Word Studies¶
Question¶
What does telos (G5056) mean in Romans 10:4? Termination, goal/purpose, or fulfillment?
G5056 - telos (THE CENTRAL WORD STUDY)¶
Original: telos Transliteration: telos Pronunciation: tel-os Part of Speech: Neuter noun BLB Count: 42 NT occurrences Etymology: From a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal)
Definition: End, goal, purpose, completion. The root tello means "to set out for a definite point or goal," which inherently carries the sense of purposeful direction toward an objective.
Translation Distribution in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | % | Verses |
|---|---|---|---|
| end | 14 | 35.9% | Mat 24:6; 26:58; Mar 13:7; Luk 1:33; 21:9; 1Co 15:24; 2Co 3:13; 11:15; 1Ti 1:5; Heb 6:8; 7:3; 1Pe 1:9; 1Pe 4:7; Rev 21:6 |
| the end | 13 | 33.3% | Mat 10:22; 24:13; Mar 13:13; Rom 6:21; 6:22; 10:4; 1Co 1:8; 2Co 1:13; Heb 3:6; 3:14; 6:11; Rev 2:26; 22:13 |
| custom | 3 | 7.7% | Mat 17:25; Rom 13:7 (x2) |
| shall the end | 2 | 5.1% | Mat 24:14; 1Pe 4:17 |
| an end | 2 | 5.1% | Mar 3:26; Luk 22:37 |
| her continual | 1 | 2.6% | Luk 18:5 |
| ends | 1 | 2.6% | 1Co 10:11 |
| the uttermost | 1 | 2.6% | 1Th 2:16 |
| Finally | 1 | 2.6% | 1Pe 3:8 |
| the ending | 1 | 2.6% | Rev 1:8 |
Complete Categorization of All NT Occurrences¶
Category 1: TEMPORAL END / TERMINATION (eschatological "end of the age")¶
These refer to the end of the present age or final events:
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 24:6 | "the end is not yet" | End of the age |
| Mat 24:13 | "he that shall endure unto the end" | End of the age |
| Mat 24:14 | "then shall the end come" | End of the age |
| Mar 13:7 | "the end shall not be yet" | End of the age |
| Mar 13:13 | "he that shall endure unto the end" | End of the age |
| Luk 21:9 | "the end is not by and by" | End of the age |
| 1Co 15:24 | "then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom" | Final consummation |
| 1Pe 4:7 | "the end of all things is at hand" | End of the age |
Category 2: OUTCOME / RESULT / CONSEQUENCE¶
These refer to the outcome or consequence of a course of action:
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:21 | "the end of those things is death" | Outcome/result |
| Rom 6:22 | "the end everlasting life" | Outcome/result |
| 2Co 11:15 | "whose end shall be according to their works" | Outcome/result |
| Php 3:19 | "whose end is destruction" | Outcome/result |
| Heb 6:8 | "whose end is to be burned" | Outcome/result |
| 1Pe 1:9 | "receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" | Outcome/goal |
| 1Pe 4:17 | "what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel" | Outcome/result |
| Jas 5:11 | "ye have seen the end of the Lord" | Outcome/purpose |
Category 3: GOAL / PURPOSE / AIM¶
These refer to the purpose, aim, or intended destination:
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| 1Ti 1:5 | "the end of the commandment is charity" | Goal/purpose |
| Rom 10:4 | "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness" | DISPUTED |
Category 4: CESSATION / ENDING¶
These refer to something ceasing to exist or operate:
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 3:26 | "he cannot stand, but hath an end" | Cessation |
| Luk 1:33 | "of his kingdom there shall be no end" | No cessation |
| Luk 22:37 | "things concerning me have an end" | Completion/fulfillment |
| Heb 7:3 | "neither beginning of days, nor end of life" | Cessation of life |
Category 5: PERSEVERANCE / "TO THE END"¶
These use telos in the sense of persevering to the finish:
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 10:22 | "he that endureth to the end shall be saved" | Perseverance |
| Mat 26:58 | "sat with the servants, to see the end" | The outcome |
| Jhn 13:1 | "he loved them unto the end" | Completely/to the utmost |
