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Glossary of Religion and Faiths

Religious, Biblical, and Scriptural Vocabulary

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   Relig. Glossary 1 > Relig. Glossary 2 > Bibel - Weihnachten (Christmas)

  Noun genders are indicated by: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
  Abbreviations: adj. (adjective), Cath. (Catholic), n. (noun), obs. (obsolete, outdated), pl. (plural), Prot. (Protestant), sing. (singular), v. (verb); plural forms are indicated in ( ): r Muslim (-s), e Nonne (-n)


Religious Glossary > A-K > L-Z

A

A and O, the  das A and O, das Alpha und Omega

Ich bin das Alpha und das Omega, der Anfang und das Ende, der Erste und der Letzte. (I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.) - Revelation 22:13

abbot  r Abt

ablution  e Waschung

absolution  e Absolution, e Lossprechung

Acts (The Acts of the Apostles)  die Apostelgeschichte des Lukas

Names of the Books of the Bible
Listed in English and German.

A.D. (Lat., anno Domini)  n. Chr. (nach Christigeburt, year of our Lord)

adherent  r Anhänger (-)

Advent  r Advent - See: Advent and Christmas

Adventist  r Adventist

afterlife, the  s Leben nach dem Tod

Almighty, the  r Allmächtige
Almighty God  r Allmächtige, allmächtiger Gott (in prayer)

Alpha und Omega, the  das Alpha und Omega, das A and O (see comment above)

Allah  r Allah

altar  r Altar

angel  r Engel (-)
  archangel  r Erzengelf

Antichrist  r Antichrist

Apocalypse  e Apokalypse
apocalyptic  apokalyptisch

apostle  r Apostel (-)
  Apostles' Creed  das Apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis
apostolic  apostolisch
  apostolic succession  e apostolische Nachfolge
  Apostolic See  r Apostolische Stuhl

arch- (noun prefix)  Erz-
archangel  r Erzengel
archbishop  r Erzbischof
archdiocese  e Erzdiözese, s Erzbistum

ark  e Arche
Ark of the Covenant  e Bundeslade
  Noah's Ark  e Arche Noah

Ascension, the  e Christi Himmelfahrt
Ascension Day  e Himmelfahrt, r Himmelfahrtstag (40 days after Easter)
  See: Holiday Calendar

Assumption, the  e Mariä Himmelfahrt
Assumption Day  e Mariä Himmelfahrt (August 15)
  See: Holiday Calendar 2

atheism  r Atheismus
atheist adj.  atheistisch
atheist n.  r Atheist/e Atheistin
atheistic  atheistisch

Augsburg Confession (1530)  e Augsburger (Augsburgische) Bekenntnis (Konfession)

The Augsburg Confession (A.B.) is the official Lutheran Protestant declaration of faith - in Latin and German - issued on 25 June 1530 in Augsburg, Bavaria.

Ave Maria (Hail Mary)  s Ave-Maria

B

Babel, The Tower of  r Turmbau zu Babel (story)

Babylon  s Babylon

baptism  e Taufe
baptismal name  r Taufname
Baptist  r Baptist/e Baptistin
Baptist Church  e Baptistengemeinde
  John the Baptist  Johannes der Täufer
baptize, christen v.  taufen

B.C  v. Chr. (vor Christigeburt - before Christ)
B.C.E.  v.u.Z. (vor unserer Zeitrechnung, Before the Commmon Era, B.C.)

beatific  glückselig, himmlisch (vision)
beatification  e Seligsprechung
beatify  selig sprechen, beatifizieren
beatitude  e Glückseligkeit (-en)
Beatitudes, the  die Seligpreisungen (pl., Bible)

Benedict  Benedikt - See: German Cardinal Ratzinger Becomes Pope Benedict XVI - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger succeeded John Paul II as pope in 2005.
  Benedictine Order  r Benediktinerorden

Bible  e Bibel
  Bible verse, verse of the Bible  r Bibelspruch

biblical, scriptural adj.  biblisch

bishop  r Bischof
  Note: In chess, the bishop is called der Läufer (the runner).
bishopric  s Bistum (district)
bishopric  s Bischofsamt (office)

blaspheme v.  (Gott) lästern
blasphemer  r Gotteslästerer, e Gotteslästererin
blasphemous adj.  blasphemisch, lästerlich
blasphemy  e Blasphemie, e Gotteslästerung

blessed adj.  gesegnet

blessing n.  r Segen, e Segnung

born-again adj.  wieder geboren
born-again Christian n.  der wieder geborene Christ

Buddha  r Buddha (-s)
Buddhism n.  r Buddhismus
Buddhist(ic) adj.  buddhistisch
Buddhist n.  r Buddhist, e Buddhistin

C

canon  r Kanon (-s)
canon law  kanonisches Recht
canonical  kanonisch

cantor  r Kantor

Capuchin  r Kapuziner (member of the Capuchin order of monks)

cardinal  r Kardinal
  See: German Cardinal Ratzinger Becomes Pope Benedict XVI

catechism  r Katechismus

cathedral  r Dom, e Kathedrale

Catholic adj.  katholisch
  Catholic Church  e katholische Kirche

C.E. (Common Era)  n.u.Z. (nach unserer Zeitrechnung, "after our time-reckoning" (A.D.)

