Lexical Summary telos: End, purpose, goal, completion, fulfillment Original Word: τέλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance endFrom a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose); specially, an impost or levy (as paid) -- + continual, custom, end(-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare phoros. see GREEK phoros HELPS Word-studies 5056 télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results. [This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition an end, a toll NASB Translation continually* (1), custom (2), customs (1), end (24), ends (2), finished (1), fulfillment (1), goal (1), outcome (6), sum (1), utmost (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5056: τέλοςτέλος, τέλους, τό (cf. Curtius, § 238), from Homer down, the Sept. mostly for קֵץ; 1. end, i. e. a. termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be, (in the Greek writings always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time, which they call τελευτή; in the Scriptures also of a temporal end; an end in space is everywhere called πέρας): τῆς βασιλείας, Luke 1:33; ζωῆς, Hebrews 7:3; τοῦ καταργουμένου, 2 Corinthians 3:13; τά τέλη τῶν αἰώνων, 1 Corinthians 10:11 (τέλος τῶν ἡμερῶν, Nehemiah 13:6; τῶν ἑπτά ἐτῶν, 2 Kings 8:3: ἀρχή καί τέλος καί μεσότης χρόνων Wis. 7:18); equivalent to he who puts an end to: τέλος νόμου Χριστός, Christ has brought the law to all end (πᾶσιν Χριστός ἀνθρώποις τέλος τοῦ βίου θάνατος. Demosthenes, 1306, 25), Romans 10:4; cf. Fritzsche at the passage, vol. ii, p. 377f πάντων τό τέλος, the end of all things (i. e. of the present order of things), 1 Peter 4:7; also in the phrases ἕως τέλους, 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:13; μέχρι τέλους, Hebrews 3:6 (Tr marginal reading WH brackets the clause), 14; ἄχρι τέλους, Hebrews 6:14; Revelation 2:26. What 'end' is intended the reader must determine by the context; thus, τό τέλος denotes the end of the Messianic pangs (dolores Messiae; see ὠδίν) in Matthew 24:6, 14 (opposed to ἀρχή ὠδίνων); Mark 13:7 (cf. 9); Luke 21:9; τό τέλος in 1 Corinthians 15:24 denotes either the end of the eschatological events, or the end of the resurrection i. e. the last or third act of the resurrection (to include those who had not belonged to the number of οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσία αὐτοῦ), 1 Corinthians 15:24 cf. 1 Corinthians 15:23; see DeWette ad loc.; Weizel in the Theol. Studien und Kritiken for 1836, p. 978; Grimm in the Zeitschr. f. wissensch. Theol. for 1873, p. 388ff; (yet cf. Heinrici in Meyer (6te Aufl.) at the passage). εἰς τέλος — to the very end apointed for these evils, Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; also at the end, at last, finally, Luke 18:5 (Vulg.in novissimo) (i. e. lest at last by her coming she wear me out; but others take it equivalent to Hebrew לָנֶצַח (cf. Job 14:20 etc. see Trommius) and connect it with the participle, lest by her coming to the last i. e. continually; see ὑπωπιάζω, under the end); John 13:1 (others, to the uttermost, completely (cf. our to the very last); see Westcott, and Weiss (in Meyer 6te Aufl.) at the passage; Grimm on 2 Macc. 8:29), cf. ἀναπάω, under the end (Xenophon, oec. 17, 10; Hesiod, Works, 292; Herodotus 3, 40; 9, 37; Sophocles Phil. 409; Euripides, Ion 1615; Aelian v. h. 10, 16); to the (procurement of their) end, i. e. to destruction (A. V. to the uttermost (cf. references as above)), 1 Thessalonians 2:16 (for לְכָלָה, 2 Chronicles 12:12); τέλος ἔχειν, to have an end, be finished (often in Greek writings), Luke 22:37 (others give τέλος here the sense of fulfilment (cf. τελέω, 2)); equivalent to to perish, Mark 3:26. τό δέ τέλος, adverbially, finally (denique vero): 1 Peter 3:8 (Plato, legg. 6, p. 768 b.; καί τό γέ τέλος, ibid. 5, p. 740 e.; but generally in secular authors τέλος in this sense wants the article; cf. Passow, ii, p. 1857a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 4 a.)). b. the end i. e. the last in any succession or series: (ἡ) ἀρχή καί (τό) τέλος, of God, who by his perpetuity survives all things, i. e. eternal, Revelation 1:8 Rec.; c. that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue: Matthew 26:58; final lot, fate, as if a recompense: with a genitive of the thing, Romans 6:21; Hebrews 6:8; 1 Peter 1:9; with a genitive of the person whom the destiny befalls, 2 Corinthians 11:15; Philippians 3:19; 1 Peter 4:17; τοῦ κυρίου (genitive of author), the closing experience which befell Job by God's command, James 5:11 (referring to Job 42 (especially verse 12)). d. the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose: 1 Timothy 1:5 (often so in philos. from Plato, de rep. 6, p. 494 a. down; cf. Fritzsche on Romans, ii., p. 378). 