It is Finished

[JonC]

I am starting a thread, more for information than debate (at least initially). There seems to be some confusion about the words "it is finished" as spoken by Christ on the Cross.

The Greek word τετέλεσται is what we translate "finished" or "accomplished".


There are a lot of interesting claims about the historical background to the New Testament that float around, especially on social media. I tell my students that they need to find actual ancient sources that verify such claims, because there are so many of these supposed historical background facts that are made up by modern people.

One such claim circulates every Easter. Jesus’ last word from the cross is τετέλεσται (tetelestai), “It is finished” (John 19:30). Pretty much all Bibles translate it that way or something pretty similar. The word is a form of τελέω (teleō), “to finish.” But some people claim that τετέλεσται was often written on ancient receipts or debts with the meaning “paid in full,” or “the debt is finished.” So, if that is the case, then Jesus cried out “paid in full,” referring to the debt of sin that is owed to God, now paid off by the cross.
Now, it is true that τελέω (teleō) in other forms can on rare occasions mean “to pay,” but only when it is used with words like “taxes” (Matt 17:24, Rom 13:6). But the claim that this particular form of the word, τετέλεσται, was used on receipts to indicate debts “paid in full” is certainly not true.

“Paid in full,” while an attractive and harmless suggestion, is based on a misreading of evidence, doesn’t fit the context well, and was never suggested before the twentieth century.




The comparison between τετελώνηται and τετέλεσται concerns two terms with completely different meanings, although they are often confused in theological or popular analyses.

τετέλεσται

τετέλεσται means "to finish", "to complete" or "to fulfill".

Usage: It is the verb that Jesus used on the cross ( John 19:30 ), wanting to show that the had been fully completed.

τετελώνηται

It is a verb from the verb τελονεω - to tax (related to the tax collectors , i.e. the tax collectors of antiquity).

τετελώνηται means "I pay" (the tax or customs debt).

Usage: In ancient Greek literature and papyri, the term τετελώνηται was often used as proof of the payment of a tax or debt (i.e. "has been paid").

Source - Biola University

 

[JonC]

Just to be sure, I also looked at many actual receipts for purchases or paid-off debts. None used the word τετέλεσται. The purported meaning “paid in full” for τετέλεσται is not found in any other ancient Greek sources (literary works, papyri or inscriptions). When τετέλεσται is used in these documents, it describes finishing all kinds of things: construction, sculpting, farm work, business arrangements, sewing linens, haircuts or even just the list of things to get done in a day. (Ibid)

 

[JonC]

The original of the misunderstanding that τετέλεσται means "paid in full" can be traced to ancient papyri receipts from Egypt. A set of these receipts, transcribed into readable Greek text with translation, was first published in 1896.

These Egyption reciepts were 315 tariff (import/export) receipts found in Arsinoites.

298 of these recipes had the abbreviation τετελ written on them. 17 of the receipts were not abbreviated and had the full word τετελώνηται “paid as taxes,” not τετέλεσται.

From there, the idea that it should influence how we understand Jesus’ final cry showed up first in an important Greek reference in 1915 (Moulton and Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament), and then in many pulpits.

A few early twentieth-century commentaries promoted the idea, although most commentaries reject it or don’t even discuss it. No modern scholarly source makes the claim that τετέλεσται means "paid in full".


But look across the internet today and you will find plenty of such claims. One simple mistake (thinking τετελ meant τετέλεσται instead of τετελώνηται) has created a myth that many Christians and pastors have bought. But we know that the word on the notes is τετελώνηται because on 17 of these notes the complete word was used.

 

[JonC]

Why does this even matter?


Because it is God's words, for one.

But also, when we teach others, or preach to others, we do not want to give false information.

A well meaning preacher can quickly discredit himself by repeating popular ideas that turn out to be false. And we see this a lot these days. Pastors read some Greek word, read a definition that would fit into a sermon, and presto!, the pastor now wants to appear an expert in the Greek language, imparting scholarly wisdom to the masses.


Another reason, even more important than the pride or lost credibility of a pastor, is it can lead to greater error.

Those who misinterpret "it is finished" as "paid in full" miss out on what Jesus was saying on the cross. This means they never take the next step (asking "what is finished").

 

[kyredneck]

There seems to be some confusion about the words "it is finished" as spoken by Christ on the Cross.

Yes. It's really very simple:

John Chapter 19

28​	After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.

The prophecies surrounding the crucifixion were at that point FULFILLED.

 

[JonC]

Yes. It's really very simple:

John Chapter 19

28​	After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.

The prophecies surrounding the crucifixion were at that point FULFILLED.

