Verses¶
Question¶
What does telos (G5056) mean in Romans 10:4? Termination, goal/purpose, or fulfillment?
I. The Primary Passage: Romans 9:30-10:13¶
Romans 9:30-33 (Israel Stumbles at the Stumbling-Stone)¶
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:1-4 (Israel's Self-Righteousness and the Telos)¶
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:5-8 (Moses Describes Faith-Righteousness)¶
Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]:)
Romans 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Romans 10:9-13 (Salvation by Faith for All)¶
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
II. The Key Parallel: 1 Timothy 1:3-11¶
1 Timothy 1:3-11 (The Telos of the Commandment Is Love)¶
1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do].
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Note: This passage is the closest structural parallel to Rom 10:4. Both use telos (G5056) + genitive of law/commandment. In 1 Tim 1:5, "the telos of the commandment is love" -- the commandment is clearly not terminated; its GOAL/PURPOSE is love. Furthermore, vv. 8-10 explicitly affirm the law is "good" and enumerate Decalogue violations.
III. Romans 3:19-31 (Establishing the Law Through Faith)¶
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 3:26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:29 [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Romans 3:30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
IV. Galatians 3:19-29 (The Law as Schoolmaster)¶
Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one.
Galatians 3:21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
V. Romans: The Law Is Holy, Just, Good, Spiritual¶
Romans 7:7-14¶
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:10 And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.
Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me].
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 8:1-4 (The Righteousness of the Law Fulfilled in Us)¶
Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 13:8-10 (Love Fulfills the Decalogue)¶
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
VI. Additional Key Passages¶
Matthew 5:17-20 (Not Come to Destroy but to Fulfill)¶
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (The Word Is Nigh Thee -- Quoted in Rom 10:6-8)¶
Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it [is] not hidden from thee, neither [is] it far off.
Deuteronomy 30:12 It [is] not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deuteronomy 30:13 Neither [is] it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Genesis 15:6 (Abraham Believed -- the Faith Pattern)¶
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Habakkuk 2:4 (The Just Shall Live by Faith -- Quoted in Rom 1:17)¶
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Isaiah 28:16 (The Stumbling-Stone -- Quoted in Rom 9:33)¶
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
2 Corinthians 3:7-13 (Telos of That Which Is Abolished)¶
2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away:
2 Corinthians 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Corinthians 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away [was] glorious, much more that which remaineth [is] glorious.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2 Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
1 Peter 1:6-9 (The Telos of Your Faith)¶
1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
Hebrews 12:2 (Jesus the Teleiotes -- Finisher of Faith)¶
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
VII. Supporting Verses from Topic Entries¶
Righteousness by Faith Pattern¶
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:9 [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The Law Written on Hearts¶
Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
The Law of God: Character and Permanence¶
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Justification Not by Works of the Law¶
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Law and Abolition¶
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
The Outcome/End of Various Things (Telos in Other Contexts)¶
Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Philippians 3:19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
VIII. Cross-Testament Parallels (from tool output)¶
Top NT Parallels for ROM 10:4¶
- ROM 3:22 (0.456) - "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe"
- PHP 3:9 (0.437) - righteousness through faith in Christ, not from the law
- GAL 2:21 (0.435) - "if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain"
- GAL 3:24 (0.431) - "the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith"
- ROM 8:4 (0.419) - "the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us"
- ROM 3:21 (0.418) - "the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets"
Top NT Parallels for 1TI 1:5¶
- HEB 10:22 (0.507) - pure heart, good conscience, faith
- 2TI 2:22 (0.405) - faith, love, pure heart
- ROM 10:10 (0.357) - "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness"
Top NT Parallels for ROM 3:31¶
- GAL 3:12 (0.434) - "the law is not of faith"
- GAL 2:16 (0.414) - justified by faith of Christ, not works of law
- ROM 6:15 (0.413) - "shall we sin because we are not under the law? God forbid"
- GAL 3:21 (0.412) - "Is the law against the promises? God forbid"
Top NT Parallels for GAL 3:24¶
- GAL 2:16 (0.476) - justified by faith, not works of law
- ROM 3:28 (0.452) - justified by faith without deeds of law
- GAL 5:4 (0.440) - "justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace"
- ROM 10:4 (0.431) - Christ the telos of the law for righteousness
IX. Concept Context for ROM 10:4¶
Concepts in This Verse¶
- MESSIAH (G5547)
- TELOS (G5056)
- LAW (G3551)
- RIGHTEOUSNESS (G1343)
- FAITH (G4100)
Same Chapter (Romans 10) -- 12 conceptually connected verses¶
Key: Rom 10:3 (righteousness), 10:5 (law + righteousness), 10:6 (faith + messiah + righteousness), 10:10 (faith + righteousness), 10:11 (faith), 10:17 (faith)
Same Book (Romans) -- 179 conceptually connected verses¶
Key: Rom 3:22, 3:28, 4:13, 5:1, 1:16-17, 2:13, 2:26-27
Same Author (Paul) -- 449 conceptually connected verses¶
Key: Gal 2:16 (all 5 concepts), Gal 3:24 (all 5 concepts), Gal 2:21, Gal 3:11, Gal 5:4, 1 Cor 1:30, 1 Cor 1:8