2. toll, custom (i. e. an indirect tax on goods; see φόρος and κῆνσος): Matthew 17:25; Romans 13:7 (Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Aeschines, Demosthenes, others; 1 Macc. 10:31 1 Macc. 11:35). Strong’s 5056 (telos, plural telē) embraces the ideas of completion, goal, outcome, fulfillment and consummation. Scripture applies the word to taxes (the due paid at the completion of a commercial transaction), to prophetic fulfillment, to moral consequences, to the believer’s perseverance, and ultimately to the eschatological climax of history. Each sphere enriches the others, presenting a single divine storyline that moves from promise to consummation. Historical and Narrative Occurrences Matthew 17:25 employs the plural form τέλη for “duties” or “taxes,” reminding readers that civil obligations are legitimate ends of commerce and citizenship. Luke uses the singular in Luke 22:37 when Jesus states, “what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment” (telos), anchoring His passion to Isaiah’s Servant Song. John 13:1 sets the intimate tone of the Upper Room: “having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Here telos emphasizes the perfection of Christ’s love rather than mere chronology. Eschatological End of the Age The eschatological horizon frames Jesus’ Olivet discourse. “The end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7), warning against premature speculation while affirming a definite, sovereignly appointed consummation. Perseverance is necessary: “the one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). Paul carries the thought forward: “Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24). Revelation seals the testimony: “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6; 22:13). Telos thus gathers prophetic expectation into the person of Christ and the renewal of all things. Christ the Goal and Fulfillment of the Law Romans 10:4 provides a theological landmark: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Telos points not to abolition but to goal and fulfillment. The Law’s purpose culminates in Christ’s atoning work and imparted righteousness. Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as “having neither beginning of days nor end of life,” pre-figuring the eternal priesthood of the Son. 2 Corinthians 3:13 contrasts the fading glory on Moses’ veiled face with the unveiled permanence brought in Christ, again using telos for the goal of a covenant. Moral and Ethical Outcomes Telos frequently signals the moral consequence of a chosen path. “The outcome of those things is death” (Romans 6:21), whereas in Christ the “outcome is eternal life” (Romans 6:22). False apostles have an ominous telos: “Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Paul weeps over those “whose end is destruction” (Philippians 3:19). Hebrews warns that a field producing thorns “ends in burning” (Hebrews 6:8). Conversely, James 5:11 recalls Job: “you have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings—that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Telos therefore underlines the certainty of divine justice, positive or negative. Pastoral Goal of Instruction and Love “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Ministry is evaluated not merely by activity but by its telos—agapē-shaped hearts. This pastoral usage echoes 1 Peter 1:9: believers are “receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Peter later exhorts, “the end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober” (1 Peter 4:7), tethering practical holiness to the impending consummation. Perseverance and Assurance Hebrews repeatedly ties telos to enduring faith: “We are His house if we hold fast our confidence and the hope in which we boast until the end” (Hebrews 3:6); “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first” (Hebrews 3:14). Paul prays that God “will also keep you strong to the end” (1 Corinthians 1:8). Revelation 2:26 promises authority to the one “who overcomes and continues in My work until the end.” Telos serves as both the horizon and the incentive for steadfast discipleship. Stewardship and Civil Responsibility Romans 13:7 uses telos in the context of civic duties: “Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due.” Here the believer recognizes rightful governmental authority. The inclusion of telos alongside “revenue,” “respect,” and “honor” grounds fiscal integrity in a theology of submission to God-ordained structures. Theological Synthesis Telos unites Scripture’s multi-layered narrative: • Creation and covenant point forward to a promised completion. Thus, telos threads the Bible together from Genesis promise to Revelation fulfillment, declaring a God who begins and completes what He designs (Philippians 1:6). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and teaching ought to keep the telos of love and salvation in view, refusing mere information transfer (1 Timothy 1:5). In sum, Strong’s 5056 gathers the entire redemptive drama into one coherent arc: God has declared the end from the beginning, centered that end in His Son, and calls His people to live today in the light of the coming telos. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:22 N-ANSGRK: ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος οὗτος σωθήσεται NAS: but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. KJV: endureth to the end shall be saved. INT: having endured to [the] end he will be saved Matthew 17:25 N-ANP Matthew 24:6 N-NNS Matthew 24:13 N-ANS Matthew 24:14 N-NNS Matthew 26:58 N-ANS Mark 3:26 N-ANS Mark 13:7 N-NNS Mark 13:13 N-ANS Luke 1:33 N-NNS Luke 18:5 N-ANS Luke 21:9 N-NNS Luke 22:37 N-ANS John 13:1 N-ANS Romans 6:21 N-NNS Romans 6:22 N-NNS Romans 10:4 N-NNS Romans 13:7 N-ANS Romans 13:7 N-ANS 1 Corinthians 1:8 N-GNS 1 Corinthians 10:11 N-NNP 1 Corinthians 15:24 N-NNS 2 Corinthians 1:13 N-GNS 2 Corinthians 3:13 N-ANS 2 Corinthians 11:15 N-NNS Strong's Greek 5056 |
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