Yep. We can know the "it" that was fulfilled by looking at the Scriptures He was fulfilling. Read Genesis, the Exodus, the sacrifice system. It all points to, and is fulfilled, in Jesus.

 

[kyredneck]

Yep. We can know the "it" that was fulfilled by looking at the Scriptures He was fulfilling. Read Genesis, the Exodus, the sacrifice system. It all points to, and is fulfilled, in Jesus.

...lots of scripture from the Messianic Psalms fulfilled during 'Passion Week'...

 

[37818]

I am starting a thread, more for information than debate (at least initially). There seems to be some confusion about the words "it is finished" as spoken by Christ on the Cross.

The Greek word τετέλεσται is what we translate "finished" or "accomplished".


There are a lot of interesting claims about the historical background to the New Testament that float around, especially on social media. I tell my students that they need to find actual ancient sources that verify such claims, because there are so many of these supposed historical background facts that are made up by modern people.

One such claim circulates every Easter. Jesus’ last word from the cross is τετέλεσται (tetelestai), “It is finished” (John 19:30). Pretty much all Bibles translate it that way or something pretty similar. The word is a form of τελέω (teleō), “to finish.” But some people claim that τετέλεσται was often written on ancient receipts or debts with the meaning “paid in full,” or “the debt is finished.” So, if that is the case, then Jesus cried out “paid in full,” referring to the debt of sin that is owed to God, now paid off by the cross.
Now, it is true that τελέω (teleō) in other forms can on rare occasions mean “to pay,” but only when it is used with words like “taxes” (Matt 17:24, Rom 13:6). But the claim that this particular form of the word, τετέλεσται, was used on receipts to indicate debts “paid in full” is certainly not true.

“Paid in full,” while an attractive and harmless suggestion, is based on a misreading of evidence, doesn’t fit the context well, and was never suggested before the twentieth century.




The comparison between τετελώνηται and τετέλεσται concerns two terms with completely different meanings, although they are often confused in theological or popular analyses.

τετέλεσται

τετέλεσται means "to finish", "to complete" or "to fulfill".

Usage: It is the verb that Jesus used on the cross ( John 19:30 ), wanting to show that the had been fully completed.

τετελώνηται

It is a verb from the verb τελονεω - to tax (related to the tax collectors , i.e. the tax collectors of antiquity).

τετελώνηται means "I pay" (the tax or customs debt).

Usage: In ancient Greek literature and papyri, the term τετελώνηται was often used as proof of the payment of a tax or debt (i.e. "has been paid").

Source - Biola University

First occurrence τετελώνηται John 19:28, . . . Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, . . . .

 

[kyredneck]

First occurrence τετελώνηται John 19:28, . . . Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, . . . .

Hey! That’s what I said!

 

[JonC]

Hey! That’s what I said!

Great minds....you and @37818 .

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Oh boy! Here we go again!
Matthew 17:24. 'Does your Master not PAY the temple tax?'
Romans 13:6. 'For because of this you also PAY taxes.'
The Greek word for 'PAY' in both instances is τελέω (teleo), from which we get τετέλεσται (tetelestai).
Early in the last century, a German theologian called Albert Schweitzer wrote that τετέλεσται uttered by Christ was a cry of despair. Schweitzer claimed that our Lord had realized that God wasn't going to take Him down from the cross and everthing was now over - finished.
Obviously that is completely wrong because τελέω has a variety of meanings, including 'finished,' 'accomplished,' and 'paid.' I am not at all suggesting that τετέλεσται has to mean 'it is paid,' but I am saying that it is one of the possible meanings, and since our Lord does not partially redeem us from judgment, it is not unreasonable to add, 'paid in full.'
No one has to like it; no one has to teach it; no one has to adopt it; but what no one can do, with a thread of respectability, is to deny it.

I will just add that τετελ works very well as an abbreviation for τετέλεσται. I have found the article from Biola University that @JonC mentioned, but there is also this: TETELESTAI-Paid in Full | Precept Austin Follow the article down to 4. MERCHANTS. I am in no position to know whether Biola Uni or Precept Austin is right, but there seems to be a division of opinion.

What I do know is that τετέλεσται sometimes has the meaning of 'paid.' So when we pray the Lord's Prayer and ask, "Forgive us our debts," we can do so with confidence because The Lord Jesus finished His work of propitiation on the cross, satisfied the outraged justice of the Father, and has paid in full the debt we owed.