| 1Co 1:8 | "confirm you unto the end" | To the finish |
| 2Co 1:13 | "ye shall acknowledge even to the end" | To the finish |
| Heb 3:6 | "hold fast the confidence...firm unto the end" | Perseverance |
| Heb 3:14 | "hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" | Perseverance |
| Heb 6:11 | "the full assurance of hope unto the end" | Perseverance |
| Rev 2:26 | "keepeth my works unto the end" | Perseverance |
Category 6: COSMIC "BEGINNING AND END" (Alpha-Omega)¶
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:8 | "the beginning and the ending" | Cosmic terminus |
| Rev 21:6 | "the beginning and the end" | Cosmic terminus |
| Rev 22:13 | "the beginning and the end" | Cosmic terminus |
Category 7: TAX / CUSTOM / TOLL¶
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 17:25 | "of whom do the kings of the earth take custom" | Tax/toll |
| Rom 13:7 | "custom to whom custom" (x2) | Tax/toll |
Category 8: SPATIAL / EXTENT¶
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| 1Co 10:11 | "upon whom the ends of the world are come" | Spatial extent |
| 1Th 2:16 | "wrath is come upon them to the uttermost" | Fullest extent |
| Luk 18:5 | "by her continual coming she weary me" | Continual (eis telos) |
Category 9: TELOS in 2 Corinthians 3:13 (ANOTHER KEY VERSE)¶
| Verse | Text | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| 2Co 3:13 | "could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished" | Ambiguous: goal/outcome OR fading endpoint |
Note on 2Co 3:13: This verse is important because it uses both telos AND katargeo (the same verb from Rom 3:31). The phrase "eis to telos tou katargoumenou" could mean either "unto the goal/culmination of that which was being set aside" or "unto the fading end of that which was being abolished." The referent of "that which is abolished" is debated: is it the glory (doxa) on Moses' face, or the old covenant ministry?
Summary of Semantic Range¶
| Sense | Count | % of all occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal end / eschatological | 8 | 19% |
| Outcome / result / consequence | 8 | 19% |
| Perseverance ("unto the end") | 9 | 21% |
| Cessation / ending | 4 | 10% |
| Cosmic Alpha-Omega | 3 | 7% |
| Tax / custom | 3 | 7% |
| Goal / purpose | 1-2 | 2-5% |
| Spatial extent | 3 | 7% |
| Ambiguous (2Co 3:13) | 1 | 2% |
The 1 Timothy 1:5 Parallel (CRITICAL)¶
Greek structure comparison:
| Element | Romans 10:4 | 1 Timothy 1:5 |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | telos (G5056, Nom Sg N) | to telos (G5056, Nom Sg N, with article) |
| Genitive modifier | nomou (G3551, Gen Sg M) | tes paraggelias (G3852, Gen Sg F) |
| Predicate | Christos (G5547, Nom Sg M) | agape (G26, Nom Sg F) |
| Additional | eis dikaiosynen panti to pisteuonti | ek katharas kardias... |
Structural parallel: - Rom 10:4: telos + [genitive of law/commandment] = [predicate nominative] - 1Ti 1:5: telos + [genitive of law/commandment] = [predicate nominative]
In 1 Tim 1:5: - "The telos of the commandment (paraggelia) is love (agape)" - The commandment is NOT terminated -- love is its GOAL/PURPOSE - The immediate context confirms: vv. 8-10 say the law is GOOD and list Decalogue violations as still sinful - This is decisive evidence for the "goal/purpose" sense in the identical construction
paraggelia (G3852): Means "charge, command, mandate" (5 NT occurrences: Acts 5:28; 16:24; 1Th 4:2; 1Ti 1:5). In 1 Tim 1:5, it refers to the charge/commandment Paul is discussing -- specifically related to the law (see v. 7-10).
The Etymology Argument¶
The root tello means "to set out for a definite point or goal." This etymology supports the "goal/purpose" sense, though etymology alone does not determine meaning in context. However, it indicates the word's semantic core involves directionality toward an objective.
