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ceases to be" and "an end of duration or of time", but not an end in space which is
expressed by the word peras.
In his "Greek Lexicon and Concordance" Dr. Bullinger says: "Telos, the fulfillment
or completion of anything (Lat. effectus), that is, its end and issue (not its cessation). It
denotes strictly not the ending of a departed state, but the arrival of a complete or perfect
one."
Words that have as their stem the letters tel form a very interesting group in the New
Testament. Here are five examples out of twelve.
Telos.
"The end" in the sense of accomplishment or goal" (Phil. 3: 19).
Teleo.
"To finish", "perform", "accomplish" (Matt. 26: 1; Luke 2: 39; 12: 50).
Teleios.
"Perfect", "full age" in contrast with the immature (Eph. 4: 13;
Heb. 5: 14; I Cor. 14: 20).
Teleiotes.
"Perfection" (Col. 3: 14; Heb. 6: 1).
Teleioo.
"Fulfil", "finish" (Luke 2: 43; John 4: 34).
We must now come nearer to our subject and review every occurrence of every
variation of this word in the epistle of James.
Telos occurs but once and as this is in the passage we are examining we proceed to
other variants of the same root to learn all that they reveal. "Let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing" (James 1: 4). This passage
might almost be taken as a comment upon the book of Job, so closely does it fit the theme
of the book. James expands the meaning of the word teleios by the word "entire" and
"wanting nothing". The word "entire" is holokleros, and is composed of holos "whole"
and kleros "a lot" or "an inheritance". The completeness that is everywhere implicit in
the word "perfect" is here expressed. The meaning can be gathered from two examples.
"Perfect soundness" holokleria, as of the man healed at the gate of the temple
(Acts 3: 16), and so a reflection upon the condition of Job and his complete restoration,
and "whole" as in I Thess. 5: 23, when speaking of the believer in resurrection. "Your
whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ". "Wanting nothing." The same word is found in James 1: 5 "lack", and in
2: 15, "destitute".
It will be seen that the New Testament meaning of the word "perfect" includes the
idea of "wholeness" that we found was implied by the Old Testament usage. We read in
James 1: 4 that patience has a "perfect work". Patience is a factor in the perfecting of the
believer. "Patience" is most surely linked with "the end of the Lord" even as it is surely
associated with hope. James has much to say about "work", indeed he uses the word
ergon fourteen times. He associates faith with works, even as he does patience, and
teaches not only that patience has a perfecting work to accomplish, but concerning
Abraham says "seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith
made perfect?" (James 2: 22).