τέλειος

τελεία, τέλειον (τέλος), in classic Greek sometimes also τέλειος, τέλειον (cf. Winers Grammar, § 11,1), from Homer down, the Sept. several times for שָׁלֵם, תָּמִים, etc.; properly, brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness; perfect: ἔργον, Jas 1:4; ἡ ἀγάπη, 1 Jn 4:18; ὁ νόμος, Jas 1:25; (δώρημα, Jas 1:17); τελειοτερα σκηνή, a more perfect (excellent) tabernacle, Heb 9:11; τό τέλειον, substantively, that which is perfect: consummate human integrity and virtue, Rom 12:2 (others take it here as an adjective belonging to θέλημα); the perfect state of all things, to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven, 1 Cor 13:10; of men, full-grown, adult; of full age, mature (Aeschylus Ag. 1504; Plato, legg. 11, p. 929{c}): Heb 5:14; τέλειος ἀνήρ (Xenophon, Cyril 1, 2, 4f; 8, 7, 6; Philo de cherub. § 32; opposed to παιδίον νήπιον, Polybius 5, 29, 2; for other examples from other authors see Bleek, Brief a. d. Hebrew ii., 2, p. 133f), μέχρι... εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, until we rise to the same level of knowledge which we ascribe to a full-grown man, until we can be likened to a full-grown man, Eph 4:13 (opposed to νήπιοι, 14); τέλειοι ταῖς φρεσί (opposed to παιδία and νηπιαζοντες ταῖς φρεσί), 1 Cor 14:20 (here A. V. men); absolutely, οἱ τέλειοι, the perfect, i. e. the more intelligent, ready to apprehend divine things, 1 Cor 2:6 (R. V. marginal reading full-grown) (opposed to νήπιοι ἐν Χριστῷ, ; in simple opposed to νήπιος, Philo de legg. alleg. i. § 30; for מֵבִין, opposed to μαντανων, 1 Chr 25:8; (cf. Lightfoot on Col 1:28; Phm 3:15)); of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height of virtue and integrity: Mt 5:48; Mt 19:21; Phm 3:15 (cf. Lightfoot as above); Jas 1:4; in an absolute sense, of God: Mt 5:48; τέλειος ἀνήρ, Jas 3:2 (τέλειος δίκαιος, Sir. 44:17); as respects understanding and goodness, Col 4:12; τέλειος ἄνθρωπος ἐν Χριστῷ, Col 1:28 (cf. Lightfoot as the synonym above: see ὁλόκληρος, and Trench, § xxii.).