UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: end

Semantic entry: 67.66

Semantic domains: Time

Subdomains: A Point of Time with Reference to Duration of Time: Beginning, End

Definition: a point of time marking the end of a duration

Notes: There are serious problems involved in rendering τέλος[a] in RV MAT 24:14 · LV MAT 24:14 · Read together MAT 24:14 and in similar contexts. In a number of languages one simply cannot say ‘the end will come’; rather, it may be necessary to say ‘that is the finish’ or ‘everything is finished.’ In the context of RV MAT 24:14 · LV MAT 24:14 · Read together MAT 24:14, however, it may be best to translate ‘God will finish everything.’ The phrase εἰς τέλος in RV TH1 2:16 · LV TH1 2:16 · Read together TH1 2:16 may also be understood as an idiomatic expression involving a degree of completeness (see 78.47: ὁλοτελής / 78.47: παντελής / 78.47: τελείως / 78.47: τέλος).

Sense 2: outcome, result, end

Semantic entry: 89.40

Semantic domains: Relations

Subdomains: Result

Definition: the result of an event or process, with special focus upon the final state or condition

Notes: In some languages τέλος in RV MAT 26:58 · LV MAT 26:58 · Read together MAT 26:58 may be rendered simply as ‘what would happen’ or ‘what would finally happen.’

Sense 3: purpose, intent, goal

Semantic entry: 89.55

Semantic domains: Relations

Subdomains: Purpose

Definition: the purpose of an event or state, viewed in terms of its result

Sense 4: completely, totally, entirely, wholly

Semantic entry: 78.47

Semantic domains: Degree

Subdomains: Completely, Enough [Completive Degree]

Definition: a degree of completeness, with the possible implication of purpose or result

Notes: It is also possible to understand the phrase ἕως τέλους in the temporal sense of ‘to the end’ (see 67.66: συντέλεια / 67.66: τέλος).|It is also possible to understand τέλος in the expression εἰς τέλος in RV TH1 2:16 · LV TH1 2:16 · Read together TH1 2:16 as a temporal expression, with εἰς (67.117: εἰς) as a marker of an extent of time, so that this passage may be rendered as ‘and in the end wrath has come down on them’ or ‘and wrath has at last come down on them’ (see 67.66: συντέλεια / 67.66: τέλος). In this context ὀργή may very well be translated as ‘punishment’ (38.10: ὀργή), and in many languages it is necessary to indicate the agent of such punishment. The same ambiguity with εἰς τέλος occurs in RV JHN 13:1 · LV JHN 13:1 · Read together JHN 13:1 in the clause εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς, meaning ‘he loved them completely’ or ‘he loved them to the end’ (see 67.119: ἄχρι(ς) / 67.119: εἰς / 67.119: ἕως / 67.119: μέχρι).

Collocations: εἰς τέλος

Sense 5: duty, tax, revenue

Semantic entry: 57.179

Semantic domains: Possess, Transfer, Exchange

Subdomains: Tax, Tribute

Definition: payments customarily due a governmental authority

Notes: The term τέλος[e] differs from κῆνσος (57.180: κῆνσος) in being somewhat more generic in meaning. In certain contexts τέλος[e] may refer to various kinds of direct taxes, customs duties, and tribute money, but in contexts such as RV MAT 17:25 · LV MAT 17:25 · Read together MAT 17:25 in which κῆνσος also occurs, τέλος probably refers primarily to customs duties, while κῆνσος refers to a direct poll tax upon all adult males.

Sense 6: finally, in conclusion

Semantic entry: 61.17

Semantic domains: Sequence

Definition: (an idiom, literally: the end) a marker of a conclusion to what has preceded, but not necessarily the conclusion of a text

Collocations: τὸ τέλος