Greek word · G1379

δογματίζω

dogmatizō

to decree

The active form means "to lay down a decree" or "to issue an ordinance". The middle or passive form means "to submit to decrees", "to be subjected to rules", or "to let oneself be regulated". It did not yet mean a theological doctrine.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δογματίζω

[in LXX: Esther 3:9 (כָּתַב ni.), Dan LXX 2:13, 15 (דָּת), I Est.6:34, 2Ma.10:3 2Mac 15:36, 3Ma.4:11 * ;]

to decree. Mid., to subject oneself to an ordinance: Colossians 2:20.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Colossians 2:20

Range of meaning

The active form means "to lay down a decree" or "to issue an ordinance". The middle or passive form means "to submit to decrees", "to be subjected to rules", or "to let oneself be regulated". It is built on dogma, which in the first century meant a public decree or official ruling (Luke 2:1, Caesar's decree; Acts 17:7; Acts 16:4, the apostles' decisions). It did not yet mean a theological doctrine.

Against the English

BSB/NIV/ESV "submit to (its) regulations/rules"; NASB "submit yourself to decrees"; KJV/YLT "are ye subject to ordinances"; WEB "subject yourselves to ordinances". The middle form ("submit yourselves") stresses that they are choosing it. The passive ("are you being ruled") stresses pressure from others. The Greek allows both.

How it drifted

The English word "dogma" (and "dogmatic") now means fixed church doctrine or stubborn opinion. That sense is a later development. In Paul's world a dogma was a ruling handed down by an authority.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) the verb is used of royal and civic decrees, e.g. Esther 3:9 (the decree to destroy the Jews) and 2 Maccabees 10:8 (a public ordinance to keep a festival). In the NT the verb occurs only here.

Where it appears

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 2:20 δογματίζεσθε; do you submit to decrees?

    If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

    Here: "Do you let yourselves be put under decrees?" The verb is built on dógma, "decree". It echoes 2:14, where the record with its decrees (dógmasin) was nailed to the cross. The present tense points to something ongoing or being pressed on them right now.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.