Protestant / evangelical
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Protestant
Relating to the Protestant denomination, which goes back to Martin Luther's Reformation and is one of the two major Christian churches in Germany.
Er ist Pfarrer in einer evangelischen Kirchengemeinde.
He is a pastor in a Protestant parish.
evangelical
Relating to the Gospels of the New Testament or corresponding to their teaching. This meaning is usually theological.
Der evangelische Grundsatz der Nächstenliebe ist zentral für den Glauben.
The evangelical principle of charity is central to the faith.
The word 'evangelisch' (Protestant/evangelical) is derived from 'das Evangelium' (the Gospel), which means 'the good news' and refers to the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. This origin explains the religious meaning of the word.
Die Predigt basierte auf einem Text aus dem Evangelium.
The sermon was based on a text from the Gospel.
In everyday language, 'evangelisch' (Protestant) usually refers to the Protestant church. Common combinations are 'die evangelische Kirche' (the Protestant church), 'der evangelische Glaube' (the Protestant faith), 'ein evangelischer Feiertag' (a Protestant holiday), or 'evangelisch getauft sein' (to be baptized Protestant).
Der Reformationstag ist in einigen Bundesländern ein evangelischer Feiertag.
Reformation Day is a Protestant holiday in some German federal states.
To express one's religious affiliation, the adjective is used predicatively. The question is often 'Sind Sie evangelisch oder katholisch?' (Are you Protestant or Catholic?), and the answer is 'Ich bin evangelisch.' (I am Protestant.)
Meine Nachbarin ist evangelisch und geht jeden Sonntag in die Kirche.
My neighbor is Protestant and goes to church every Sunday.
The meaning 'relating to the Gospels' is less common and is found mainly in theological or philosophical texts. It is often combined with words such as 'Lehre' (teaching), 'Ethik' (ethics), or 'Prinzip' (principle).
Die evangelische Ethik betont die persönliche Verantwortung des Einzelnen.
Evangelical ethics emphasizes the personal responsibility of the individual.
Protestant
Both adjectives refer to a connection with Protestantism. In Germany, “evangelisch” is usually the standard institutional term for a Protestant church, while “protestantisch” is broader and is often used when comparing denominations. “Evangelisch” is therefore generally the better choice for the name of or affiliation with a German church.
Die Gemeinde gehört zur evangelischen Kirche.
The congregation belongs to the Protestant church.
Im internationalen Vergleich wird die Gemeinde als protestantisch bezeichnet.
In international comparisons, the congregation is described as Protestant.
