Orthodox Dogmatic

Theology

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From the St. Petersburg Ecclesiastical Censorship Committee it is allowed to print. St. Petersburg, August 24, 1910.

Censor. Archimandrite Alexander.

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INTRODUCTION

§ 1. The Concept of Dogmatic Theology

The general concept of the science of "Dogmatic Theology" is contained in its very name. It is called "theology." The word theology – θεολογία (from Θεός – God and λόγος – word, the word ο to God), borrowed by Christian writers from the ancient Greeks, is now used in a very broad sense. By the name of "theology" is now understood a whole set of sciences having as their subject God as He revealed Himself in the Christian religion, and divine economy in the broadest sense, in other words, everything that has a direct and immediate relation either to God or to people in their relation to God. The subjects of the particular theological sciences are now designated by those adjectives (or epithets) that are attached to the word "theology" or by other special names. The subject of Dogmatic Theology is indicated in the adjective "dogmatic," which shows that in this theological science Christian dogmas are expounded and clarified, which is why it itself is often called simply "Dogmatics." In the very name "Dogmatic Theology," therefore, the following concept is given: Dogmatic Theology is a science whose subject is the systematic exposition of the entire body of Christian dogmas.

Dogmas in the various Christian confessions existing today are not understood in the same way, and each of them has its own systems of Dogmatics, expounding the content of this science in the spirit of the peculiarities of its confession. Therefore, in order to denote the confessional point of view on the subject of these systems, the names "Dogmatic Theology" and "Dogmatics" are usually supplemented with the corresponding epithets. Orthodox Dogmatic Theology expounds its subject matter in spirit and under the guidance of the Orthodox Church [1].

§ 2. The concept of dogmas.

The word dogma – δόγμα – is a Greek word. Derived from the verb δοκείν — to think, to believe, to believe, more specifically — from the past. its form δέδογμαι (in 3 fol. δέδοκτας — decided, posited, determined), the word δόγμα denotes a thought that has been fully established in human consciousness, which has become a firm conviction of man, in general — an indisputable truth, and therefore universally binding, as well as a determined, firm, unchangeable decision of the human will [2]. Ancient writers, Greek and Roman, used this word to designate such principles or rules relating to the field of philosophy, morals, and civil legislation, as were recognized as indisputable and obligatory. The legitimation of state power is expressed by the word δόγμα and in the Holy Scriptures. (e.g., in Dan 2:13; 3:10; 6:8 and Acts 17:7 — royal decrees and laws, in Luke 2:1 — the command of Caesar and the national census). Up. Paul also applies the name of the dogma to the law of God, calling the writings of the law of Moses, which in their time were binding on every Jew, dogmas [3]. In the book of Acts Ap. the same word is used to designate the statutes (τά δόγματα) ordained by the Apostles and the Elders who were in Jerusalem (16:4; cf. 15:22-25), which had the meaning of law for all members of the Christian Church.