Greek word · G2005

ἐπιτελέω

epiteleō

to complete

'To bring to an end, accomplish, carry through, complete.' It also means to carry out a duty or perform a religious rite. The word is built on τέλος, 'end' or 'goal', so the idea is reaching the intended goal, not just stopping.

Appears 10 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-τελέω, -ῶ

[in LXX for כָּלָה, עָשָׂה, etc. ;]

to complete, accomplish, execute: with accusative of thing(s), Romans 15:28, 2 Corinthians 7:1 8:6 8:11, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 8:5; of religious services (cf. Hdt., ii, 37, al.), Hebrews 9:6; art. inf., 2 Corinthians 8:11. Mid.,

(a) to complete for oneself, make an end (R, mg.; pass., R, txt; cf. Meyer, in l): Galatians 3:3;

(b) to pay in full, pay the tax, be subject to: with accusative (cf. Xen., Mem., iv, 8, 8), 1 Peter 5:9 (pass., RV, etc.; cf. Thayer, see word; ICC, in 1).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Philippians 1:6

Range of meaning

'To bring to an end, accomplish, carry through, complete.' It also means to carry out a duty or perform a religious rite. The word is built on τέλος, 'end' or 'goal', so the idea is reaching the intended goal, not just stopping.

Against the English

BSB/NIV 'carry it on to completion' captures both the ongoing process and the goal. WEB 'complete' is accurate. KJV 'perform' meant 'carry out, accomplish' in 1611, but today it suggests acting on a stage. NASB 'perfect' can suggest moral flawlessness, which the word does not focus on.

How it drifted

In older English 'perform' meant 'fulfil, carry through', as in performing a vow or a promise. Its main modern sense is staging or doing something before an audience.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rom 15:28 (finishing delivery of the collection); 2 Cor 7:1 ('bringing holiness to completion'); 2 Cor 8:6, 11; Gal 3:3. In Hebrews it is used of Moses completing the tabernacle (8:5) and priests carrying out their services (9:6). In ordinary Greek of the period it was used for carrying out obligations and rites (Moulton–Milligan).

From the study of 2 Corinthians 7:1

Range of meaning

To bring to an end, complete, accomplish, carry out. In Greek religious language it was often used of performing sacrifices or rites (it appears in Herodotus and Philo for carrying out cult acts). Elsewhere in Paul: Gal 3:3 ("having begun by the Spirit, are you now being completed by the flesh?"), Phil 1:6 (God "will carry it on to completion"), and 2 Cor 8:6, 11 (completing the collection).

Against the English

KJV, NASB, WEB, YLT, BSB and NIV have "perfecting". ESV has "bringing … to completion", and NLT "work toward complete holiness".

How it drifted

In 1611, "perfect" (from Latin perficere) meant "bring to completion". Modern English hears "perfect" as "flawless", which can suggest sinless perfection or an unreachable standard.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb is common in papyri and inscriptions for finishing a task and for carrying out religious duties. The Vulgate has perficientes, the source of the English "perfecting".

From the study of 1 Peter 5:9

Range of meaning

To bring to completion, finish, accomplish. To carry out or perform, used especially of religious rites. To lay upon or impose. In the middle form, possibly to pay in full or discharge a debt.

Against the English

The KJV's "are accomplished in" keeps the idea of completion, but today "accomplished" sounds like success or achievement. BSB/WEB "are undergoing" and ESV "are being experienced" are clear but drop the idea that the sufferings are moving toward completion or being paid in full.

How it drifted

In older English "accomplish" meant "bring to its full end". Modern English has narrowed it toward "achieve".

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament: "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Phil 1:6); "complete what you began" (2 Cor 8:6, 11); priests "performing" their service (Heb 9:6). In classical Greek it is used for performing sacrifices. Commentators and BDAG cite Xenophon (Memorabilia 4.8.8) for a middle sense, paying the toll of old age.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 15:28 ἐπιτελέσας having finished

    So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.

2 Corinthians · 4

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:1 ἐπιτελοῦντες perfecting

    Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

    Here: "Bringing to completion": the present participle describes an ongoing process that comes along with the cleansing. In Greek religious usage the verb was also used for performing a rite or sacrifice, which fits the temple imagery here.

  2. 2 Corinthians 8:6 ἐπιτελέσῃ he may complete

    So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

    Here: 'He should bring to completion.' It is the natural partner of 'begin,' and Paul pairs the two verbs elsewhere (Gal 3:3; Phil 1:6). The project at Corinth had stalled, and finishing it is the whole point.

  3. 2 Corinthians 8:11 ἐπιτελέσατε, ἐπιτελέσαι do complete, to complete

    Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 3:3 ἐπιτελεῖσθε; are you being perfected?

    Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

    Here: Present tense, and the form can be read either 'are you finishing?' or 'are you being completed?'. Its pair is 'having begun': start and finish. The present tense pictures something under way, possibly 'are you trying to finish?', since the Galatians had apparently not yet been circumcised (5:2).

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 1:6 ἐπιτελέσει will complete [it]

    being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    Here: Future tense: 'will bring to its full end'. It is the partner word of 'having begun', so whoever starts the work also finishes it.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 8:5 ἐπιτελεῖν to complete

    The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

    Here: To carry the tent project through to completion, i.e. to build and set it up.

  2. Hebrews 9:6 ἐπιτελοῦντες· accomplishing;

    When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 5:9 ἐπιτελεῖσθαι.¶ [is] being accomplished.

    Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

    Here: "Are being carried through to completion." It is in the present tense and describes something happening now. The verb implies the sufferings are going toward an end the believers can see, or are a toll being paid in full. It is more than "are happening".

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.