τελειότης (teleiotēs)
teleiotēs
perfection
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun teleiotēs denotes a state of completeness or moral maturity, derived from the adjective teleios meaning "complete" or "perfect." In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in contexts emphasizing spiritual growth and relational harmony. The term suggests not an abstract flawlessness, but a functional wholeness where all necessary parts are present and operating as intended.
In Colossians 3:14, Paul identifies love as the "bond of perfection," using teleiotēs to describe how charity binds together virtues like compassion and humility into a unified whole. Similarly, Hebrews 6:1 urges believers to move beyond elementary teachings toward this state of maturity. The word implies a destination reached through steady development rather than an innate quality.
Its usage in the Septuagint often translates Hebrew words for integrity or blamelessness, linking ethical uprightness with structural completeness. This connection highlights that biblical perfection is relational and practical, focused on living fully according to one’s created purpose. Translators typically render it as "perfection" or "maturity," capturing the idea of a life brought to its intended fullness through faithful obedience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
We often imagine spiritual maturity as a distant peak we must climb alone, but this word suggests something more like a well-built home. It describes a state where our character is whole and functional, with every virtue working together as intended. Rather than demanding flawlessness, it points to a practical wholeness that grows through daily faithfulness.
In Colossians, love is called the bond of this perfection. This means that charity is not just one item on a list of good deeds; it is the glue that holds compassion, humility, and kindness together into a unified life. When we love others well, our spiritual growth becomes complete and stable.
This journey from elementary teachings to maturity is a process, not an instant switch. It invites us to keep moving forward in faith, trusting that God is shaping us into the fullness He designed for us. May you find peace in knowing that your steady steps toward love are building a life of true integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of perfect unity.1×
- maturity1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τελειότητος.1×
- τελειότητα1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 3:14
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
This verse identifies love as the specific force that binds all other virtues together, making spiritual maturity functional and unified rather than fragmented.
-
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
Here the term marks the goal of moving beyond basic foundations toward a mature faith that is stable and complete in its understanding.