Greek · G5056 · unreviewed

τέλος

Goal/tax

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τέλος G5056

Pronunciation télos

What does τέλος (télos) mean in the Bible?

τέλος (télos) is a Greek word meaning "goal/tax". τέλος, -ους, τό [in LXX for קֵץ, etc. Shows that Christ is the culmination and purpose of the law. This term runs through the canonical themes of Justice, Messiah.

Full entry for τέλος (G5056) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

goal/tax

Extended definition

End denotes both termination of time/action and ultimate purpose or goal toward which something aims.

1end: most frequently of the termination or limit of an act or state (in NT also of the end of a period of time, cl. τελευτή), Luk.1:33, 1Co.10:11, 2Co.3:13, 1Pe.4:7; by meton., of one who makes an end, Rom.10:4; ἕως (ἄχρι, μέκρι) τέλους, 1Co.1:8, 2Co.1:13, Heb.3:14 6:11, Rev.2:26; εἰς τ., to or at the end, Mat.10:22, Mrk.13:13, Luk.18:5, Jhn.13:1 (or here, to the uttermost, see Westc., in l); τ. ἔχειν, Luk.22:37; adverbially, τὸ δὲ τέλος, finally, 1Pe.3:8; of the last in a series, Rev.21:6 22:13; of the issue, fate or destiny, Mat.26:58; with genitive of thing(s), Rom.6:21, al.; with genitive of person(s), 2Co.11:13, al.; of the aim or purpose, 1Ti.1:5.

2toll, custom, revenue: Rom.13:7; pl., as most usually, Mat.17:25

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Shows that Christ is the culmination and purpose of the law. 1 Peter 4:7-11

Refers to final consummation, not every crisis. Luke 21:7–11

Signals redemptive culmination shaping present conduct. Romans 9:30-10:4

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 24:6 · Matt 24:14 · Mark 13:7 · Luke 1:33 · Luke 21:9 · Rom 6:21 · Rom 10:4 · 1 Cor 15:24 · 2 Cor 11:15 · Phil 3:19 · 1 Tim 1:5 · Heb 6:8 · 1 Pet 4:7 · 1 Pet 4:17 · Rev 21:6 · Rev 22:13 16×

Nominative · Plural · Neuter 1 Cor 10:11 1×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter 1 Cor 1:8 · 2 Cor 1:13 · Heb 3:14 · Heb 6:11 · Rev 2:26 5×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 10:22 · Matt 24:13 · Matt 26:58 · Mark 3:26 · Mark 13:13 · Luke 18:5 · Luke 22:37 · John 13:1 · Rom 6:22 · Rom 13:7 · 2 Cor 3:13 · 1 Thess 2:16 · Heb 7:3 · Jas 5:11 · 1 Pet 1:9 · 1 Pet 3:8 17×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 17:25 1×

Canonical Themes

JusticeMessiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Peter 4:7-11 end télos Nominative · Singular · Neuter

goal, culmination

Luke 21:7–11 τέλος télos Nominative · Singular · Neuter

end

Romans 9:30-10:4 τέλος télos Nominative · Singular · Neuter

End, goal, fulfillment.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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