucht

church discipline (means used to enforce the church’s standards of morals or faith; in extreme cases exclusion from the church)

gen Himmel fahren

ascend to heaven

Generation

generation

gerade

straight; upright

gerecht

righteous

Gerechtigkeit

justice, righteousness

gerettet

saved (used especially of people who have experienced "conversion")

Gericht

judgement

Gericht: das Jüngste Gericht

the Last Judgement (final judgement of human beings after death/after the end of the world)

Gerichtsverhandlung

trial

geschaffen

created

Geschäftsleute des vollen Evangeliums

Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship (a Pentecostal/charismatic organisation)

Geschlecht

generation

geschlechtlich

sexual

Gesetz

law

Gesetzestafeln

tablets of the law (the stone tablets received by Moses)

Gespenst

ghost

gesund

healthy

Gesundheit

health

gewaltfrei

non-violent

Gewaltfreiheit

non-violence

gewalttätig

violent

Gewalttätigkeit

violence

Gewand

robe

Gewicht

weight

Gewissen

conscience

Gewitter

thunderstorm

gießen

pour

Gift

poison

Gitarre

guitar

Glanz

splendour 

glänzen

shine

Gläserrücken

ouija board (occult method of communicating with spirits)

Glaubensbekenntnis

creed (short statement of the most important elements of the faith)

Glaubensbewegung

faith movement (a movement that emphasises belief in miracles through prayer)

Glaubensschritt

bold step of faith

Glaubenstaufe

believer’s baptism

gläubig: er/sie ist gläubig

he/she is a believer

glaubwürdig

credible

Glaubwürdigkeit

credibility

gleich

equal

gleichfalls

likewise

gleichgültig

indifferent

Gleichgültigkeit

indifference

Gleichheit

equality

Gleichnis

parable (story with a deeper meaning told by Jesus)

Gnadauer Verband

conservative evangelical movement in Germany

Gnade

grace (undeserved forgiveness and love)

gnadenlos

ruthless

Golgatha

Calvary (place where Jesus was executed)

Gott

God

Gottesdienst

church service

gottesfürchtig

God-fearing

Gottheit

deity, divinity, godhead

göttlich

divine

göttliche Fügung

divine dispensation

gottlos

ungodly

Gottvater

God the Father

Götze

idol, false god

Götzenbild

graven image

Götzendienst

idolatry

Grab

grave, tomb

Greuel

abomination

Groll

grudge

großzügig

generous

Grube

pit

Grundsatz

principle

Gruppe

group

Grußwort

word of greeting

Güte

goodness

Haare (pl.)

hair (sing.)

Habgier

greed

habgierig

greedy

Hafen

harbour 

Haltung

attitude

Händler/in

trader

Harfe

harp

harmlos

harmless

hart

hard

Hass

hate

hassen

hate

Hausbibelkreis

home Bible study

Hausgemeinde

house church (home-based fellowship of Christians without organised church structures)

Hauskreis

home group, house group (group of Christians who meet regularly in a home to pray, read the Bible and share together)

Hefe

yeast

Heide/Heidin

heathen, pagan (originally a non-Jewish person; now sometimes used for non-believers)

Heidentum

paganism

Heil

salvation (refers to the fact that Christians are accepted by God)

heil

whole, healthy (in mind and body)

heilen

heal

heilig

holy (the purity and perfection of God)

Heilige Schrift

Holy Scripture, Bible

Heilige/r

saint (a general term for Christians in the New Testament, now often used of people with special spiritual merit; especially after they die)

heiligen

sanctify

Heiliger Geist

Holy Spirit

Heiligkeit

holiness

Heiligtum

sanctuary (consecrated section of a church or other consecrated building)

Heiligung

sanctification (progressive improvement of the spiritual quality of a Christian’s life)

Heilsarmee

Salvation Army

Heilung

healing

Heilung durch den Glauben

faith healing (supernatural healing as an answer to prayer)

Heilungsdienst

healing ministry

Heimgang (veraltet/antiquated)

death

heimlich

secret

heimzahlen

punish

heiraten

marry

Helm des Heils

helmet of salvation

herabsteigen

descend

Herausforderung

challenge

Herde

flock (often a symbol of the church)

Herr

Lord (title used for God)

Herrschaft

rule, dominion

herrschen

rule, reign

Herz

heart

Heuchler/in

hypocrite

Heuschrecke

locust

Hexe

witch

Hexerei

witchcraft

Hilfe

help

Himmel

heaven

Himmelfahrt

ascension, Ascension Day

Himmelreich

kingdom of heaven

himmlisch

heavenly

himmlischer Vater

heavenly Father

Hindernis

obstacle

Hingabe

commitment

hingeben

surrender

Hinterlist

trickery

hinterlistig

deceitful

hinzufügen

add

Hirte

shepherd, pastor

Hirtendienst

shepherding, pastoral ministry

Hochamt

high mass (service in the Catholic church)

