Word Studies¶
Question¶
What specific laws continue and what specific laws ceased? Greek vocabulary identification for each catalogue entry.
Core Greek Law Terms¶
entole (G1785) -- ἐντολή -- "commandment"¶
Transliteration: entole Pronunciation: en-tol-ay Part of Speech: Feminine noun NT Occurrences: 71
Definition: Injunction; an authoritative prescription/commandment.
Distribution Pattern (from law-20, law-21): - Without qualifier = moral/Decalogue content (43/43 identifiable instances) - Jesus lists Decalogue commands as "the commandments [entole]" (Mat 19:17-19; Mar 10:19) - Paul calls the 10th commandment "the commandment [entole]" (Rom 7:12) - Paul lists 5 Decalogue commands under "any other commandment [entole]" (Rom 13:9) - Paul distinguishes "commandments [entole] of God" from circumcision (1 Cor 7:19) - Paul calls 5th commandment "first commandment [entole] with promise" (Eph 6:2) - Luke: women rested "according to the commandment [entole]" (Luk 23:56) - John: "keep his commandments [entole]" (1 Jhn 2:3-4; 5:3) - Revelation: "commandments [entole] of God" (Rev 12:17; 14:12; 22:14)
- With qualifier = ceremonial/non-moral content (every ceremonial use has a modifier)
- entoles sarkines = "carnal commandment" -- Levitical priesthood succession (Heb 7:16)
- en dogmasin = "in ordinances" -- abolished ceremonial ordinances (Eph 2:15)
- anthropon = "of men" -- human traditions (Tit 1:14)
Significance for continues/ceased catalogue: When a NT passage uses entole without qualifier, the referent is moral/Decalogue content. This pattern holds across all NT authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Hebrews author, Revelation author). N-tier evidence (complete enumeration).
nomos (G3551) -- νόμος -- "law"¶
Transliteration: nomos Pronunciation: nom-os Part of Speech: Masculine noun NT Occurrences: 197
Definition: From nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law, anything established, custom, usage.
Senses in the NT (from law-16, law-20): 1. Torah/Mosaic code (articular ho nomos): "the law" as the body of Mosaic legislation 2. Decalogue specifically (identified by content quotation): Rom 7:7 quotes 10th commandment 3. Operating principle/rule (nomos + genitive): "law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2), "law of faith" (Rom 3:27) 4. Pentateuch as Scripture/witness (articular): "the law and the prophets" (Mat 5:17; Rom 3:21)
Article pattern: The articular/anarthrous distinction is a tendency, NOT an absolute code: - Articular ho nomos = moral content (Rom 7:7,12,14) BUT ALSO ceremonial (Gal 3:19; Heb 10:1) - Anarthrous nomos = generic/qualitative BUT ALSO moral content (Heb 8:10; 10:16)
Key affirmation passages: - "We establish the law [nomon]" (Rom 3:31) - "The law is holy...just...good" (Rom 7:12) - "The law is spiritual" (Rom 7:14) - "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail" (Luk 16:17) - "Perfect law of liberty" (Jas 1:25)
Key cessation-context passages: - "A change also of the law" (Heb 7:12) -- priesthood law specifically - "The law having a shadow" (Heb 10:1) -- sacrificial system specifically - "The law was our schoolmaster" (Gal 3:24) -- tutelary function ceases
dogma (G1378) -- δόγμα -- "decree/ordinance"¶
Transliteration: dogma Pronunciation: dog-ma Part of Speech: Neuter noun NT Occurrences: 5
Definition: A law (civil, ceremonial, or ecclesiastical); a public decree, ordinance.
