We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 October 2009
The most thorough study of the terminology so far advanced is that of P. J. Du Plessis, and it will be noted in the following pages to what extent I am indebted to this work. However, his treatment of the verb in extra-Biblical and Septuagintal usage is surprisingly inadequate. It is true that Hebrews employs related terminology in important contexts, but τελειοεῦν is more extensively used than any other member of this word group, occurring nine times (2:10; 5:9; 7:19, 28; 9:9; 10:1,14; 11:40; 12: 23). It must therefore be the focus of my study in this preliminary exercise. Although the relevant article by G. Delling in the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (vol. VIII, pp. 49–87) makes up for this lack in certain respects, its treatment of the Septuagintal evidence again leaves much to be desired.
Classical Greek sources
Du Plessis begins by noting the significance of τέλος in this literature. The ‘final notions of telos are never indicative of mere cessation, discontinuation or suspended action. When finality is incurred, it is accompanied by a hint of innate fulfilment’ (p. 41). Thus, τέλος implies ‘aim’ or ‘the preconceived end’. As a denomination of τέλος, the verb τελεῖν reflects some of the characteristics of the noun. Its ‘dynamic character is foremost: to perform a task or execute what is expected’ (p. 69). Its compass of meanings includes ‘to bring to an end’, ‘to finish’ and the technical religious sense ‘to initiate’, or even ‘to consecrate (to the priesthood)’ (pp. 69–72).
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
