Quick Definition
δόγμα, ατος, τό n.n. a decree, edict, ordinance
Strong's Definition
from the base of 1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical)
KJV Usage: decree, ordinance
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -τος | δοκέω
33.333 · Communication · Law, Regulation, Ordinance
law, ordinance, rule a formalized rule (or set of rules) prescribing what people must do The difference between ‘a law’ and ‘a command’ is that a law is enforced by sanctions from a society, while a command carries only the sanctions of the individual who commands. When, however, the people of Israel accepted the commands of God as the rules which they would follow and enforce, these became their laws.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
δόγμα, -ros, τό, (fr. δοκέω. and equiv. to τὸ δεδογμένον). an opinion, a judgment (Plat., al.), doctrine, decree, ordinance; 1. of public decrees (as τῆς πόλεως, Plat. lege. 1 p. 644 d.; of the Roman Senate, [Polyb. 6, 13, 2]; Hdian. 7, 10, 8 [5 ed. Bekk.]): of rulers, Lk. ii. 1; Acts xvii. 7; Heb. xi. 23 Lchm., (Theodot. in Dan. ii. 13; 111. 10; iv. 3; vi. 13, ete., — where the Sept. use other words). to make 2. of the rules and requirements of the law of Moses, 3 Mace. i. 3; διατήρησις τῶν ἁγίων δογμάτων, Philo, alleg. legge. i. § 16; carrying a suggestion of severity, and of threatened punishment, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασι, the law containing precepts in the form of decrees [ A. V. the law of commandments contained in ordinances], Eph. ii. 15; τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασι equiv. to τὸ τοῖς δόγμασι (dat. of instrument) ὃν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν, the bond against us by its decrees, Col. ii. 14; ef. W.§ 31, 10 Note 1, [B. 92 (80); on both pass. see Bp. Lghtft. on Col. 1. ¢.]. 3. of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living: Acts xvi. 4. (Of all the precepts of the Christian religion: βεβαιωθῆναι ἐν τοῖς δόγμασιν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῶν ἀποστύλων, Ignat. ad Magnes. 13, 1; of the precepts (‘sentences ’ or tenets) of philosophers, in the later prof. writ. : Cie. acad. 2, 9, 27 de suis decretis, quae philosophi voeant dogmata.) [On the use of the word in general, see Bp. Lghtft. as above; (οἴ. Teaching’ ete. 11, 3).]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
δόγμα dogma 5x
a decree, statute, ordinance, Lk. 2:1; Acts 16:4; 17:7; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
δόγμα, -τος, τό
(< δοκέω), [in LXX chiefly for דָּת, טְעֵם ;]
an opinion.
A public decree, ordinance: of Roman rulers, Lk 2:1, Ac 17:7; of the Jewish law, Eph 2:15, Col 2:14; of the Apostles, Ac 16:4 (Cremer, 205).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
δόγμα. Bishop Hicks (C2 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., Sy// 930 (B.c. 112) ἐξυγκλήτον δόγματος =e seratusconsulto. See the index s.v. in Cagnat J. 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 unWith its use by Luke for the decrees of the Emperor (Lk 21, Ac 177) we may compare P Fay 2053 (iii/iv A.D.), an important Edict, apparently of Severus Alexander, regarding the durzm Coronarium, which ends—rovtov τοῦ ἐμοῦ δόγματος ἀντίγραφα τοῖς καθ᾽ ἑκάστην πόλιν ἄρχουσιν γενέσθω ἐπιμελὲς εἰς τὸ δημόσιον μάλιστα ἑστάν[αι] σύνοπτα τοῖς ἀναγιγνώσκουσιν, ‘let questionable authority.” 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 Sy// III. Index p. 173, where references are given to 1501} (B.C. 333) κατὰ Td δόγμα τῶν “Ἑλλήνων, 4127 (Roman period) δόγματι τῆς ᾿Ολυμπικῆς βουλῆς, 557°! παρὰ τὸ δόγμα τῶν ᾿Αμφικτυόνων, 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 A7/éche Studien fiir G. Heinric?, p. 7174 ὅπως καταξιωθῶμεν τῶ[ν] εὐαγγελιζομένων δογμάτων τῶν ἁγίων cov ἀποστόλων.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
δόγμα (dogma) — decree. δόγμα, ατος, τό, (δοκέω) that which seems to one, opinion or belief, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially of philosophical doctrines, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; notion, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. decision, judgement, [Refs]; public decree, ordinance, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δόγμα ποιήσασθαι, with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially of Roman Senatus-consulta, δ. συγκλήτου [Refs 2nd c.BC+]