Hochmut

pride

höchste Priorität

top priority

Hochzeit

wedding

Hoffnungslosigkeit 

hopelessness

Höhepunkt

climax

Höhepunkt

culmination

Hoher Priester

high priest (leader in the Jewish religious hierarchy at the time of Jesus)

hohl

hollow

Höhle

cave

Hohn

scorn

Hölle

hell (place of condemnation and eternal separation from God)

Holz

wood

Honig

honey

hören

hear (often a symbol of obedience to God)

Horn

horn

hungrig

hungry

Hure

prostitute

Ichsucht

selfishness

Identität

identity

immerdar

for ever and ever

in Ewigkeit

for ever and ever

innere Heilung

inner healing (healing of emotional wounds)

innere Reinheit

inward purity

innig(lich) (veraltet/antiquated)

with intensely personal devotion

inwendig

inner, subjective

irdenes Gefäß

earthen vessel (metaphor for our imperfect nature as Christians)

irdisch

earthly

Irre: in die Irre gehen

go astray

irregeleitet

misled

Irrlehre

false teaching

Irrlehrer

false teacher, heretic

Israelit/in; israelitisch

Israelite

Jahresgemeindestunde

AGM (annual general meeting)

Jahreszeit

season

Jähzorn

bad/hot temper

Jakobus

James

Jammertal (veraltet/antiquated)

miserable earthly life

jemals

ever

Jesus

Jesus

Joch

yoke

Jubeljahr

year of Jubilee (Old Testament arrangement to cancel old debts)

Judas Ischariot

Judas Iscariot

Jude/Jüdin

Jew

jüdisch

Jewish

Jugendarbeit

youth work

Jugendgruppe

youth fellowship

Jugendpastor/in

youth minister

Jungfrau

virgin

Jungfrau Maria

Virgin Mary

Jüngstes Gericht

Last Judgement (final judgement after death / the end of the world)

Kamel

camel

Kämmerlein (veraltet/antiquated)

“closet”, room (private place for prayer)

Kampf

fight

kämpfen

fight

kämpfen

struggle

Kanon

canon (definition of which documents form part of the Bible)

Kanzel

pulpit

Kapelle

chapel (small church building, often free church)

Kapitel

chapter (sub-division of text in the Bible)

Kaplan

chaplain

Kassierer/in

treasurer

Katastrophe

disaster

Kehle

throat

Kelch

cup, chalice (in the communion service)

Ketzer/in

heretic

Ketzerei

heresy, false teaching

Keyboard

keyboard

kirchenfern

unchurched

Kirchengeschichte

church history

Kirchensteuer

church tax (contributions to the established churches in Germany are collected as a tax by the secular tax authorities)

Kirchentag

large, popular national conference held by the Catholic and Protestant churches in Germany

klatschen

clap (hands)

kleine Propheten

minor prophets (12 shorter prophetic books at the end of the Old Testament and the prophets they are named after)

Kleinglauben

small faith

Knechtschaft

servitude, slavery

Knie

knee

Kollekte

offering (collection of money in a church service)

Kommentar

commentary (book containing background information and explanations for books of the Bible)

Konfession

denomination (especially used of the established Catholic and Protestant churches)

Konfirmation

Confirmation (service in which young people formally confirm their faith in the established Protestant church at the age of 13 or 14)

König

king

Königin

queen

königlich

royal

Königreich

kingdom (used to designate the rule of God in this life or the life to come)

Konkordanz

concordance (reference work to help find where specific words occur in the Bible)

Koran

Koran (the holy book of Islam)

kostbar

precious, valuable

kostbare Perle

pearl of great price

Kraft

power , strength

Krähe

crow

krank

ill

Krankenhaus

hospital

Krankheit

illness

Kreationismus

creationism (belief that the world and all life forms were created in just seven days)

Kreuz

cross (wooden structure used for execution in the Roman Empire)

kreuzigen

crucify (execute on a cross)

Kreuzigung

crucifixion (execution on a cross)

Krieg

war

Krone

crown (symbol of the majesty of Christ)

krumm

crooked

Küster/in

verger

Labsal (veraltet/antiquated)

balm

lachen

laugh

lähmen

paralyse

Laie

lay person (person who is not an ordained minister)

Laienprediger/in

lay preacher (preacher who is not an ordained minister)

Laienschaft

laity

Lamm

lamb (animal used for sacrifices in the Old Testament, symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus)

