# G5056 - telos **Strong's:** [G5056](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5056/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** tel'-os **Part of speech:** neuter noun **NT occurrences:** 41 ## Semantic range 1. **End, termination, conclusion**, the temporal-finalizing sense 2. **Goal, purpose, aim**, the teleological-purposive sense 3. **Outcome, result, consequence**, what ultimately happens 4. **Completion, fulfillment**, what was set in motion is brought to fruition 5. **Tax, custom, payment** in a few legal-economic contexts The Greek philosophical tradition (Aristotelian *telos*) emphasizes the *goal-directed nature* of beings, what they are *for*. NT *telos* uses preserve this teleological force alongside the temporal-end sense. ## Theological force ### Eschatological *telos*, the end of the age The most theologically loaded use is **the eschatological end**: - **[Matthew 24:6](/codex/matthew-24-6/), [13-14](/codex/matthew-24-13-14/)**, "the *telos* is not yet"; "the gospel must first be preached… then the *telos* will come" - **[Mark 13:7](/codex/mark-13-7/), [13](/codex/mark-13-13/)**, parallel - **[Luke 21:9](/codex/luke-21-9/)**, parallel - **[1 Corinthians 1:8](/codex/1-corinthians-1-8/)**, "blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" - **[1 Corinthians 15:24](/codex/1-corinthians-15-24/)**, "then comes the *telos*, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father" - **[Hebrews 6:11](/codex/hebrews-6-11/); 7:3**, *telos* - **[1 Peter 4:7](/codex/1-peter-4-7/)**, "the *telos* of all things is at hand" - **[Revelation 1:8](/codex/revelation-1-8/); 21:6; 22:13**, Christ as the *telos*, "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the *telos*" The eschatological-*telos* texts present: - A definite future-end of the present age - Christ as the agent of that end (His *parousia* brings it) - Final judgment + resurrection consummating the end - Christ Himself as the *telos*, the goal toward which all history moves ### Christ as *telos* of the Law, [Romans 10:4](/codex/romans-10-4/) > *Telos gar nomou Christos eis dikaiosynēn panti tō pisteuonti.*, "For Christ is the *telos* of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes." This verse contains a famous interpretive crux. Two main readings: 1. **Christ as the *terminus* / *end* of the Law**, the Law has come to an end as a way of righteousness; Christ is the conclusion of the Mosaic-covenant economy 2. **Christ as the *goal* / *fulfillment* of the Law**, the Law was always pointing forward to Christ; He is what the Law was *for* Both readings have substantial defenders. Most modern conservative scholarship combines them: Christ is *both* the goal *and* the end, the Law's purpose was always Christ; in Him the Law-as-way-of-righteousness is concluded; the [New Covenant](/codex/jeremiah-31-33/) supersedes the Old (without abolishing the moral force). ### *Telos* as goal / purpose - **[Romans 6:21-22](/codex/romans-6-21-22/)**, "what fruit were you having? *Telos* of those things is death… but now… you have your fruit, resulting in sanctification, and the *telos*, eternal life" - **[2 Corinthians 11:15](/codex/2-corinthians-11-15/)**, "their *telos* will be according to their deeds" - **[Philippians 3:19](/codex/philippians-3-19/)**, "their *telos* is destruction" - **[1 Timothy 1:5](/codex/1-timothy-1-5/)**, "the *telos* of our instruction is love from a pure heart" - **[Hebrews 6:8](/codex/hebrews-6-8/)**, "*telos* is to be burned" - **[James 5:11](/codex/james-5-11/)**, "you have seen the *telos* of the Lord's dealings" (regarding Job) - **[1 Peter 1:9](/codex/1-peter-1-9/)**, "the *telos* of your faith, the salvation of your souls" The pattern: *telos* often signals the *outcome* / *destiny* of