 

[JonC]

Oh boy! Here we go again!
Matthew 17:24. 'Does your Master not PAY the temple tax?'
Romans 13:6. 'For because of this you also PAY taxes.'
The Greek word for 'PAY' in both instances is τελέω (teleo), from which we get τετέλεσται (tetelestai).
Early in the last century, a German theologian called Albert Schweitzer wrote that τετέλεσται uttered by Christ was a cry of despair. Schweitzer claimed that our Lord had realized that God wasn't going to take Him down from the cross and everthing was now over - finished.
Obviously that is completely wrong because τελέω has a variety of meanings, including 'finished,' 'accomplished,' and 'paid.' I am not at all suggesting that τετέλεσται has to mean 'it is paid,' but I am saying that it is one of the possible meanings, and since our Lord does not partially redeem us from judgment, it is not unreasonable to add, 'paid in full.'
No one has to like it; no one has to teach it; no one has to adopt it; but what no one can do, with a thread of respectability, is to deny it.

I will just add that τετελ works very well as an abbreviation for τετέλεσται. I have found the article from Biola University that @JonC mentioned, but there is also this: TETELESTAI-Paid in Full | Precept Austin Follow the article down to 4. MERCHANTS. I am in no position to know whether Biola Uni or Precept Austin is right, but there seems to be a division of opinion.

What I do know is that τετέλεσται sometimes has the meaning of 'paid.' So when we pray the Lord's Prayer and ask, "Forgive us our debts," we can do so with confidence because The Lord Jesus finished His work of propitiation on the cross, satisfied the outraged justice of the Father, and has paid in full the debt we owed.

You do not understand how language works.

τελέω is where they get τετελώνηται .

But you are making the same mistake many made in 1915 (when it was first claimed that τελέω was an abbreviated form of τετέλεσται). The 17 noted with the word spelled out disproved that error.

There are no instances in Greek writings where τετέλεσται means "paid in full". There are plenty of instances where τετελώνηται means "paid in full".

In the Greek language the word τετέλεσται never means "paid in full".


The 315 notes are online (in photo format) with English and German translations.

It was those notes that led to the idea τετέλεσται could also mean "paid in full".

That was based on the initial publication of the abbreviated τετελ. Some jumped the gun and declared it was an abbreviated form of τετέλεσται, therefore τετέλεσται could mean "paid in full" along with its normal meaning.

BUT then they had 17 notes that did not use an abbreviated form. They wrote out the word. τετελ was an abbreviated form of τετελώνηται (a completely different word).

The root word of τετέλεσται is the verb τελέω - which means "to bring to the end"; "to fulfill".


@Martin Marprelate , I do not know the university where you studied Greek, but it appears you have forgotten a lot of what you surely were taught.



τελέω - "to being to an end or conclusion"; "to fulfill".

τετέλεσται - "it is completed/ accomplished/ finished"

τετελώνηται - "the debt is paid/ settled"

τετέλεσται has NEVER been used in the Greek language to indicate a debt has been paid in full. Why? Because they had ANOTHER WORD for that.

Nobody hearing Jesus' words woukd have understood them to mean "paid in full" because that was not what the word meant.

The idea it means "paid in full" is a 20th century mistake that has gained popularity (like the Devil being red with a tail, like the Christisn origin of the candy cane).

We cannot be expected to be taken seriously when we trust in old wives tales. We have to be more careful.


You need to stop trusting internet sources and popular "theology" articles/ books. There you can find anything that tickles your ears.

 

[JonC]

BTW..... @Martin Marprelate

In Romans 13:6 the word we translate as "you pay" is τελεῖτε.

τελεῖτε does NOT mean "pay".

τελεῖτε means "you fulfill".

The subject is taxes. Literally the verse says "you fulfill your taxes (or tribute).

We say "you pay" because φόρους means "tribute" or "taxes". Fulfilling your taxes is paying them.

In other words, because τελεῖτε (you fulfill) is associated with φόρους (taxes) we use the English word "paid". "You fulfill the taxes" sounds odd in English.


There are no instances where τετέλεσται means "paid".

You made a mistake. That's all. A good rule of thumb is not to read the English translation of one of two Greek words back into another Greek word. Translation is not, as some may think, akin to a matching game.

 

[percho]

BTW..... @Martin Marprelate

In Romans 13:6 the word we translate as "you pay" is τελεῖτε.

τελεῖτε does NOT mean "pay".

τελεῖτε means "you fulfill".

The subject is taxes. Literally the verse says "you fulfill your taxes (or tribute).

We say "you pay" because φόρους means "tribute" or "taxes". Fulfilling your taxes is paying them.

In other words, because τελεῖτε (you fulfill) is associated with φόρους (taxes) we use the English word "paid". "You fulfill the taxes" sounds odd in English.


There are no instances where τετέλεσται means "paid".

You made a mistake. That's all. A good rule of thumb is not to read the English translation of one of two Greek words back into another Greek word. Translation is not, as some may think, akin to a matching game.