Complete NT distribution (all 5 occurrences): 1. Luke 2:1 -- "a decree from Caesar Augustus" = Roman civil decree 2. Acts 17:7 -- "the decrees of Caesar" = Roman imperial decrees 3. Acts 16:4 -- "the decrees ordained of the apostles" = Jerusalem Council decisions 4. Ephesians 2:15 -- "the law of commandments in ordinances [en dogmasin]" = abolished ceremonial regulations 5. Colossians 2:14 -- "the handwriting of ordinances [tois dogmasin]" = what was nailed to the cross
Significance: Dogma is never used for God's moral commandments (the Decalogue) in any NT passage. All 5 occurrences divide into civil decrees (2), ecclesiastical decree (1), and abolished ceremonial regulations (2). This is N-tier evidence (complete enumeration of 5 occurrences).
dogmatizo (G1379) -- δογματίζω -- "to subject to ordinances"¶
Transliteration: dogmatizo Pronunciation: dog-mat-id-zo Part of Speech: Verb NT Occurrences: 1
Definition: To prescribe by statute; to submit to ceremonial rules.
Sole NT occurrence: Colossians 2:20 -- "Why are ye subject to ordinances [dogmatizesthe]?" Content identified in vv.21-22: "Touch not; taste not; handle not" = dietary/purity regulations = "commandments and doctrines of men."
dikaioma (G1345) -- δικαίωμα -- "ordinance/righteous requirement"¶
Transliteration: dikaioma Pronunciation: dik-ah-yo-ma Part of Speech: Neuter noun NT Occurrences: 10
Definition: An equitable deed; by implication, a statute or decision.
Pattern in law-referent contexts: - Singular + articular = moral standard: - Rom 8:4 -- "to dikaioma tou nomou" (THE righteous requirement of THE law) -- connected to Decalogue in Rom 7:7 - Rom 1:32 -- "to dikaioma tou theou" (God's righteous decree) -- moral, consistent - Rom 2:26 -- "ta dikaiomata tou nomou" (plural articular, the law's requirements) -- moral requirements kept by Gentiles
- Plural + modifier = ceremonial ordinances:
- Heb 9:1 -- "dikaiomata latreias" (ordinances of divine service)
-
Heb 9:10 -- "dikaiomata sarkos" (carnal ordinances = meats, drinks, washings)
-
Non-law-referent contexts (breaks "absolute code" claim):
- Rev 15:4 -- plural, righteous judgments (not ceremonial)
- Rev 19:8 -- plural, righteous deeds (not ceremonial)
- Rom 5:16,18 -- singular, forensic act (not moral law per se)
Note from Luke 1:6: Luke lists entolai and dikaiomata as two distinct categories: "walking in all the commandments [entolais] and ordinances [dikaiOmasin] of the Lord blameless."
cheirographon (G5498) -- χειρόγραφον -- "handwriting/certificate"¶
Transliteration: cheirographon Pronunciation: khi-rog-raf-on Part of Speech: Neuter noun NT Occurrences: 1
Definition: Something hand-written; a manuscript; specifically, a legal document or bond. Compound: cheir (G5495, "hand") + grapho (G1125, "write").
Sole NT occurrence: Colossians 2:14 -- "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [cheirographon tois dogmasin] that was against us."
Significance: The etymology means "hand-written document." The Decalogue was "written with the finger of God" (Exo 31:18; Deu 9:10) -- a different authorship category. Moses' book of the law was hand-written (Deu 31:24) and placed "in the side of the ark" as "a witness against thee" (Deu 31:26). The pairing with tois dogmasin (which is never used for the Decalogue) further identifies the referent as ceremonial, not moral law.
katargeo (G2673) -- καταργέω -- "to abolish/render idle"¶
Transliteration: katargeo Pronunciation: kat-arg-eh-o Part of Speech: Verb NT Occurrences: 27
Definition: From kata + argeo; to be or render entirely idle (useless); literally or figuratively: abolish, cease, destroy, do away, make of no effect, make void.
Key occurrences in law context: - Eph 2:15 -- katargesas ("having abolished") -- object is "the law of commandments in ordinances [en dogmasin]" - 2 Cor 3:7,11,13 -- katargoumenen (acc sg fem participle) -- grammatical subject is ten doxan (the glory, acc sg fem), NOT the law - Rom 3:31 -- katargoumen ("do we make void") -- emphatically denied: "God forbid; we establish the law"
Significance: Katargeo is cessation vocabulary, but the grammatical object must be identified in each case. In Eph 2:15, the object is narrowed by en dogmasin. In 2 Cor 3:7-11, the object is the glory/ministry. In Rom 3:31, katargeo is denied regarding the law.
