G1379
δογματίζω
to prescribe by statute, i.e. (reflexively) to submit to, ceremonially rule
Transliteration
dogmatízōPronunciation
(dog-mat-id'-zo)Everything you need to know.
of Completion
This certifies that
Is on track to complete the Bible for the 1st time in 240 days.
Paul's Handkerchief is Bible study with a difference — going word-by-word through Scripture to reclaim the Ancient Near East context, romance, and mystery that modern translations often leave behind.
Only about 3% of people around the world who start the Bible ever finish it. The 3% Club is for those ready to break that cycle — reading the entire Bible at their own pace, backed by community and tools built to make finishing not just possible, but inevitable. You also get a certificate to celebrate your achievement.
Bible Cafe isn't just Bible study — it's a personal, intimate conversation with Him. Think less classroom, more kitchen table. It combines the original Coffee with Jesus experience with activities like quizzes, crosswords, journaling and more, all designed to let the Word shape your heart, not just your head.
Most English Bibles can't carry the full weight of what's in the original Hebrew and Greek. The F.O.G Bible Project exists to change that — three new translations built publicly (a Study Bible, a Reader's Bible, and F.O.G Jr. for younger readers), plus a word-by-word renewal of Strong's Concordance restoring the depths most translations leave behind. It is Jean Paul's lifelong work, unfolding in public — and you're invited in.
Jean Paul Joseph is the lead editor of the F.O.G Bible Project. He works from a personal encounter with Jesus first, then draws on the scholarship of respected Jewish and Christian scholars — because the church was Jewish before it was anything else, and those roots change everything about how you read Scripture.
Simply create an account and choose your preferred Bible and reading style. The app will track your progress and help keep you accountable to the rhythm of daily Scripture engagement.
to prescribe by statute, i.e. (reflexively) to submit to, ceremonially rule
δογματίζω(dogmatízō)
Strong’s Definition
to prescribe by statute, i.e. (reflexively) to submit to, ceremonially rule
from G1378 (δόγμα);
“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,”
No verses found containing this word study ID.
Pronunciation Guide: dog-mat-ID-zo (with emphasis on the third syllable)
Basic Definition
Strong's G1379: δογματίζω (dogmatizō) refers to the act of being subject to or submitting oneself to dogmas, decrees, or man-made religious regulations. In its biblical context, it specifically denotes allowing oneself to be governed by human ordinances or rules that have been imposed as religious obligations outside of God's actual commands. The term carries a negative connotation in Scripture, implying unnecessary bondage to religious regulations that do not reflect the freedom found in the Messiah.
Etymology and Morphology
δογματίζω Morphology:
Origin & History
The verb δογματίζω derives from the noun δόγμα (dogma), which in classical Greek referred to an opinion, judgment, or decree. In the political sphere of ancient Greece, δόγμα was frequently used for official governmental decrees or edicts. Plato used the term in his "Republic" to indicate authoritative philosophical opinions or doctrines.
In the Hellenistic period, the term gained prominence in administrative contexts. The Septuagint (LXX) uses the related noun δόγμα several times to translate Hebrew terms referring to royal decrees, as seen in the books of Daniel and Esther. For example, in Daniel 6:8, δόγμα refers to the unchangeable decree of the Medo-Persian kings. By the time of the New Testament, δόγμα had taken on the additional meaning of religious regulations or ceremonial requirements, often with the implication of human authority rather than divine origin. The verbal form δογματίζω then emerged as the action of subjecting oneself or being subjected to such regulations.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
δογματίζω Translation Options:
Biblical Usage
The verb δογματίζω appears only once in the New Testament, in Colossians 2:20, where Paul rhetorically asks believers why they are submitting themselves to religious regulations as if they were still living according to the principles of the world. This single occurrence is significant because it appears in a crucial passage about the dangers of legalism and man-made religious rules that can undermine the sufficiency of the Messiah. In this context, Paul is addressing a specific danger facing the Colossian church: the imposition of ascetic practices and ceremonial observances that were being promoted as necessary for spiritual growth.
