Level 3 — Intermediate (CEFR: B1)
Unit 13 — Core Ministry Vocabulary for Listening Comprehension
Lesson 4 — The Bible and Theology
Lesson Overview
Level: 3 — Intermediate Unit: 13 — Core Ministry Vocabulary for Listening Comprehension Lesson: 4 of 6 Estimated Time: 60 minutes
What this lesson covers:
- 15 core Bible and theology terms from the curriculum
- Terms for the Bible itself and its structure
- Terms for theological concepts that appear in expository preaching
- How these terms function in expository sermons, Bible studies, and theological discussion
- Speed recognition drill
Terms for the Bible and Its Structure
la Biblia — the Bible
The Christian scriptures. In ministry speech it is often referred to simply as la Biblia or la Palabra (the Word).
English: the Bible In phrases: leer la Biblia → to read the Bible; la autoridad de la Biblia → the authority of the Bible; la Biblia dice → the Bible says
las Escrituras — the Scriptures
A more formal term for the Bible, equivalent to “the Scriptures” or “Holy Scripture.” Often used in theological and expository contexts.
English: the Scriptures / Scripture In phrases: según las Escrituras → according to the Scriptures; el cumplimiento de las Escrituras → the fulfillment of the Scriptures; escudriñar las Escrituras → to search the Scriptures
el Antiguo Testamento — the Old Testament
The Hebrew scriptures — the 39 books of the Jewish canon, accepted by Christians as part of the Bible.
English: the Old Testament Abbreviation in speech: el AT In phrases: el énfasis del Antiguo Testamento en la ley → the Old Testament emphasis on the law
el Nuevo Testamento — the New Testament
The 27 books of the Christian canon, from Matthew through Revelation.
English: the New Testament Abbreviation in speech: el NT In phrases: la iglesia del Nuevo Testamento → the New Testament church
el versículo — the verse
A numbered division of a chapter within a biblical book.
English: the verse In phrases: el versículo tres → verse three; memorizar versículos → to memorize verses; citar un versículo → to quote a verse
Common usage in sermon: Abran sus Biblias en Juan capítulo tres, versículo dieciséis. → Open your Bibles to John chapter three, verse sixteen.
el capítulo — the chapter
A numbered division of a biblical book.
English: the chapter In phrases: el capítulo cinco → chapter five; leer el capítulo completo → to read the whole chapter
el libro — the book
One of the 66 books of the Bible (or the broader library sense). Also used for any book.
English: the book In phrases: el libro de los Salmos → the book of Psalms; el libro de Apocalipsis → the book of Revelation; cada libro de la Biblia → every book of the Bible
el pasaje — the passage
A section of scripture — longer than a verse, shorter than a chapter.
English: the passage In phrases: el pasaje de esta mañana → this morning’s passage; un pasaje difícil de entender → a difficult passage to understand; leer el pasaje en contexto → to read the passage in context
la parábola — the parable
A short story or extended metaphor used by Jesus to teach spiritual truths.
English: the parable In phrases: la parábola del hijo pródigo → the parable of the prodigal son; las parábolas del reino → the parables of the kingdom; explicar una parábola → to explain a parable
Terms for Theological Concepts
la profecía — prophecy
Both predictive prophecy (foretelling future events) and forth-telling prophecy (declaring God’s word to a situation). Also refers to the spiritual gift of prophecy.
English: prophecy In phrases: el cumplimiento de la profecía → the fulfillment of prophecy; el don de profecía → the gift of prophecy; hablar profecía → to speak prophecy
el cumplimiento — fulfillment
The completion or realization of something promised or foretold — especially prophecy fulfilled in Christ.
English: fulfillment In phrases: el cumplimiento de la ley → the fulfillment of the law; en cumplimiento de las Escrituras → in fulfillment of the Scriptures; Cristo es el cumplimiento → Christ is the fulfillment
la revelación — revelation
God’s act of making Himself and His will known. Both general revelation (creation) and special revelation (Scripture).
English: revelation In phrases: la revelación de Dios → the revelation of God; la revelación especial → special revelation; el libro de la Revelación (rarely used — el Apocalipsis is more common for the book)
Note: The book of Revelation is most commonly called el Apocalipsis in Spanish, not la Revelación.
la inspiración — inspiration
The divine process by which the Bible was produced — the breath of God in the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16).
English: inspiration In phrases: la inspiración de las Escrituras → the inspiration of the Scriptures; toda Escritura es inspirada por Dios → all Scripture is inspired by God; la doctrina de la inspiración → the doctrine of inspiration
la doctrina — doctrine / teaching
A formal statement or body of teaching on a specific theological topic.
