ἐπιτελέω (epiteleō)
epiteleō
to complete
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epiteleō means to bring something to a successful conclusion or to carry out a task fully. It appears nine times in the New Testament, often describing God’s work in believers or the completion of religious duties. For instance, Paul expresses confidence that God will complete the good work He began in the Philippians (Philippians 1:6), and he urges the Corinthians to finish their charitable collection (2 Corinthians 8:6).
Its meaning comes from two parts: the prefix epí ("upon") and teléō ("to finish"). This suggests not just stopping, but finishing what was started with purpose. In Hebrews, it describes priests performing their rituals (Hebrews 9:6), highlighting that these acts were meant to be done completely. The word implies a sense of fulfillment, where an action reaches its intended end rather than being left half-done.
Unlike words that simply mean "do," epiteleō carries the weight of completion. It is used when a process or promise needs to reach its final stage. Whether speaking of spiritual growth or temple services, the focus remains on seeing things through to their proper conclusion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epiteleō carries a quiet confidence about how God works in our lives. It does not simply mean to start something, but to bring it to its intended finish. When we read that God will complete the good work He began in us, we are reminded that our spiritual journey is not left to our own fragile efforts alone. The One who starts the process also holds the power to see it through to the end.
This assurance allows us to rest from the pressure of perfectionism. We do not have to manufacture our own holiness or force outcomes through sheer willpower. Instead, we can trust that God is actively at work, shaping us into the people He created us to be. Even when progress feels slow, His commitment to finishing what He started remains steady and sure.
For your daily walk, this means you can offer your current struggles and unfinished tasks to Him with peace. You are not carrying the burden of final success by yourself. God’s faithfulness ensures that every step taken in relationship with Him is moving toward a meaningful conclusion, culminating in the day of Jesus Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to complete2×
- will complete [it]1×
- perfecting1×
- he may complete1×
- having finished1×
- do complete1×
- are you being perfected?1×
- accomplishing;1×
- [is] being accomplished.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιτελέσῃ1×
- ἐπιτελέσει1×
- ἐπιτελέσατε,1×
- ἐπιτελέσας1×
- ἐπιτελέσαι1×
- ἐπιτελοῦντες·1×
- ἐπιτελοῦντες1×
- ἐπιτελεῖσθε;1×
- ἐπιτελεῖσθαι.¶1×
- ἐπιτελεῖν1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
This verse anchors our hope by stating that God Himself will bring the good work He started in believers to its final completion.
-
II Corinthians 8:6
So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
Paul uses this term to encourage the Corinthian church to finish their charitable giving, showing that spiritual grace involves active participation and follow-through.
-
Galatians 3:3
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
Paul challenges the Galatians by asking if they would try to reach spiritual maturity through human effort after starting in the Spirit, highlighting the word's focus on true completion.