a course of action, a teleological-tracking of where something is *going*. ### *Telos* in Aristotelian / philosophical tradition Greek *telos* is the technical term for **final cause** in Aristotelian metaphysics. Beings have a *telos*, a goal / purpose for which they exist. This grounds **teleology**, the study of purposes / ends in nature. Modern philosophical engagement: - **Mechanism / Darwinism**, denies natural teleology; nature has no goals; everything is mechanical / random - **Aristotelian-Thomistic realism**, natural teleology is real; living beings have intrinsic goal-directedness - **Intelligent Design**, extracts design-inference from apparent teleology The biblical anthropology presupposes teleology, humans are *for* something (relationship with God, image-bearing, dominion stewardship). See [Argument from Purpose Meaning and Hope](/codex/argument-from-purpose-meaning-and-hope/). ## *Telos* and the perfect (*teleios*) Cognate vocabulary: - ***telos***, the goal / end (noun) - ***teleios*** (G5046), perfect / complete / mature (adjective; goal-having-been-reached) - ***teleioō*** (G5048), to bring to perfection / completion (verb) [Hebrews 5:9](/codex/hebrews-5-9/), Christ "having been *teleiōtheis*", "made perfect" / "brought to His goal"; this becomes the source of eternal salvation. ## Notable verses - **[Matthew 10:22](/codex/matthew-10-22/); 24:6, 13-14**, eschatological *telos* - **[John 13:1](/codex/john-13-1/)**, Jesus loved His own *eis telos*, "to the end" / "to perfection" - **[Romans 6:21-22](/codex/romans-6-21-22/)**, *telos* of sin / sanctification - **[Romans 10:4](/codex/romans-10-4/)**, Christ as *telos* of the Law - **[Romans 13:7](/codex/romans-13-7/)**, *telos* (tax / due) - **[1 Corinthians 1:8](/codex/1-corinthians-1-8/)**, *telos* in the day of Christ - **[1 Corinthians 10:11](/codex/1-corinthians-10-11/)**, "the *telē* of the ages have come" - **[1 Corinthians 15:24](/codex/1-corinthians-15-24/)**, *telos* when Christ hands over the kingdom - **[2 Corinthians 1:13](/codex/2-corinthians-1-13/)**, "to the *telos*" - **[Philippians 3:19](/codex/philippians-3-19/)**, *telos* is destruction (the lost) - **[1 Timothy 1:5](/codex/1-timothy-1-5/)**, *telos* of instruction is love - **[Hebrews 3:6](/codex/hebrews-3-6/), [14](/codex/hebrews-3-14/); 6:11**, *telos*-perseverance - **[James 5:11](/codex/james-5-11/)**, *telos* of the Lord (regarding Job) - **[1 Peter 1:9](/codex/1-peter-1-9/)**, *telos* of faith - **[1 Peter 4:7](/codex/1-peter-4-7/)**, "the *telos* of all things is at hand" - **[Revelation 21:6](/codex/revelation-21-6/); 22:13**, Christ as Alpha and *Telos* ## Patristic / scholarly note The *telos* / Aristotelian teleology connection: - Patristic engagement (Augustine; Aquinas) integrated Aristotelian teleology with Christian providence - Medieval Scholasticism systematized the teleological framework - Reformation: Calvin engaged teleology in providence-doctrine Modern engagement: - Robert Spaemann (*Persons*, 2007) - Edward Feser (*Aristotle's Revenge*, 2019; *Aquinas*, 2009) - Alasdair MacIntyre (*After Virtue*, 1981), virtue-ethics-teleology - Jonathan Pennington (*The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing*, 2017), biblical-teleological reading of [Mt 5](/codex/matthew-5/)-7 ## See also - [G5046 - teleios](/codex/g5046-teleios/), perfect / complete - [G2540 - kairos](/codex/g2540-kairos/), time - [G3952 - parousia](/codex/g3952-parousia/), coming - [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), eternal - [Argument from Purpose Meaning and Hope](/codex/argument-from-purpose-meaning-and-hope/), apologetic syllogism - [Revelation 21](/codex/revelation-21/), eschatological consummation ## Notes _Lexical workspace for telos._