Greek word · G4135

πληροφορέω

plērophoreō

to fulfill

Literally 'to carry full': to fill completely, to accomplish fully, to pay in full or settle. In the passive with reference to a person: to be fully convinced, fully assured, to have settled certainty.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

πληροφορέω, -ῶ

[in LXX: Ecclesiastes 8:11 (מָלֵא) * ;]

1. to bring in full measure, hence, to fulfil, accomplish: Luke 1:1, 2 Timothy 4:5 4:17.

2. to persuade, assure or satisfy fully (so in π.; see Deiss., LAE, 82 f.; M, Th., 9): pass., Romans 4:21 14:5, Colossians 4:12 (see Lft., in l).

3. to fill: Romans 15:13, L, mg. (Cl. Ro., 1 Corinthians 5:4); metaphorically, pass., to be filled with, hence, fully bent on (Ec, l.with).†

(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 Romans 14:5

Range of meaning: Literally 'to carry full': to fill completely, to accomplish fully, to pay in full or settle. In the passive with reference to a person: to be fully convinced, fully assured, to have settled certainty.
Against the English: 'fully convinced' (BSB), 'fully persuaded' (KJV), 'fully assured' (WEB, YLT). All are good. None of them shows the passive, though: it is something that happens to the person and is settled in him, not a preference he whips up. Nor do they show the link to Abraham's faith in 4:21.
How it drifted: Modern readers can hear 'fully convinced' as 'feeling strongly' or 'sure of my own opinion'. Paul's word belongs to the language of faith and assurance toward God.
Used elsewhere in the period: Papyri use it for settling accounts and satisfying obligations fully (Moulton–Milligan). LXX Ecclesiastes 8:11: the human heart 'is fully set' to do evil. NT: Romans 4:21, Abraham 'fully convinced' that God could do what he promised; Colossians 4:12, 'fully assured in all the will of God'; Luke 1:1, things 'fully accomplished'. The related noun πληροφορία, 'full assurance', appears at 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and Hebrews 6:11 and 10:22.

From the study of 2 Timothy 4:17

Range of meaning: Literally "bring in full measure". In use: (1) fulfil, carry out completely, accomplish; (2) fully convince, assure (Rom 4:21; 14:5; Col 4:12); (3) in the papyri, settle in full, for example paying off a debt.
Against the English: BSB, WEB, ESV and NIV have "fully proclaimed", NASB "fully accomplished", KJV "fully known" and YLT "fully assured". "Fully proclaimed" can sound as if Paul covered every point of doctrine. The idea is rather that the proclamation reached its full measure or completion. YLT's "assured" follows the "convince" sense, which fits this context poorly.
Used elsewhere in the period: Only a few verses earlier, in 2 Tim 4:5, Paul tells Timothy to "fulfil (plērophorēson) your ministry." Luke 1:1 speaks of "the things that have been fulfilled among us." Rom 15:19 uses the related verb plēroō for Paul having "fully proclaimed" the gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

From the study of 2 Timothy 4:5

Range of meaning: Literally, to bring something in full measure. (1) To fulfil, accomplish or carry through completely. In the papyri it is used, for example, of paying a debt in full or settling a matter. (2) In the passive, to be fully convinced or assured (Romans 4:21; 14:5).
Against the English: BSB, WEB, ESV and NASB say "fulfill"; NIV "discharge all the duties of"; NLT "fully carry out"; KJV "make full proof of"; YLT "make full assurance." KJV and YLT draw on the second sense, assurance and proof. In 1611 "make full proof" meant roughly "give full evidence of" or "carry out to the full," but a modern reader is likely to hear "prove."
How it drifted: In the KJV, "proof" carried an older sense of testing or demonstrating by performance. Today it sounds like an argument or evidence.
Used elsewhere in the period: In 2 Timothy 4:17, the Lord strengthened Paul "so that through me the proclamation might be fully carried out (plērophorēthē)." Luke 1:1 uses it of events "fulfilled" or "fully attested." Moulton and Milligan's papyri vocabulary lists uses for settling accounts in full.

Similar words

πληροφορία plērophoria · assurance

Where it appears

Luke · 1

Luke 1:1 πεπληροφορημένων accomplished

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

Romans · 2

Romans 4:21 πληροφορηθεὶς having been fully assured

being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

Here: Literally "having been brought to full measure". Here it means Abraham was fully convinced, with his certainty filled up to the brim. The form is passive and in the aorist (a completed action): this is a settled state he had been brought into, not a mood he worked himself up to. It explains how he gave glory to God (v.20).
Romans 14:5 πληροφορείσθω. should be fully assured.

One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Here: A present passive command: 'let him be fully assured', or 'go on being fully persuaded'. It is the word Paul used of Abraham being fully convinced of God's promise (4:21). The person should act from settled confidence before God, not from wavering or from pressure.

Colossians · 1

Colossians 4:12 πεπληροφορημένοι fully complete

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.

Here: A perfect passive form, 'having been brought to full conviction'. It describes a settled, lasting state of certainty, and it may also suggest being fully filled. Here it most likely means confident certainty, so that they do not waver.

2 Timothy · 2

2 Timothy 4:5 πληροφόρησον.¶ do fully carry out.

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Here: "Carry it fully through," "bring it to completion," "discharge it in full." Paul uses the same verb of himself in 4:17: through him the proclamation was "fully carried out." Timothy is to do what Paul did.
2 Timothy 4:17 πληροφορηθῇ, may be fully accomplished,

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.

Here: "Might be carried out in full." The proclamation reaches its full extent, here at the empire's highest court. This is also the climax of Paul's own commission (compare 4:5, 7).

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