chalice, communion cup  r Kelch (-e)

choir  r Chor, r Kirchenchor (church choir)

Christ  r Christus

christen, baptize v.  taufen

Christendom  e Christenheit

Christian adj.  christlich
Christian n.  r Christ, e Christin

Christianity  e Christenheit

Christmas  s Weihnachten (sing., pl.), die Weihnacht (obs.)
   Also see: Die Bibel - Weihnachten (Christmas)

Chronicles  Chronik (See Books of the Bible)

church  e Kirche, e Gemeinde (congregation, parish)
church bell  e Kirchenglocke
church register  s Kirchenbuch
church service  r Gottesdienst
church steeple  r Kirchturm

coming (of the Lord)  e Ankunft (des Herrn)
  second coming, the  e Wiederkunft (des Herrn)

communion  s Abendmahl (Prot.), e Kommunion (Cath.)
  Holy Communion  das heilige Abendmahl/die heilige Kommunion
communion cup, chalice  r Kelch (-e)

confess (to priest)  beichten
confess one's sins  beichten, die Sünden bekennen
confession (of sins)  e Beichte
confession (faith)  e Konfession, s Bekenntnis
confessional n.  r Beichtstuhl
  the secrecy of the confessional  s Beichtgeheimnis
confessor (priest)  r Beichtvater
confessor (to priest)  r Bekenner

confirmation  e Firmung (Cath.), e Konfirmation (Prot.)

Confucianism  r Konfuzianismus
Confucius  r Konfuzius (Lat. form of Kong Fuzi, a Chinese philosopher who lived around 500 B.C.E.)

congregation  e Gemeinde

Corinthians  Korinther (See Books of the Bible)

creation  e Schöpfung, e Kreation
  the Creation  e Schöpfung
  the day of the Creation  r Schöpfungstag
  the story of the Creation  e Schöpfungsgeschichte
creationism  r Kreationismus
creationist  r Kreationist

Creator, the  r Schöpfer, e Schöpferin
  I thank my Creator/Maker.  Ich danke meinem Schöpfer.

crèche  e Krippe

cross, Cross n.  s Kreuz
  make the sign of the Cross  das Kreuzzeichen machen

crucifix  s Kruzifix
crucifixion  e Kreuzigung
crucify v.  kreuzigen

curate  r Kurat (-en)

D

deacon  r Diakon, r Kirchenälteste (elder)

death  r Tod (pron. dare TOTE)

Decalogue, the Ten Commandments  Die zehn Gebote

demon  r Dämon (-en)
demonic  dämonisch
demonism  r Dämonismus
demonize  dämonisieren
demonized  dämonisiert

Deuteronomy  das fünfte Buch Mose (Deuteronomium) (See Books of the Bible)

devil  r Teufel (pron. dare TOY-fel)

diocese  e Diözese, s Bistum (bishopric)

disciple  r Jünger (-)

divine adj.  göttlich
divinity n.  e Gottheit
  Doctor of Divinity  r Doktor der Theologie

doomsday  r Jüngste Tag

doxology  e Lobpreisung, e Verherrlichung Gottes

E

Easter  s Ostern

Ecclesiastes  Der Prediger Salomo (Kohelet)

ecumenical  ökumenisch
ecumenicism  r Ökumenismus

elder  r Kirchenälteste (church deacon)

Elijah  Elija, Elias

Epistle  r Brief, r Epistel
  The General Epistle of James  Der Brief des Jakobus

Eucharist  r Abendmahlsgottesdienst (service), e Eucharistie

eternal adj.  ewig
Eternal, the  s Ewige (God)
eternal life  s ewige Leben
eternity  e Ewigkeit

ethical adj.  ethetisch
ethics  e Ethik (sing. in German)

evil, wicked adj.   böse
evil n.   s Böse

evolution  e Evolution
  theory of evolution  e Evolutionstheorie

excommunicate v.  exkommunizieren
excommunication n.  e Exkommunikation, r Kirchenbann

Exodus  das zweite Buch Mose (2. Mose) (Second Book of Moses), r Exodus
Exodus, the  der Exodus (of the Israelites)

exorcism  r Exorzismus, e Geisterbeschwörung
exorcist  r Exorzist
exorcize v.  exorzieren

Ezekiel  Hesekiel, Ezechiel

F

faith (religion)  r Glaube, s Bekenntnis
faith in God  s Gottvertrauen
faithful adj.  gläubig, treu
  the faithful pl.  die Gläubigen

fellowship  e Gemeinschaft

fisher of men  r Menschenfischer

flock, fold  e Herde, e Gemeinde
  return to the fold  in den Schoß der Gemeinde zurückkehren

forgive  vergeben
forgiveness (of sins)  e Vergebung (der Sünden)

