ὁλοτελής (holotelēs)
holotelēs
wholly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective holoteles describes something that is perfect or complete in every respect. Derived from roots meaning "whole" and "complete," it conveys a sense of total integrity where no part is missing. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, serving as a specific descriptor for spiritual maturity.
It occurs in Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where he asks God to sanctify them completely. The term suggests a wholeness that extends to every aspect of their being—spirit, soul, and body. While it shares meaning with synonyms like holokleros, holoteles emphasizes the state of being fully finished and lacking nothing.
Translators typically render this word as "perfectly" or "completely." Its singular usage highlights a high standard for Christian life: not just partial devotion, but an undivided, thorough dedication to God. The word underscores the biblical ideal that true sanctification involves the entire person, leaving no area of life untouched by grace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word holoteles appears just once in the New Testament, found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. It describes a wholeness that leaves no part of you untouched. When Paul prays for believers to be sanctified completely, he is not asking for perfection in a flawless sense, but for integrity across your entire being.
This includes your spirit, soul, and body. It means God’s work in you is not limited to one area of life. Your thoughts, emotions, and physical actions are all part of the same journey toward Christ. This promise reminds us that no aspect of our lives is too small or too broken for His grace to reach.
When you feel fragmented or overwhelmed, this word offers a gentle hope. God’s peace is not just a feeling; it is a complete preservation of who you are. He desires to keep you blameless until the day Christ returns, holding every part of your life together in His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- completely,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁλοτελεῖς,1×
Key Verses
-
I Thessalonians 5:23
May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the only New Testament occurrence of the word, where Paul prays for believers to be sanctified completely in spirit, soul, and body.