While the verb form appears only once, the related noun δόγμα (dogma) appears five times in the New Testament and provides important context for understanding the term. In Luke 2:1 and Acts 17:7, it refers to imperial decrees. In Acts 16:4, it describes the decisions made by the Jerusalem Council. Most significantly for understanding δογματίζω, the noun appears in Ephesians 2:15 and Colossians 2:14 referring to the legal demands of the Law that were fulfilled and set aside in the Messiah.
Send a Gift
This website is 100% donor-funded. Your generosity allows someone else to access this content for free.
Give a gift of $100 to sponsor a verse or page of your choice.
Cultural Insights
The concept of δογματίζω must be understood in the cultural-religious environment of the first century. During this period, various philosophical and religious movements promoted ascetic practices and special observances as means to spiritual advancement. In Colossae specifically, a syncretistic teaching had emerged combining elements of Judaism, early Gnosticism, and pagan mysticism. This teaching emphasized strict regulations about food, drink, and religious festivals, along with ascetic practices and angel worship.
The Jewish religious landscape of the time was also heavily influenced by the tradition of the Pharisees, who had developed an elaborate system of oral traditions that functioned as a "fence around the Torah." These traditions specified in minute detail how the Law should be observed. By Jesus' time, these human traditions had often superseded the actual commands of יהוה (Yahweh). This is precisely what Jesus condemned when He confronted the Pharisees in Mark 7:8, saying, "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." This cultural context illuminates why Paul strongly warns believers against δογματίζω—allowing themselves to be subjected to human religious regulations that go beyond God's actual requirements.
Theological Significance
The theological implications of δογματίζω strike at the heart of what it means to live in the freedom secured by the Messiah. Paul's warning against being subjected to human religious regulations (δογματίζεσθε) appears in a passage that emphasizes the believers' death and resurrection with the Messiah. This union with the Messiah, Paul argues, has freed believers from the "elemental principles of the world" (στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου) that once governed their lives. By submitting to man-made religious regulations, believers act as if this spiritual reality were not true—as if they were still living according to worldly principles rather than in the new reality inaugurated by the Messiah.
The fundamental theological issue at stake with δογματίζω is the sufficiency of the Messiah's work. Just before warning against submitting to regulations, Paul declares that in the Messiah "all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete" (Colossians 2:9-10). When believers allow themselves to be dogmatized—subjected to human religious rules—they implicitly deny the completeness they already possess in the Messiah. This threatens the gospel itself by suggesting that Jesus' work requires human supplements to be effective for spiritual growth and holiness.
Additionally, the warning against δογματίζω reveals God's heart for His people to live in the freedom for which the Messiah has set them free. יהוה (Yahweh) desires relationship, not mere rule-following, and He knows that man-made religious regulations often create barriers to this intimate relationship by fostering self-righteousness, pride, or despair when the regulations cannot be perfectly kept.
Personal Application
Understanding δογματίζω challenges us to examine whether we have allowed ourselves to be subjected to man-made religious regulations that go beyond what God actually requires. This doesn't mean dismissing God's commands—Paul himself gives many ethical instructions elsewhere. Rather, it means being vigilant against adding human requirements to God's word and treating them as if they carried divine authority.
In practical terms, this might mean asking ourselves: Are there religious practices I follow not because they reflect God's heart but because they're expected in my community? Have I elevated certain methods of prayer, worship styles, or spiritual disciplines to the level of requirements, judging myself or others when they aren't followed? Do I find myself bound by religious guilt over matters where God has given freedom? The antidote to δογματίζω is returning to the sufficient work of the Messiah, embracing the freedom He secured, and walking in relationship with Him guided by the Spirit rather than by external regulations.
Related Words
Did you Know?
Remember This
When we allow ourselves to be δογματίζω (dogmatized), we exchange the Messiah's yoke, which is easy and His burden, which is light, for human regulations that neither honor God nor transform the heart.