G

Galilee  (das) Galiläa
  Sea of Galilee  der See Genezareth

Genesis  Das erste Buch Mose (1. Mose) (First Book of Moses, see Books of the Bible)

genuflect v.  eine Kniebeuge machen
genuflection n.  e Kniebeuge

Gloria Patri  Das Gloria Patri (prayer to the Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost)

glorification (of God)  r Lobpreis, e Verherrlichung

glory (celestial bliss)  e Herrlichkeit
glory (praise)  e Ehre
  Glory to God in the Highest!  Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe!
  Christ in glory  Christ in seiner Herrlichkeit
  the saints in glory  die Heiligen in der himmlischen Herrlichkeit

God, god  r Gott
gods  e Götter
  the Greek gods  die griechischen Götter

golden rule, the  e goldene Regel

good and evil  Gut und Böse
Good Friday  r Karfreitag (Friday before Easter)
  See: Holiday Calendar 3
Good Samaritan, the  r barmherzige Samariter
Good Shepherd, the  r Gute Hirte

grace (prayer)  s Tischgebet
  to say grace  das Tischgebet sprechen
grace (mercy)  e Gnade
  Mary full of grace  Maria voll der Gnade
  Note: Prayer of the Rosary/das Rosenkranzgebet: (excerpt) "Gegrüsset seist Du, Maria, voll der Gnade, der Herr ist mit Dir." (Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.)

Greek (language)  Griechisch, griechische Sprache

Greek Orthodox Church  e griechisch-orthodoxe Kirche

H

Hail Mary (Ave Maria)  s Ave-Maria
Hail, Mary, full of grace  Gegrüsset seist Du, Maria, voll der Gnade

hallelujah  s Halleluja

heal v.  heilen
healer  r Heiler, e Heilerin
healing  e Heilung

heaven  r Himmel
  go to heaven  in den Himmel kommen
  in heaven  im Himmel
  in the sky  am Himmel (Himmel can mean 'sky' or 'heaven')
heavenly  himmlisch
  heavenly host  die himmlischen Heerscharen (pl.)

Hebrew (language)  s Hebräisch
Hebrew (person)  r Hebräer, e Hebräerin
Hebrews (Bible)  die Hebräer
  The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews  Der Brief an die Hebräer

hell  e Hölle

hereresy  e Ketzerei (-en), e Häresie
heretic  r Ketzer/e Ketzerin, r Häretiker/e Häretikerin
heretical adj.  ketzerisch, häretisch

Hindu adj.  hinduistisch
Hindu n.  r Hindu (-s)
Hinduism n.  r Hinduismus

holy adj.  heilig
  holy of holies   s Allerheiligste

Holy Communion  das heilige Abendmahl/die heilige Kommunion
Holy Father, the  der Heilige Vater
Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit  der Heilige Geist
Holy Grail, the  der heilige Gral
Holy Land, the  das Heilige Land
holy orders  e Priesterweihe
Holy See, the  der Heilige Stuhl
Holy Sepulchre, the  das Heilige Grab
Holy Spirit, the  der Heilige Geist
holy war  r heilige Krieg
holy water  s Weihwasser, heiliges Wasser
Holy Week  die Karwoche

Hosea   Hosea

I

Immaculate Conception, the  die Unbefleckte Empfängnis

infidel  r/e Ungläubige (-n)
  an infidel m./f.  ein Ungläubiger/eine Ungläubige

infidelity  e Untreue

Isaiah  Jesaja

Islam  r Islam
Islamic adj.  islamisch

Israel  s Israel
Israeli adj.  israelisch
Israeli (person)  r/e Israeli

Israelites  die Israeliten (pl.)

J

James  Jakobus, Jakob
  The General Epistle of James  Der Brief des Jakobus

Jehovah  Jehova, Jahwe
Jehovah's Witness  r Zeuge Jehovas, e Zeugin Jehovas

Jeremiah  Der Prophet Jeremia

Jerusalem  s Jerusalem

Jesus (Christ)  Jesus (Christus), Jesu (Christi)

Jew n.  r Jude, e Jüdin (Jewess)
Jewish adj.  jüdisch, hebräisch
Jewry adj.  das jüdische Volk, die Juden (pl.)

Job  Hiob

John  Johannes
John Paul II  Johannes Paul II. (der Zweite = the second)
  Pope John Paul II  Papst Johannes Paul II.

Jonah  Jona

Joseph  Joseph - See: German Cardinal Ratzinger Becomes Pope Benedict XVI - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger succeeded John Paul II as pope.

Joshua  Josua

Judaea  (das) Judäa, das jüdische Lande

Judas  Judas

Judges (Bible)  Richter

judgment  s Gericht
Judgment Day, Day of Judgment, The Last Judgment  der Tag des Jüngsten Gerichtes

K

kingdom of heaven  s Himmelreich

Kings (Bible)  Könige

Koran (Quran)  r Koran

Kyrie Eleison  s Kyrie Eleison (from the Greek for "Lord, have mercy")


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