Lexical Summary teleiós: Completely, perfectly, fully Original Word: τελείως Strong's Exhaustive Concordance completelyAdverb from teleios; completely, i.e. (of hope) without wavering -- to the end. see GREEK teleios HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5049 teleíōs (an adverb) – properly, to-the-end, completely. See 5056 (telos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from teleios Definition completely NASB Translation completely (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5049: τελείωςτελείως (τέλειος), adverb, perfectly, completely: 1 Peter 1:13. (Plato, Isocrates, Aristotle, etc.; cf. Winer's Grammar, 463 (431).) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope of Usage The adverb translated “fully” or “completely” (Strong’s Greek 5049) appears once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 1:13. It qualifies the believer’s hope, calling Christians to place their trust in God’s future grace without reservation or division. Though brief in its textual footprint, the word supplies a decisive accent that influences the entire flow of the Petrine epistle. Canonical Context: 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded, and set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Berean Standard Bible) Peter has just celebrated the new birth, an incorruptible inheritance, and a salvation foretold by the prophets (1 Peter 1:3-12). Verse 13 transitions from proclamation to exhortation. The adverb underscores that the hope required is undiluted—a total leaning upon Christ’s future appearing. Theological Themes 1. Whole-Hearted Hope 2. Holiness and Eschatology 3. Mind and Morality Historical Interpretation Early Christian writers noticed the intensity of this single adverb. Clement of Rome cited 1 Peter to stress perseverance amid persecution, urging believers to “hope in Christ without wavering.” In the second century, Polycarp echoed the verse to encourage steadfastness, interpreting “fully” as the resolve that martyrs display. Throughout patristic homilies, the term served as shorthand for absolutist devotion in an age of competing loyalties to empire and culture. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching and Teaching Emphasize that biblical hope is not wishful thinking but a settled conviction. Congregations wrestling with instability are directed to anchor themselves “fully” in the promised revelation of Jesus Christ rather than in transient circumstances. • Pastoral Counseling When believers face suffering, counselors may draw upon 1 Peter 1:13 to shift focus from immediate pain to guaranteed grace. The completeness of hope combats fragmented trust caused by anxiety or doubt. • Discipleship Formation Mentors can encourage new Christians to evaluate areas of divided allegiance—career, relationships, security—and progressively align every sphere with the singular expectation of Christ’s appearing. Devotional Reflection Meditating on 1 Peter 1:13 invites a personal audit: Is my anticipation of Christ’s return wholehearted or partial? The Spirit uses the verse to expose compromised hopes—whether in finance, reputation, or human affirmation—and re-center the soul on heavenly grace. Related Scriptural Motifs • Romans 12:1-2—Total surrender as “spiritual worship” parallels the complete hope Peter commands. Eschatological Orientation for the Church The Church’s mission flourishes when her gaze is undistracted. Liturgy that features Christ’s return, catechesis that clarifies future grace, and community life that anticipates eternal inheritance all embody the “fully” of 1 Peter 1:13. The adverb thus guards congregations from mission drift and cultural accommodation. Worship and Community Life Singing hymns that celebrate Christ’s coming, observing the Lord’s Supper “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26), and reciting creeds that proclaim His future judgment cultivate the comprehensive hope Peter commands. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 5049, though occurring only once, delivers a forceful imperative: Christians are to hope with totality. Where modern life promotes diversified securities, Scripture insists on singular reliance upon the grace that will be unveiled at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Such complete hope fuels holiness, stabilizes suffering saints, and energizes mission until the day faith becomes sight. Forms and Transliterations τελειως τελείως teleios teleiōs teleíos teleíōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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