Keeps (5055) (teleo from telos = goal, an end, a purpose, an aim, a fulfillment, an achievement; See discussion of related words - Mature = teleios; Maturity [perfect] = teleiotes) means to bring to an end (e.g., Jesus finished speaking - see below) as one brings a process, a course, a task or an undertaking to the end.
It means to make an end or to accomplish and complete something, not merely by bringing it to end but bringing it to perfection, in the context of Romans 2:27 signifying that one keeps the law perfectly. And note the present tense which means one keeps the law continually, as one's lifestyle, which of course is impossible (unless you are Jesus!)
Teleo means to accomplish an obligation or demand in the sense of to bring about a result by effort. The idea is to achieve a goal or to conclude it successfully. This meaning is especially poignant in the context of Jesus' life purpose which was to die on the Cross, the purpose He pointed to and which He accomplished ("It is finished" John 19:30). This same meaning of fulfilling or bringing about the completion or achievement of a goal or objective is also a prominent meaning in the Revelation (e.g. Re 11:7-note; Re 17:17-note)
Teleo in some contexts (Mt 17:24, Ro 13:6-note) means to pay, and in the NT uses refers to payment of obligatory taxes or tolls.
Secular uses of teleo include the idea of carrying out instructions, of fulfilling obligations and religiously of carrying out religious acts including consecrating initiates (as into a mystery cult). This latter sense is not used in the NT but is used in the LXX translation of 5.3" class="scriptRef">Numbers 25:3, 5 where Israel joined themselves to (consecrated themselves) the pagan idol Baalpeor.
Here are the 28 NT uses of teleo...
Matthew 7:28 (note) The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching;
Matthew 10:23 "But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 11:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Matthew 13:53 And it came about that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.
Matthew 17:24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter, and said, "Does your teacher not pay (teleo) the two-drachma tax?"
Matthew 19:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee, and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;
Matthew 26:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,
Luke 2:39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
Luke 12:50 "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Luke 18:31 And He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
Luke 22:37 "For I tell you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'And He was numbered with transgressors'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."
John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty."
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
Acts 13:29 "And when they (the Jews in Jerusalem and their rulers) had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
Romans 2:27 (note) And will not he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
Romans 13:6 (note) For because of this you also pay (teleo - present tense = continually!) taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected (teleo - present tense = this principle is continually active; passive voice = this effect [empowerment] is brought about by an a source other than the subject, in this case the Spirit of Christ) in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Galatians 5:16 (note) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
2 Timothy 4:7 (note) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course (dromos = a race track or course), I have kept the faith
Comment: Paul pictures his Christian life as a race and is saying he has broken the barrier at the finish line, having fulfilled the purpose for which he was created and then "re-created" in Christ. The perfect tense points to the permanent effect of his finish. The finish line has been crossed and the results would last forever. He has now entered his eternal rest.
James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
Revelation 10:7 (note) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished (accomplished), as He preached to His servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:7 (note) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
Comment: From a timing perspective, this is one of the most important events in the Revelation as it occurs in the middle of the 7 year Tribulation and marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 15:1 (note) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
Comment: When the bowl judgments are poured out in the Great Tribulation, God's wrath against Israel is over, for it has accomplished the refining and purifying that He desired, and the one third of the Jews who have believed in Messiah will enter the Millennial Kingdom.
Revelation 15:8 (note) And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Comment: Another allusion to the completion of the horrendous 3.5 year period known as the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 17:17 (note) "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose (Do not miss this faith buoying truth that God is sovereign and in control even of the drama of these evil players! Absolutely nothing happens outside of His control! And this is true in your life beloved child of God!) by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled (accomplished).
Revelation 20:3 (note) and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Revelation 20:5 (note) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:7 (note) And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison
Teleo is used 14 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (5.3" class="scriptRef">Nu 25:3, 5; Ruth 2:21; 3:18; Ezr. 1:1; 5:16; 6:15; 7:12; 9:1; 10:17; Neh. 6:15; Ps. 106:28; Dan. 4:33; Hos. 4:14)
Ruth 2:21 (note) Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants until they have finished (Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo) all my harvest.'"
Ruth 3:18 (note) Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled (KJV = "have finished"; Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo) it today."
Ezra 6:15 And this temple was completed (Hebrew = yetsa = to bring to an end, to finish; Lxx = teleo) on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 10:17 And they finished (Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo) investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first of the first month.
Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed (Hebrew = shalem = to be complete or sound, to be at peace {related noun = shalom}; Lxx = teleo) on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
Law (3551) (nomos from némo = divide among, parcel out, allot) is etymologically something parceled out, allotted, what one has in use and possession; hence, usage, custom.
Judge (2919) (krino) primarily signifies to distinguish, separate or discriminate and then, to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, without necessarily passing an adverse sentence, though this is usually involved. Krino means to sift out and analyze evidence. Passing judgment, by implication, means condemning.
A Gentile’s humble obedience to the law should serve as a stern rebuke to a Jew who, in spite of his great advantages, lives in disobedience. Circumcision (or baptism - or any ritual in itself) doesn't save anyone; Egyptians circumcised their boys, and Ishmael, the son of the flesh, was circumcised
Paul is not saying that uncircumcised Gentiles can keep the Law, but rather that if they do they will be reckoned as "circumcised" in a spiritual sense. Moreover, they then could be called to bear witness in judgment against the circumcised who have transgressed the Law. Paul’s argument was devastating! One of the greatest insults in Judaism was to call another Jew “an uncircumcised one,” and this is what Paul had done in no uncertain terms. Circumcision alone does not justify a man. His actions must be in keeping with his profession of faith.
In applying this truth to ourselves, all we have to do is substitute for the word “circumcision” any of the following: Church membership —baptism— confirmation— Methodist— Baptist— Presbyterian— and so on. The great mistake of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews when asked about their relationship to God is to cite their religious affiliation as evidence of their relationship.
“Are you a believer?” “Of course. I’ve been a member of First Church for twenty-five years.”
“Are you a believer?” “I’m a ____(name of denomination)! Does that answer your question?”
“Are you a believer?” “Why yes, I was baptized right here in Christian Church.”
There are as many answers as there are affiliations and rites, but none will convince God—they are all outward "circumcisions" so to speak.
WHO THOUGH HAVING THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND CIRCUMCISION ARE A TRANSGRESSOR OF THE LAW: se ton dia grammatos kai peritomes parabaten nomou: (Ro 2:20,29; 7:6, 7, 8; 2Cor 3:6)
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)