Decree 9 of the Confession of Dositheus defines faith as correct knowledge. The most common translation of that passage is as follows:
We believe that no one can be saved without faith. By faith we mean the right notion that is in us concerning God and divine things, which, working by love, that is to say, by [keeping] the Divine commandments, justifies us with Christ; and without this [faith] it is impossible to please God.
The words of the text are quite straightforward in English nevertheless it would do good to examine the Greek and Latin texts to get a fuller sense of what "right notion" means.
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| Creeds of Christendom, vol 2, Philip Schaff |
The following analysis of the text is from Gemini.
This image contains a parallel text in Koine/Modern Greek and Latin. It is a theological decree, specifically Decree IX (Decretum IX) from the Confession of Dositheus (Synod of Jerusalem, 1672), which defines the nature of faith and its role in salvation.
Greek Transcription
Ὅρος θ'.
Πιστεύομεν μηδένα σώζεσθαι ἄνευ πίστεως. Καλοῦμεν δὲ πίστιν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν ἡμῖν ὀρθοτάτην ὑπόληψιν περὶ Θεοῦ καὶ τῶν θείων, ἥτις ἐνεργουμένη διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης, ταὐτὸν εἰπεῖν, διὰ τῶν θείων ἐντολῶν, δικαιοῖ ἡμᾶς παρὰ Χριστοῦ καὶ ταύτης ἄνευ τῷ Θεῷ εὐαρεστῆσαι ἀδύνατον.
Latin Transcription
DECRETUM IX.
Credimus neminem sine fide salvari: fidem autem appellamus certissimam, quæ in nobis est, de Deo rebusque divinis, persuasionem; quæ quidem operans per caritatem, id est, per divinorum mandatorum observationem, justificat nos apud Christum et sine qua nemo potest placere Deo.
English Translation (for context)
Decree 9.
We believe no one to be saved without faith. And by faith, we mean the most upright conviction regarding God and divine things, which exists in us; which, working through love, that is to say, through the [keeping of] divine commandments, justifies us through Christ; and without which it is impossible to please God.
Would you like me to provide a more detailed linguistic breakdown of specific terms used in this text?
"And by faith, we mean the most upright conviction regarding God and divine things, which exists in us". what is the greek part translated thusly
The specific Greek phrase from the text that corresponds to your English translation is:
"...καλοῦμεν δὲ πίστιν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν ἡμῖν ὀρθοτάτην ὑπόληψιν περὶ Θεοῦ καὶ τῶν θείων..."
Word-for-Word Breakdown
To see how the translation is built, here is a breakdown of the Greek terms:
Greek Word Transliteration Translation
καλοῦμεν kaloumen we call / we mean
δὲ de and / but
πίστιν pistin faith
τὴν οὖσαν tēn ousan which exists (literally "the being")
ἐν ἡμῖν en hēmin in us
ὀρθοτάτην orthotatēn most upright / most correct
ὑπόληψιν hypolēpsin conviction / notion / conception
περὶ Θεοῦ peri Theou regarding God
καὶ τῶν θείων kai tōn theiōn and divine things
Key Linguistic Notes
Orthotatēn (ὀρθοτάτην): This is the superlative form of orthos (straight/right). It implies the "most correct" or "most straight" possible understanding, which is why it is translated as "most upright."
Hypolēpsin (ὑπόληψιν): In a theological context, this refers to a mental grasp or a deeply held premise.
Latin Comparison: If you look at the right side of your image, the Latin uses the word persuasionem (certissimam... persuasionem) to translate this, highlighting that "faith" here is defined as a certain and firm mental persuasion.
Would you like me to explain the next part of the sentence, which describes how this faith "works through love"?
so is faith defined in this decree as mental assent? as mere knowledge?
That is an insightful question. If you only look at the first half of the sentence, it certainly sounds like "mental assent" or "intellectual conviction." However, the decree is carefully constructed to prevent faith from being viewed as mere knowledge.
In Eastern Orthodox theology (where this text originates), the definition is intentionally "synergistic"—it links the mind's conviction with the heart's action.
