Christian living Quote by Jane Wheeler
““The Greek word that Jesus said on the cross and that we interpret as “It is finished ” is the Greek word tetelestai. Tetelestai comes from the verb teleo, which means to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish. In the times of Jesus, receipts often had the word tetelestai written on them. This word meant that the receipt or debt was paid in full.””
About This Quote
The term signifies completion and fulfillment, likening Jesus' declaration to a settled debt, indicating the mission’s purpose is fully accomplished.
In simple terms: Completion and fulfillment
Key Takeaway
Mission completed
Themes
completion
fulfillment
religious symbolism
historical linguistics
theology
Mood
reverent
reflective
inspirational
Type
theological
historical
interpretive
When to use this quote
- theological study
- sermon preparation
- biblical translation
- historical research
- faith education
Key Concepts
Greek language
biblical context
debt metaphor
cross narrative
Practical Applications
- educational content
- devotional reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does 'finished' imply about divine purpose?
- How does the debt metaphor shape Christian understanding of salvation?
![“[Jesus] tilted His head back, pulled up one last time to draw breath and cried, "Tetelestai!" It was a Greek expression most everyone present would have understood. It was an accounting term. Archaeologists have found papyrus tax receipts with "Tetelestai" written across them, meaning "paid in…” quote by Swindoll Charles R](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/228/swindoll-charles-r-34399_crucifixion_jesus-tilted-his-head-back-pulled-up-one_3140633.jpg)
![“By seeing life's experiences on through to the end, on our small scale we can finally say, as Jesus did on the cross, "It is finished". We too can then have "finished [our] preparations," having done the particular work God gave each of us to do.” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce7/neal-a-maxwell-925_crosses_by-seeing-life-s-experiences-on-through_1817027.jpg)
