Having access to first century Greek definitions often help solve definitively and dispel questionable teachings about the Bible. For example, some errors of "faith only" is resolved by the Biblical teaching of "decrees" for Christians. The Greek word "dogma" is illustrative of this fact. "Dogma" means "decrees", "ordinances", laws. There are three sources for Biblical "dogma." There's man's political dogma (Roman decrees; Luke 2:1 & Acts 17:7); there's Jewish Old Testament dogma (ten commandments,temple laws: Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14-17); and there's Christ's dogmas (Acts 16:4,5). That's right. The great commission of Jesus includes making disciples for Jesus and teaching them to observe all of Jesus' commands (Matthew 28:18-20). This is complementary to Ephesians 2:8-10 that teaches God's saving grace is in the teachings of "the body" of faith (only apparent in the original Greek; cf. Jude 3). Greek information: Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words In the Greek: noun neuter--dogma--pronounced dog' mah. Transliterated in English, primarily denoting n "an opinion or judgment" (from dokeo, "to be of opinion"), hence, "an opinion expressed with authority, a doctrine, ordinance, decree." Luke 2:1 (in illustration above); Acts 16:4,5 " And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." Observe: The gospel commands, the commands of Jesus, (Matthew 28:18-20) are referred to as "dogmas" or "decrees." Acts 17:7, "Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus." In the sense of ordinanaces, Ephesians 2:15; 15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances (dogmas]; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" Colossians 2:14."Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (dogmas] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Observe: the ordinances (decrees; dogmas) referredd to as being "blotted out" were to Christian Gentiles; the dogmas that were blotted out at the cross were the ones against the Gentiles, specifically, the sabbath and speial day observances (dogmas) associated with the Ten Commandments; the next verse specifies, " (16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:6 7 (17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Strong's # G1378 from Milkelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek: #G1378 dogma, noun 1. that which is supposed as good or which seems right (whether it actually is or not). 2. (concisely) an opinion on a matter. 3. (by conclusion) a decree or ordinance (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical). [from the base of G1380] KJV: decree, ordinance Root(s): G1380 See also: G1379 G1380 dokeo, verb, Root to #1378 1. to suppose, consider, imagine. 2. (by implication) to seem (truthfully or uncertainly). 3. (by inference) to presume. 4. (also) to repute or estimate. 5. (by extension) to be of reputation, estimable. Luke 2 Augustus taxes all the Roman empire 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decreeG1378 from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." from Merriam Webster Dictionary (online)[English word] dogma - noun plural dogmas also dogmata Synonym of dogma: tenet 1 a : something held as an established opinion; especially: a definite authoritative tenet b : a code of such tenets pedagogical dogma c : a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds 2 : a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church [English] decree-"an order usually having the force of law"--Webster |
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