Glossar: christliche Begriffe

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Dieses Glossar basiert auf der Buchausgabe: »Wörterbuch für Travel-Christen« (Josef Waßen/Victor Dewsbery, Projektion J, 1994), das nicht mehr lieferbar ist. Die hier vorliegende Fassung wurde von Victor Dewsbery überarbeitet. Veröffentlicht mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Josef Waßen und Projektion J.

  This glossary is based on the book edition: »Dictionary for Travelling Christians« (Josef Waßen/Victor Dewsbery, Projektion J, 1994), which is no longer in print. The version here has been revised by Victor Dewsbery. Published with the kind permission of Josef Waßen and Projektion J.

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