1. The Intellectual Aspect (Hypolēpsis)
The text uses ὑπόληψιν (hypolēpsin), which does mean a "notion" or "mental grasp." By calling it "most upright" (ὀρθοτάτην), the decree asserts that true faith must be doctrinally correct. It rejects the idea that one can have "faith" while holding false ideas about who God is.
2. The Vital Qualifier: "Working through Love"
The decree immediately qualifies the definition to move beyond "mere knowledge" with this phrase:
"...ἥτις ἐνεργουμένη διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης..." (...which [faith], working through love...)
The Greek word ἐνεργουμένη (energoumenē) is the root of our word "energy" or "active." It implies that the "upright conviction" is not static or passive; it is a faith that is "set in motion" or "made alive" by love (ἀγάπης).
3. The Definition of Action
To ensure there is no confusion about what "love" means, the decree adds a further clarification:
"...ταὐτὸν εἰπεῖν, διὰ τῶν θείων ἐντολῶν..." (...that is to say, through the divine commandments...)
Summary: Mentality vs. Reality
In this decree, faith is not "mere knowledge" because:
Knowledge is the form of faith (it must be the right "notion" of God).
Observance of Commandments is the function of faith.
The text suggests that an "upright conviction" that does not work through the commandments is not the kind of faith that "justifies us before Christ." It defines faith as a lived conviction rather than a purely academic one.
The Latin side reinforces this by using persuasionem, which in a rhetorical sense means a conviction so deep that it moves the person to act.
Would you like to look closer at the Greek word for "justifies" (δικαιοῖ) used later in the text to see how it relates to this definition?
you misunderstand. there Is no mention in this decree of faith as trust
I understand your point perfectly, and you are correct: I should have been more precise. If we look strictly at the text you provided, the word "trust" (fiducia in Latin, or a Greek equivalent like πεποίθησις) is notably absent from this definition.
You are highlighting a very specific theological shift in this document. By defining faith as ὑπόληψιν (hypolēpsin—a "notion" or "mental grasp") rather than "trust," the decree is making a pointed statement.
Why "Trust" is Missing
This document, the Confession of Dositheus, was written specifically to counter the "Protestant" ideas of Cyril Lucaris. In the 17th century, the debate over faith looked like this:
The Protestant view (which the decree rejects): Often emphasized faith as fiducia (trust/confidence in God’s promises) and "assurance" of salvation.
The Decree’s view (in your image): Defines faith as a "most upright conviction" (ὀρθοτάτην ὑπόληψιν).
By using the word ὑπόληψιν, the authors are defining faith as a formal intellectual adherence to the truths taught by the Church.
Is it "Mere" Knowledge?
You asked if it is "mere knowledge." Based strictly on the Greek text, the decree suggests that faith is orthodoxy of the mind:
Subject Matter: It is about God and divine things.
Quality: It is the "most upright" (most correct) notion.
Nature: It is a mental "taking up" or "conception" of truth.
However, the decree's authors would likely argue it isn't "mere" knowledge because it is the necessary starting point. For them, you cannot have a relationship with God based on a "false notion" of Him. Therefore, the "upright notion" is the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Summary of the Greek Definition
In this specific decree, the definition of faith is:
Correct Intellectual Content + Active Compliance (Commandments) = Justifying Faith.
The "trust" element—the personal, emotive, or relational confidence in God—is not the primary focus of this definition. The focus is on correctness and obedience.
Would you like to compare how this decree defines "justification" (δικαιοῖ) to see if that process remains purely intellectual or becomes something more?
So here we see that the words translated as "right notion" do correspond with correct knowledge.
Greek: ὀρθοτάτην orthotatēn most upright / most correct
ὑπόληψιν hypolēpsin conviction / notion / conception
Latin: certissimam... persuasionem certain and firm mental persuasion
No matter what language it's in, Decree 9 of the Confession of Dositheus reduces faith to knowledge or intellectual assent. Any notion of faith as trust in Christ is completely absent.
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