Bible Lexicons

δόγμα , -τος , τό

(< δοκέω ),

[in LXX chiefly for H1881, H2942;]

1. an opinion.

2. A public decree, ordinance: of Roman rulers, Luke 2:1, Acts 17:7; of the Jewish law, Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14; of the Apostles, Acts 16:4 (Cremer, 205).†

Bishop Hicks (CR i. p. 44 f.) has shown that δόγμα was not the regular word in republican Greece for a decree of the βουλή and the δῆμος, but was specially used for a decree of the Roman Senate. So, e.g., Syll 930.60 (B.C. 112) ἐξυγκλήτου δόγματος = e senatusconsulto. See the index s.v. in Cagnat I. p. 947, It came also to be applied to the placita philosophorum, and in general conveyed the idea of ";a positive ordinance, emanating from a distant and unquestionable authority."; With its use by Luke for the decrees of the Emperor (Luke 2:1, Acts 17:7) we may compare P Fay 20.22 (iii/iv A.D.), an important Edict, apparently of Severus Alexander, regarding the Aurum Coronarium, which ends—τούτου τοῦ ἐμοῦ δόγματος ἀντίγραφα τοῖς καθ᾽ ἑκάστην πόλιν ἄρχουσιν γενέσθω ἐπιμελὲς εἰς τὸ δημόσιον μάλιστα ἑστάν [αι ] σύνοπτα τοῖς ἀναγιγνώσκουσιν, ";let the rulers of the several cities see that copies of this my edict are set up in the most public places in full view of those who wish to read"; (Edd.). As showing the different uses to which the word came to be put, it must be sufficient to add Syll III. Index p. 173, where references are given to 150.13 (B.C. 333) κατὰ τὸ δόγμα τῶν Ἑλλήνων, 412.2 (Roman period) δόγματι τῆς Ὀλυμπικῆς βουλῆς, 557.21 παρὰ τὸ δόγμα τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων, etc. An interesting example of the later ecclesiastical use of the word is found in the Christian prayer (end of (iv/A.D.) published by Schmidt in Ntliche Studien für G. Heinrici, p. 71.24 ὅπως καταξιωθῶμεν τῶ [ν ] εὐαγγελιζομένων δογμάτων τῶν ἁγίων σου ἀποστόλων.

 

δογμα δόγμα δόγμασι δογμασιν δόγμασιν δογματα δόγματα δόγματί δογματων δογμάτων dogma dógma dogmasin dógmasin dogmata dógmata dogmaton dogmatōn dogmáton dogmátōn