English: doctrine / teaching In phrases: la sana doctrina → sound doctrine; enseñar doctrina → to teach doctrine; las doctrinas fundamentales → the fundamental doctrines; una doctrina falsa → false doctrine
la hermenéutica — hermeneutics
The science and art of biblical interpretation — the principles by which Scripture is understood.
English: hermeneutics / biblical interpretation In phrases: los principios de la hermenéutica → the principles of hermeneutics; una buena hermenéutica exige contexto → good hermeneutics requires context
Note: la hermenéutica is academic vocabulary. In a sermon context it may appear in theologically sophisticated preaching. An interpreter may render it as “biblical interpretation” if the audience is likely unfamiliar with the technical term.
Expository Preaching Phrases
These terms cluster in expository sermons. The interpreter who knows them can follow the logical flow of biblical exposition:
Abran sus Biblias en [libro] capítulo [número], versículo [número]. — Open your Bibles to [book] chapter [number], verse [number]. El pasaje que vemos esta mañana se encuentra en el Nuevo Testamento. — The passage we are looking at this morning is found in the New Testament. La doctrina de la justificación está anclada en las Escrituras. — The doctrine of justification is anchored in the Scriptures. Esta profecía del Antiguo Testamento encontró su cumplimiento en Cristo. — This Old Testament prophecy found its fulfillment in Christ. Para entender bien este versículo, necesitamos buena hermenéutica. — To understand this verse well, we need good hermeneutics / good biblical interpretation. La parábola del sembrador aparece en los tres evangelios sinópticos. — The parable of the sower appears in all three synoptic gospels. Toda la doctrina de la expiación está construida sobre las Escrituras. — The entire doctrine of atonement is built on the Scriptures.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 — Speed Recognition Drill
A partner reads terms randomly. You produce the English in under 2 seconds:
el versículo, las Escrituras, la parábola, la hermenéutica, el cumplimiento, la inspiración, la doctrina, el pasaje, la revelación, el Antiguo Testamento
Reverse direction.
Exercise 2 — Scripture Reference Interpretation
A partner calls out scripture references and expository phrases in Spanish. You interpret immediately:
Abran sus Biblias en Romanos capítulo cinco, versículo uno. → Open your Bibles to Romans chapter five, verse one. El capítulo tres de Juan contiene la enseñanza más clara sobre el nuevo nacimiento. → Chapter three of John contains the clearest teaching on the new birth. Este pasaje del Antiguo Testamento es una profecía mesiánica. → This Old Testament passage is a messianic prophecy. El versículo dieciséis es uno de los más conocidos de toda la Biblia. → Verse sixteen is one of the best-known in all the Bible.
Exercise 3 — Expository Sermon Interpretation
Interpret the following expository passage consecutively:
Esta mañana vamos a estudiar un pasaje del Nuevo Testamento — Efesios capítulo dos, versículos uno al diez. Antes de leerlo, quiero que entiendan el contexto. Las Escrituras aquí presentan una de las doctrinas más importantes de la Biblia: la salvación por gracia. Esta no es una idea nueva — es el cumplimiento de lo que Dios prometió desde el Antiguo Testamento. La inspiración de este pasaje nos lleva a una verdad fundamental: no somos salvos por obras. La hermenéutica correcta de este texto no permite otra conclusión. Lean el versículo ocho conmigo: “Porque por gracia sois salvos por medio de la fe.”
Target:
This morning we are going to study a passage from the New Testament — Ephesians chapter two, verses one through ten. Before we read it, I want you to understand the context. The Scriptures here present one of the most important doctrines in the Bible: salvation by grace. This is not a new idea — it is the fulfillment of what God promised since the Old Testament. The inspiration of this passage leads us to a fundamental truth: we are not saved by works. The correct interpretation of this text does not allow any other conclusion. Read verse eight with me: “For by grace you are saved through faith.”
Exercise 4 — Vocabulary Chain
Without notes, produce a continuous 6-sentence expository introduction in Spanish that uses at least 10 terms from this lesson. Then interpret it aloud.
Key Takeaways for This Lesson
Before moving to Lesson 5:
- las Escrituras = “the Scriptures” — more formal than la Biblia, same referent
- el versículo = the verse; el capítulo = the chapter; el pasaje = the passage — know all three
- la profecía = prophecy; el cumplimiento = fulfillment — these pair constantly in preaching
- la hermenéutica is technical — may be rendered as “biblical interpretation” depending on audience
- The book of Revelation = el Apocalipsis (not la Revelación)
Daily Practice
Each day: read one Bible verse in Spanish aloud, identifying at least one term from this lesson that appears in the verse or passage. Interpret the verse into English.
After one week: 7 verses interpreted, all 15 terms reviewed in context.