τέλειος, -α, -ον
(< τέλος), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלֵם, תָּמִים and cogn. forms;]
having reached its end, finished, mature, complete, perfect;
1. of persons, primarily of physical development,
(a) full-grown, mature: He 5:14; ethically: Phl 3:15; opp. to νήπιος (-άζειν), I Co 2:614:20, Eph 4:13; τ. καὶ πεπληροφορημένοι, Col 4:12; τ. ἐν Χριστῷ, Col 1:28;
(b) complete, perfect (expressing the simple idea of complete goodness, without reference either to maturity or to the philosophical idea of a τέλος; v. Hort on Ja 1:4): Mt 5:4819:21, Ja 1:43:2; of God, Mt 5:48.
2. Of things, complete, perfect: Ro 12:2; ἔργον, Ja 1:4; νόμος, ib. 25; δώρημα, ib. 17; ἀγάπη, I Jo 4:18; τὸ τ., I Co 13:10; compar., τελειοτέρα (σκηνή), He 9:11.
(There is probably no reference in St. Paul's usage to the use of this term in the ancient mysteries; cf. ICC on Col 1:28; but v. also Lft., in l, and Notes, 173 f.) †
SYN.: v.s. ὁλόκληρος (and cf. Rendall, He., 158 ff.)