Throughout these various applications of the word one general thought is preserved. He who is tevleio" has reached the end which is in each case set before him, maturity of growth, complete development of powers, full enjoyment of privileges, perfect possession of knowledge.
The sense of the word in the Epistle to the Hebrews exactly conforms to this usage. The
tevleio"
the matured Christianis contrasted with the
nhvpio"
the undeveloped babe (Heb. 5:14): the provisional and transitory tabernacle with that which was more perfect (9:11). The ripe perfectness
(
teleiovth"
) of Christian knowledge is set against the first elementary teaching of the Gospel (6:1). Christ, as He leads faith, so to speak, to the conflict, carries it to its absolute triumph (12:2
teleiwthv"
). The aim of a religious system is
teleivwsi"
(7:11), to bring men to their true end, when all the fulness of humanity in power and development is brought into fellowship with God. And in this sense God was pleased to make the Incarnate Son perfect through suffering (2:10; 5:9; 7:28), and the Son, by His one offering, to make perfect them that are sanctified (10:14; 11:40; 12:23).
Additional Note on Hebrews 2:10. The
teleivwsi"
of Christ.
In connexion with the Person and Work of Christ the idea of teleivwsi" finds three distinct applications.
( a ) He is Himself made perfect: 2:10 ff.; 5:7 ff.; 7:28. ( b ) He perfects others through fellowship with Himself: 10:14; 11:39 f.; 12:23.
( c ) His perfection through suffering is the ground of absolute sympathy with men in their weakness, and failure, and efforts: 2:17 f.; 4:15; 12:2.
A general view of the distinctive thoughts in these passages will illustrate the breadth and fulness of the teaching of the Epistle. The notes on the several passages will suggest in detail thoughts for further study.
( a ) The personal consummation of Christ in His humanity: 2:10 ff.; 5:7 ff.; 7:28.
These three passages present the fact under three different aspects. ( a ) The first passage (2:10 ff.) declares the general method by which the consummation was reached in regard to the divine counsel: God perfected His Incarnate Son through sufferings; and Man is able to recognise the fitness ( e[prepen ) of this method from the consideration of his own position and needs ( pollou;" uiJou;" eij" dovxan ajgagovnta ).
( b ) In the second passage (5:7 ff.) we are allowed to see the action of the divine discipline upon the Son of man during His earthly life, in its course and in its end ( e[maqen ajfj w|n e[paqen th;n uJpakohvn ). He realised to the uttermost the absolute dependence of humanity upon God in the fulness of personal communion with Him, even through the last issues of sin in death.
( g ) In the third passage (7:28) there is a revelation of the abiding work of the Son for men as their eternal High Priest ( uiJo;n eij" to;n aijw'na teteleiwmevnon ).
In studying this teleivwsi" of Christ, account must be taken both (1) of His life as man (John 8:40; 1 Tim. 2:5 ( a[nqrwpo" ); Acts 2:22; 17:31 ajnhvr ), so far as He fulfilled in a true human life the destiny of man personally; and (2) of