Greek word · G4930

συντέλεια

synteleia

consummation

Completion, consummation, the bringing of something to its full and intended end. In Jewish writing about the last days, the appointed close of history's present phase.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

συντέλεια, -ας, ἡ

(συντελέω), [in LXX chiefly for כָּלָה and (in Da) for קוּם ;]

1. in cl., a joint payment or contribution for public service; hence, generally, joint action (Plat.).

2. In late writers (Polyb., al.), consummation, completion: σ. τ. αἰῶνος, -ων (cf. Dan LXX TH Daniel 12:13, al.), Matthew 13:39-40, 49 24:3 28:20, Hebrews 9:26.†

(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 Matthew 28:20

Range of meaning

Completion, consummation, the bringing of something to its full and intended end. In Jewish writing about the last days, the appointed close of history's present phase.

Against the English

English 'end' can suggest a mere stop or destruction. YLT's 'full end' and 'consummation' (used in older Catholic translations from the Latin 'consummatio') better catch the sense of a goal being reached.

How it drifted

'End of the world' in popular imagination calls up cosmic catastrophe. The Greek stresses completion and arrival at a goal, which includes judgment (Matt 13:39–43) but is not only destruction.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the phrase 'completion of the age' is found only in Matthew (13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20). Hebrews 9:26 has 'at the completion of the ages.' The Greek versions of Daniel use the word for God's appointed end time (Dan 9:27; 12:4, 13). The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs speak of 'the completion of the ages' (Testament of Levi 10:2).

From the study of Hebrews 9:26

Range of meaning

συντέλεια means 'completion, bringing to its end'. It is the end in the sense of the goal or fulfilment, not the destruction of something. With 'age' or 'ages' it means the appointed climax of history.

Against the English

KJV has 'the end of the world'. BSB, ESV and WEB have 'end of the ages'. NIV has 'culmination' and NASB 'consummation', and these keep the sense of completion. YLT's 'full end' is also close.

How it drifted

KJV's 'world' was a normal rendering of 'age' in its day. Now it makes modern readers think of the planet being destroyed in a future apocalypse, when the writer says this climax has already happened.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Daniel uses συντέλεια for the appointed end-time (Dan 9:27; 12:4, 13). Matthew has 'the consummation of the age' (13:39–49; 24:3; 28:20). Testament of Levi 10:2 has almost the same phrase as here. Jewish writers of the period spoke of two ages, 'this age' and 'the age to come'. Compare Heb 1:2, 'in these last days', and 6:5, 'the powers of the coming age'.

From the study of Matthew 13:39

Range of meaning

Completion, consummation, bringing something to its intended end. In other settings it can also mean a joint contribution or a tax. In Jewish end-time writing it means the decisive close of an appointed period.

Against the English

'End' (BSB, NIV, KJV) is serviceable but flat. ESV's 'close' and YLT's 'full end' come closer to the idea of completion and consummation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Daniel uses it for the appointed end-time: 'until the time of the end' (heōs kairou synteleias, Dan 12:4); 'at the end of days' (Dan 12:13, Theodotion's version); see also Dan 9:27. Hebrews 9:26 has 'at the consummation of the ages'. The exact phrase 'consummation of the age' appears in the New Testament only in Matthew (13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 5

  1. Matthew 13:39 συντέλεια [the] consummation

    and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

    Here: The bringing of something to its full end. It is a closing and completing, not merely a stopping. It has no article, so it reads almost like a fixed title: 'consummation-of-age'.

  2. Matthew 13:40 συντελείᾳ consummation

    As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

  3. Matthew 13:49 συντελείᾳ consummation

    So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

    Here: The bringing of something to its full end, its completion. It does not mean destruction. The present age reaches its appointed goal and closes.

  4. Matthew 24:3 συντελείας consummation

    While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

    Here: The bringing of something to its appointed end: completion rather than just stopping. A technical term in Jewish end-time language (Daniel).

  5. Matthew 28:20 συντελείας completion

    and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    Here: Not just a stopping point but a bringing-to-completion, the point at which something reaches its intended end. Matthew uses this phrase for the final judgment and harvest (13:39–49; 24:3).

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:26 συντελείᾳ [the] consummation

    Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

    Here: The bringing-to-completion of something, its climax. It is not a sudden stop or destruction. Jewish writers used it for the appointed culmination of history.

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