Lampe

lamp

Lampenständer

lampstand

Landeskirche

state church, established Protestant church

Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft

evangelical fellowship with links to the state church

Last

burden

läutern

refine, purify

Lautsprecheranlage

PA (public address) system

Leben

life

lebendig

alive

lebendiges Wasser

living water (symbol of the inner life God gives to Christians)

lebensspendend

life-giving

Ledergürtel

leather belt

leer

empty

Leere

emptiness

Lehre

doctrine, teaching

lehren

teach, instruct

Lehrer/in

teacher

Lehrgang

training course, seminar

Leib Christi

body of Christ (collective term for Christians)

Leib: „Dies ist mein Leib“

“This is my body” (words used by Jesus to explain the meaning of the bread at the Last Supper)

leiden

suffer

Leidenschaft

passion

leidenschaftlich

passionate

Leier

lyre

leihen

lend

Leinwand

screen

Leiter/in

leader

Lektor/in

lay reader (especially in the established Protestant church)

Lenden

loins

lesbisch

lesbian

letzte Ölung

extreme unction (sacrament in the Catholic church)

leugnen

deny

Leugnung

denial

Leviten

Levites (descendants of Levi, responsible for ceremonial services in the Jewish temple)

Licht

light

Liebe

love

Liebe Gemeinde

Dear friends

Liebe macht blind

love is blind

lieben

love

lieblos

unloving

Lied

song

Lippe

lip

Lippenbekenntnis

lip service (dishonest claim to believe something)

List

scheme, trickery

Litanei

litany (series of responses within the liturgy)

Liturgie

liturgy (fixed sequence of words/events in church services)

loben

praise

Lobpreis

praise

Lobpreis und Anbetung

praise and worship

Lobpreismarsch

praise march (street procession with songs of praise etc.)

Lösegeld

ransom

Losung

Bible verse for the day/week etc.

Lösung

solution

loswerden

get rid of

Löwe

lion

Löwin

lioness

Lüge

lie

lüstern

lustful

Lutheraner/in; lutherisch

Lutheran (the established Protestant church in Germany)

Luthertum

Lutheranism

mächtig

mighty

machtvoll

powerful

Magie 

magic, sorcery

Mangel

lack

männlich

male

Maria Himmelfahrt

Assumption of Mary (date in the Catholic church year)

Marsch für Jesus

march for Jesus (large procession with songs of praise, public proclamation etc.)

Maske

mask

Matthäus

Matthew

Mauer

wall

Meditation

meditation

Meinung

opinion

Meinungsverschiedenheit

disagreement

Meister

master

Menschenmenge

crowd

Menschheit

humanity

menschlich

human

Messdiener/in

altar boy/girl (helper in church services, usually in the Catholic church)

Messe

mass (Catholic church service)

Methodistengemeinde

Methodist church

Mietling (veraltet/antiquated)

hired servant

Mikrophon

microphone

Minderheit

minority

Minderjährige/r

minor

Mischpult

sound desk

Missbrauch

abuse

missbrauchen

misuse, abuse

Misserfolg

failure

Mission

evangelism (activities to communicate the message of Jesus to others)

Missionar/in

missionary

missionarisch

evangelistic

Missionsbefehl

great commission (task given by Jesus to gain followers for him throughout the world)

Missionsfeld

mission field (areas in which the message of Jesus is not well known)

Missionsgesellschaft

missionary society (organisation that recruits missionaries and sends them to the mission field)

Missionswerk

evangelistic organization

misstrauisch

mistrustful

Mitglied

member

Mitleid

compassion, pity, sympathy

Mittelmeer

Mediterranean Sea

möglich

possible

moralische Werte

moral values

Mord

murder

Morgendämmerung

dawn

Mühlheimer Verband Freikirchlich-Evangelischer Gemeinden

(Association of free evangelical/charmismatic churches)

Mund

mouth

Mund-zu-Mund Propaganda

the "grapevine"

murren

complain, protest

Muster

pattern

Mut

courage

Mutter

mother

Mutterleib

womb

Muttertag

Mothering Sunday, Mothers' Day

Mystik

mysticism

Mystiker/in

mystic

Nachbar/in

neighbour 

nachdenklich

thoughtful

Nachfolger/in

successor

nachgeben

give in, give way

nachjagen

pursue

Nachkommen

descendants

Nacht

night

Nagel

nail

Naherwartung

expectation that Jesus will soon return

Nahrung

food

Narr/Närrin

fool (sometimes used in the Bible to refer to someone who does not take God seriously)

natürlich

natural (sometimes used in opposition to “spiritual”)

Nazarener

Nazarene

Neid

envy

neidisch

envious

neue Schöpfung

new creation (description of the renewed character of a person who has begun to follow Christ)

Neues Testament

New Testament (the part of the Bible written after the life of Christ)

neutrale/r Beobachter/in

outside observer

Nichtigkeit

vanity, meaninglessness

Niederlage

defeat

Nihilismus

nihilism (belief that life is futile and religious beliefs are meaningless)

nützlich

useful

nutzlos

useless