Additional Key Terms¶
pleroo (G4137) -- πληρόω -- "to fulfil"¶
Transliteration: pleroo Part of Speech: Verb NT Occurrences: 90
Definition: From pleres; to make replete; to cram (a net), level up (a hollow); figuratively to furnish, satisfy, execute (an office), finish, verify.
Key law passage: Mat 5:17 -- "I am not come to destroy [kataluo], but to fulfil [pleroo]." Jesus explicitly contrasts pleroo with kataluo. Pleroo = to fill up, give full meaning, accomplish.
kataluo (G2647) -- καταλύω -- "to destroy/dissolve"¶
Transliteration: kataluo Part of Speech: Verb NT Occurrences: 17
Definition: From kata + luo; to loosen down (disintegrate); to demolish.
Key passage: Mat 5:17 -- "Think not that I am come to destroy [kataluo] the law." Jesus denies kataluo regarding the law. Same word used for destroying the temple (Mat 24:2; 26:61).
hierosyne (G2420) -- ἱερωσύνη -- "priesthood"¶
Transliteration: hierosyne Part of Speech: Feminine noun NT Occurrences: 4
Key passages: Heb 7:11,14 -- "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood [hierosyne]..." The priesthood changed triggers a law change (Heb 7:12). The specific law that changes is the priesthood succession law, not the moral law.
Hebrew Terms (Pre-Mosaic Evidence)¶
tahowr (H2889) -- טָהוֹר -- "clean/pure"¶
Transliteration: tahowr Part of Speech: Adjective OT Occurrences: 94
Definition: Pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial, or moral sense): clean, fair, pure.
Key pre-Mosaic passage: Gen 7:2 -- "Of every clean [tahowr] beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens." This is the earliest biblical occurrence of the clean/unclean distinction. The same word is used extensively in Leviticus (11:36,37,47; etc.) -- identical vocabulary before and after Sinai.
mitsvah (H4687) -- מִצְוָה -- "commandment"¶
Hebrew equivalent of entole (G1785). Gen 26:5 -- Abraham kept God's "commandments [mitsvah]" before Sinai.
mishpat (H4941) -- מִשְׁפָּט -- "judgment/ordinance"¶
Hebrew term for judicial regulations. Gen 18:19 -- "keep the way of the LORD, to do justice [tsedaqah] and judgment [mishpat]."
Vocabulary Distribution Summary (from law-20, law-21)¶
Affirmation Passages Use:¶
| Term | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| entole (G1785) | Unqualified | Mat 19:17; 1 Cor 7:19; Rev 14:12 |
| dikaioma (G1345) | Singular articular | Rom 8:4 |
| nomos (G3551) | Described as holy/just/good/spiritual | Rom 7:12,14 |
Abolition Passages Use:¶
| Term | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dogma (G1378) | Always | Col 2:14; Eph 2:15 |
| dogmatizo (G1379) | Always | Col 2:20 |
| cheirographon (G5498) | Always | Col 2:14 |
| dikaioma (G1345) | Plural + modifier (sarkos/latreias) | Heb 9:1,10 |
| entole (G1785) | With qualifier (sarkines/en dogmasin) | Heb 7:16; Eph 2:15 |
| skia (G4639) | "shadow" | Heb 10:1; Col 2:17 |
Four of five core law terms partition cleanly between affirmation and abolition contexts. The fifth (nomos) has the broadest semantic range and appears in both.
Prior Study Data Sources¶
- law-20 (NT Greek Law Vocabulary): Complete lexical analysis of all 5 core terms
- law-21 (NT Vocab Law Categories): Systematic vocabulary-to-content mapping
- law-08 (Abolished at the Cross): All 7 abolition passages analyzed
- law-01 (God's Moral Law): 66+ explicit statements about moral law
- law-04 (Ceremonial Laws): 5 categories of ceremonial law
- law-12 (Matthew 5:17-20): pleroo vs. kataluo analysis