G3551 - nomos (law)¶
Original: nomos Transliteration: nomos Part of Speech: Masculine noun BLB Count: 197 NT occurrences Definition: From nemo (to parcel out); law, statute
Key for This Study¶
- In Rom 10:4: nomou (genitive) -- anarthrous (no article)
- Paul uses nomos in at least 4 distinct senses in Romans:
- The Mosaic law as a whole (the Torah)
- The moral law / Ten Commandments specifically
- A principle or system (e.g., "law of faith" Rom 3:27; "law of sin" Rom 7:23)
- The OT Scriptures generally (e.g., Rom 3:19)
- When Paul quotes specific law content, it is consistently Decalogue (Rom 7:7 = 10th commandment; Rom 13:9 = commandments 6-10)
Translation Distribution¶
G1343 - dikaiosune (righteousness)¶
Original: dikaiosune Transliteration: dikaiosyne Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 92 NT occurrences Definition: Equity (of character or act); Christian justification
Key for This Study¶
- In Rom 10:4: eis dikaiosynen = "for/unto righteousness" (purpose)
- This qualifier limits the scope: Christ is the telos of the law specifically FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
- The question is not whether the law exists, but where righteousness comes from
- Paul's argument: righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not through works of the law
- Key occurrences in context:
- Rom 10:3 (3x): "God's righteousness... their own righteousness... the righteousness of God"
- Rom 10:4: "for righteousness"
- Rom 10:5: "the righteousness which is of the law"
- Rom 10:6: "the righteousness which is of faith"
- Rom 10:10: "believeth unto righteousness"
G2673 - katargeo (make void, abolish)¶
Original: katargeo Transliteration: katargeo Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 27 NT occurrences Definition: To be (render) entirely idle (useless); to make void, abolish
Key for This Study¶
- Used in Rom 3:31: "Do we then make void (katargoumen) the law through faith? God forbid (me genoito)!"
- Same verb used in 2Co 3:7,11,13 for "done away" / "abolished"
- Same verb used in Eph 2:15 for "having abolished"
- Same verb used in Gal 5:4 for "become of no effect"
- The verb's wide translation range shows it does NOT always mean "abolish/terminate" -- it can mean "render inactive" or "make powerless"
Critical Usage in Rom 3:31¶
Paul explicitly asks: "Do we katargeo the law through faith?" and answers with me genoito (the strongest possible Greek negation). This constrains the reading of Rom 10:4: if telos meant "termination" of the law, it would directly contradict Paul's emphatic denial in 3:31 that faith makes the law void.
Translation Variants¶
shall destroy (2x), is done away (2x), make void (1x), made of none effect (1x),
might be destroyed (1x), bring to nought (1x), shall be done away (1x),
of that which is abolished (1x), Having abolished (1x), he might destroy (1x)
G2476 - histemi (stand, establish)¶
Original: histemi Transliteration: histemi Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 158 NT occurrences Definition: To stand, set, establish
Key for This Study¶
- Used in Rom 3:31: "we establish (histanomen) the law"
- Present Active Indicative 1st Plural: "we are establishing the law"
- This is the POSITIVE counterpart to the negated katargeo
- Paul says faith does not destroy the law; rather, faith ESTABLISHES it
- Also used in Rom 10:3: Israel was "going about to establish (stesai) their own righteousness"
- Same root, different form: they sought to establish their OWN righteousness
- Paul says faith establishes the LAW (3:31) while Israel wrongly tried to establish their OWN righteousness (10:3)
G4137 - pleroo (fulfill, fill)¶
Original: pleroo Transliteration: pleroo Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 90 NT occurrences Definition: To make replete; to fulfill, fill full
Key for This Study¶
- Used in Rom 8:4: "That the righteousness (dikaioma) of the law might be fulfilled (plerothe) in us"
- Used in Rom 13:8: "he that loveth another hath fulfilled (pepleroken) the law"
- Used in Mat 5:17: "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (plerosai)"
- Used in Gal 5:14: "all the law is fulfilled (peplerotal) in one word"
- NOTE: telos and pleroo are DIFFERENT words. Paul does not use pleroo in Rom 10:4; he uses telos. If he meant "fulfillment" in the sense of pleroo, he had that word available.
