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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Strong’s G5056: A neuter noun meaning “end,” “goal,” or “purpose,” representing both termination and fulfillment. Used in the New Testament to describe the ultimate purpose or goal toward which something moves, particularly in relation to God’s redemptive plan and Christ’s completion of the law.
τέλος embodies more than just an ending; it represents the goal or purpose toward which everything moves. In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts, from describing the completion of faith’s journey in Matthew 10:22 to declaring Christ as the “end” or goal of the law in Romans 10:4. The early church understood τέλος as expressing both temporal conclusion and purposeful fulfillment, seeing in Christ the ultimate goal of all Scripture and history. Today, this word continues to remind believers that history moves purposefully toward God’s appointed end, with Christ as both the goal and the fulfillment of all things.
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Etymology:
Translation Options:
Nominal Features:
Examples:
Lexical sources reveal τέλος’s rich meaning. BDAG emphasizes its dual sense of termination and goal. Thayer’s highlights its use in describing Christ as the law’s fulfillment. LSJ traces its classical usage from “turning point” to “purpose.” Vine’s notes its significance in eschatological contexts. Strong’s connects it to the concept of reaching a limit. Moulton and Milligan document its use in tax receipts and commercial contexts. The combined evidence suggests τέλος carried both temporal and teleological significance, expressing both conclusion and purposeful fulfillment.
First appearance:
“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end [τέλος] who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22
Additional References:
Matthew 24:6, Matthew 24:14, Luke 1:33, Romans 10:4, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Timothy 1:5, Hebrews 6:8, James 5:11, 1 Peter 4:7
Author: Work | Text |
---|---|
Plato: Republic | “Justice is not merely a means, but the end [τέλος] of human life.” |
Aristotle: Ethics | “Happiness is the supreme end [τέλος] toward which all actions aim.” |
Thucydides: History | “The end [τέλος] of the war brought unexpected changes to Greece.” |
τέλος powerfully expresses God’s purposeful direction of all things toward their appointed end in Christ. As the goal of the law and the purpose of creation, Jesus gives meaning to history and human existence. This word reminds us that our lives and the entire cosmos move not toward meaningless termination but toward divine fulfillment. The good news proclaims that in Christ, we find both our purpose and our destination, as He is the τέλος toward which all God’s promises and plans converge.
Strong’s G5056: A neuter noun meaning “end,” “goal,” or “purpose,” representing both termination and fulfillment. Used in the New Testament to describe the ultimate purpose or goal toward which something moves, particularly in relation to God’s redemptive plan and Christ’s completion of the law.
Part of speech: Noun
Tags: end, purpose, goal, fulfillment, eschatology, completion, Christ, law, destiny, ultimate-aim
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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