From Rom 6:23 YLT for the wages of the sin, death,

James 1:15 KJV Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Does not James 1:15 say death, is the paid wages of, the sin?

 

[JonC]

So - moving on.

What Jesus declared was "it is finished/ completed/ fulfilled/ accomplished".

The question was "what was finished/ completed/ fulfilled/ accomplished".

@kyredneck said the prophecies surrounding the crucifixion were at that point fulfilled.

I agree with him. The Scriptures concerning Jesus were fulfilled.

Some have said it was Christ's work. Luther said it was the Scriptures and Christ's work. But since the OT points to Christ and His work, I really do not see a difference.


But if Jesus was saying (here is where the debate begins) that Scripture (prophecy about His work) is fulfilled or accomplished then does it not stand to reason that we can look to OT events like the Passover, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the Day of Atonement, etc. to see a model of Christ's work that was to be accomplished on the cross?

What I mean is, if this was really Jesus offeting Himself as a guilt offering then why can't we use the guilt offerings in the OT as a foreshadowing of what was actually to come?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

τελέω - "to being to an end or conclusion"; "to fulfill".

τετέλεσται - "it is completed/ accomplished/ finished"

τετελώνηται - "the debt is paid/ settled"

You made a mistake. Teleo (τελέω) means to bring to an end, accomplish, fulfill, or pay, as it evidently does in Matthew 17:24 and Romans 13:6. That's all. A good rule of thumb is not to read the English translation of one or two Greek words back into another Greek word. Translation is not, as some think, akin to a matching gme.

In Romans 13:6 the word we translate as "you pay" is τελεῖτε.

τελεῖτε does NOT mean "pay".

τελεῖτε means "you fulfill".

The subject is taxes. Literally the verse says "you fulfill your taxes (or tribute).

We say "you pay" because φόρους means "tribute" or "taxes". Fulfilling your taxes is paying them.

Exactly so. τελεῖτε means to fulfil or to pay. Fulfilling your taxes is paying them. It really isn't rocket science. Please stop pretending that you know more than you do. Almost every translation of Romans 13:6 renders τελεῖτε as pay because that is what it means in context. Let's move on.

 

[JonC]

From Rom 6:23 YLT for the wages of the sin, death,

James 1:15 KJV Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Does not James 1:15 say death, is the paid wages of, the sin?

Not as a "paid wage". In James 1:15 he says that sin produces death (births, produces).

But Paul does say that the wages (compensation or stipend) of sin is death.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

From Rom 6:23 YLT for the wages of the sin, death,

James 1:15 KJV Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Does not James 1:15 say death, is the paid wages of, the sin?

Hello Percho.
The word translated 'finished' in James 1:15 is apotelestheisa, which come from apoteleo. Obviously it is very similar to teleo, but it tends to mean, to be perfected' or 'to arrive at full measure.'

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Scott Hahn (Former Presbyterian, now a Catholic apologist) made a big dissertation saying that Christ statement was not referring to his "Finished Work of Redemption" but having something to do with the "last cup" of the passover feast.

He said that Christ's redemptive work was finished with Christ's resurrection, not his crucifixion. Not that I agree or anything but would be interesting to have others chime in on this.

Here is his lecture in case you are interested:

 

[JonC]

You made a mistake. Teleo (τελέω) means to bring to an end, accomplish, fulfill, or pay, as it evidently does in Matthew 17:24 and Romans 13:6. That's all. A good rule of thumb is not to read the English translation of one or two Greek words back into another Greek word. Translation is not, as some think, akin to a matching gme.

Exactly so. τελεῖτε means to fulfil or to pay. Fulfilling your taxes is paying them. It really isn't rocket science. Please stop pretending that you know more than you do. Almost every translation of Romans 13:6 renders τελεῖτε as pay because that is what it means in context. Let's move on.

No, I did not make a mistake and it is not all good because you teach people at your church.

The Greek word τελεῖτε DOES NOT MEAN PAY. It never has and never will. Stop being so defensive and look at the words in Greek. Then consider why we use "pay".


τελεῖτε ("you fulfill", "you accomplish", "you finish")

φόρους ("taxes", "tribute")

A literal translation is "you fulfill your taxes".

How would WE say that? "You pay your taxes."


BUT you CANNOT take the fact we would use "pay" because "fulfill" (while technically also correct) is awkward and READ THAT BACK into the Greek word.

This is BASIC hermeneutics.

It is not good because if you do not understand this concept you will make many more errors dealing with Scripture and any other translated text.

I am not "beating up" on you, just trying to help you understand a very simple and necessary fact when it comes to dealing with foreign languages. It is a very important fact if you are going to deal with the Greek or Hebrew. It is even more important if you plan on teaching others.