Translation Variants¶
it might be fulfilled (8x), be fulfilled (6x), filled (4x),
was fulfilled (3x), to fulfil (3x), is fulfilled (3x), fulfilled (3x)
G3807 - paidagogos (schoolmaster, tutor)¶
Original: paidagogos Transliteration: paidagogos Part of Speech: Masculine noun BLB Count: 3 NT occurrences only Definition: From pais (child) + ago (to lead); a boy-leader, servant-guardian
All 3 Occurrences¶
- Gal 3:24 - "the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ"
- Gal 3:25 - "we are no longer under a schoolmaster"
- 1Co 4:15 - "though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ"
Key for This Study¶
- The paidagogos was NOT a teacher but a slave who supervised children, escorted them to school, and enforced discipline
- The child did not "outgrow" the MORAL STANDARDS the paidagogos enforced; they outgrew the SUPERVISORY STATUS of being under a guardian
- "No longer under a paidagogos" = change of STATUS (mature heir vs. supervised minor), not change of MORAL STANDARD
- The eis Christon in Gal 3:24 is ambiguous:
- Directional: "unto/toward Christ" (the law led us TO Christ = goal)
- Temporal: "until Christ" (the law served UNTIL Christ came = termination point)
Greek Parsing of Gal 3:24¶
hoste ho nomos paidagogos hemon gegonen eis Christon, hina ek pisteos dikaiothomen
- gegonen (Perfect Active Indicative): "has become" - completed action with ongoing result
- eis Christon: prep + accusative - directional or temporal
- hina ek pisteos dikaiothomen: "so that we might be justified by faith" - purpose clause
Telos Word Family Summary¶
| Strong's | Word | Part of Speech | Count | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G5056 | telos | noun | 42 | End, goal, purpose, completion |
| G5055 | teleo | verb | 26 | To end, complete, execute, discharge |
| G5048 | teleioo | verb | 24 | To complete, accomplish, perfect |
| G5046 | teleios | adjective | 19 | Complete, perfect, mature |
| G5051 | teleiotes | noun | 1 | Completer, finisher (Heb 12:2 only) |
| G5049 | teleios (adv) | adverb | 1 | Completely |
| G5050 | teleiosis | noun | 2 | Completion, verification |
The word family consistently carries the sense of COMPLETION, MATURITY, and REACHING A GOAL rather than mere cessation or termination. Jesus is called the teleiotes (G5051) of faith in Heb 12:2 -- the "finisher/completer/perfecter" of faith -- not the terminator of faith.
G4102 - pistis (faith)¶
Original: pistis Transliteration: pistis Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 244 NT occurrences Definition: Persuasion, credence; moral conviction of religious truth
Key for This Study¶
- In Rom 10:4: panti to pisteuonti = "to everyone who believes" (present active participle of pisteuo, from pistis)
- The telos of the law for righteousness is specifically "to every one that believeth"
- This connects to Rom 1:16: "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth"
- And to Rom 3:22: "unto all and upon all them that believe"
- The "to every one that believeth" qualifier in Rom 10:4 further supports telos = goal: Christ is the law's goal FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to all who believe
G3852 - paraggelia (commandment/charge)¶
Original: paraggelia Transliteration: paraggelia Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 5 NT occurrences Definition: A mandate; charge, command
Key for This Study¶
- Used in 1 Tim 1:5: "the telos of the paraggelia is love"
- This is the genitive noun modified by telos, parallel to nomou in Rom 10:4
- Both nomos and paraggelia refer to commandment/law in their respective contexts
- The fact that the paraggelia in 1 Tim 1:5 is NOT terminated (love is its goal, and vv. 8-10 affirm the law's ongoing validity) is the strongest internal-biblical evidence for telos = "goal" in Rom 10:4
Key Greek Parsing Comparison: Rom 10:4 vs 1 Tim 1:5¶
Romans 10:4¶
telos gar nomou Christos eis dikaiosynen panti to pisteuonti
[end/goal] for of-law Christ for-righteousness to-every the believing
Nom.Sg.N CONJ Gen.Sg.M Nom.Sg.M PREP+Acc.Sg.F Dat.Sg.M Dat.Sg.M
1 Timothy 1:5¶
to de telos tes paraggelias estin agape
the but [end/goal] of-the commandment is love
Art CONJ Nom.Sg.N Gen.Sg.F V-3S Nom.Sg.F
Structural identity: Both sentences predicate telos + genitive of a law/commandment term with a nominative predicate. In 1 Tim 1:5, the meaning is unambiguously "goal/purpose" (love is the goal of the commandment). This makes the identical construction in Rom 10:4 most naturally read as "Christ is the goal/purpose of the law."