ROMANS 10:4: “FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW ……,” BUT THE GREEK FOR END CAN EASILY MEAN “GOAL, PURPOSE, AIM,” OR “RESULT,” NOT THE TERMINATION OF LAW KEEPING

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Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to everyone who has faith.” (Bible in Basic English)

Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the DESIRED GOAL of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Erickson’s Literal Translation, not yet published)

Greek words can often be translated into English using a number of different, sometimes radically different English words. Telos, Strong’s 5056, is no exception. Believe it or not, the majority of translators are anti-Mosaic law leaning. Translating the above verse was another opportunity for translators to choose the English word that conforms most closely to their own antinomian theology, and to get away with it quite easily. If you think translators are not biased, then you need to read the page EXAMPLES OF TRANSLATORS’ BIAS AGAINST OT LAWS. That page shows that MOST, one more time, MOST translators, incredibly, think nothing of even ADDING their own PERSONAL OPINIONS at the very end of one or more holy, inspired law keeping verses. IF THEY ARE BLASPHEMOUSLY ARROGANT ENOUGH TO EVEN ADD THEIR OWN INCORRECT WORDS, then they certainly won’t hesitate to take advantage of using the most anti-law translation possible if they think they can get away with it. The original Greek word for “END” is telos, Strong’s number 5056, which can be translated into more than one English word. Words used to define telos include GOAL, RESULT, PURPOSE, and AIM according to Strong and Thayer. According to Wikipedia, telos is the root of the term “teleology,” which approximately is the study of objects with a VIEW TO THEIR AIMS, PURPOSES, OR INTENTIONS. Telos can also mean “end.” The context determines what a word means, or does not mean, when it can mean different things. Not unexpectedly, the majority of translators render the Greek word telos as “end” instead of giving Paul’s intended meaning of that word, which would be goal, result, purpose, or aim. Reasoning incorrectly that faith makes the law void (dramatically contrary to Romans 3:31, 6:15, and many other strongly pro-law verses), they have adopted an illogical assumption that Paul plainly rejected in Romans 3:31: “Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.” (American Standard Version) Romans 6:15 again reminds us that each Christian needs to continue obeying the first part of the law, the obedience part: “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.” (ASV) In other words, Romans 6:15 says, What then? shall we KEEP BREAKING THE LAW because we are not under the second part of the law, the NOW ABOLISHED DEATH PENALTY PART OF THE LAW (Romans 8:2) but under grace? GOD FORBID! Remember, 1 John 3:4 defines SIN AS BREAKING THE LAW. Keep in mind that LIARS, IDOLATERS, MURDERERS, THIEVES, THE COVETOUS, and DISEASE SPREADING HOMOSEXUALS, ADULTERERS, AND FORNICATORS for example, will not be granted immortality in God’s Kingdom because they kept deliberately breaking divine LAWS that are still very much in full force, according to many specific NT verses. The Greek word telos, translated “end” in Romans 10:4 in most English translations, can convey variations in meaning, including “the aim or purpose of a thing” ( Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “End, Ending”).
So Jesus clearly, quite obviously, DID NOT end the law for the above sinners.

THINK !!

IT IS INFINITELY ABSURD TO CLAIM THAT JESUS IS THE “END” (TERMINATION) OF THE LAW BECAUSE THE BIBLE’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT PROVIDES “TONS” OF EVIDENCE THAT JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY KEPT AND SUPPORTED THE LAW, HE ALSO EVEN MAGNIFIED AND EXPANDED IT BY ADDING TO THE LAW!!!! ADDING TO IT!!!!

Quite obviously, then, !!! OF COURSE !!!, more than a dozen times over, Jesus DID NOT bring the law to an end. Quite to the contrary, He did just the opposite by upholding the law and even MAGNIFYING it because if you now merely look at a woman lustfully you are guilty of full blown adultery (Matthew 5:28). Magnifying the law further in His Sermon on the Mount, our Savior revealed that you are now in danger of the judgment (losing your salvation) if you merely become angry with someone without a valid cause. Jesus also said that just calling someone “You fool!” could put a person in danger of hell fire (again, losing your salvation) according to Matthew 5:21-22.

Isaiah 42:1,4,6,7, and especially 21: “Behold! my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles …… 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law …… 6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, …… 21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to MAGNIFy the law, and make it honorable.” (ASV) Many, many Bible translations also translate MAGNIFY as MAGNIFY, too. These prophetic Isaiah verses are referring to Jesus, successfully predicting that He would EXPAND, EXALT, and MAGNIFY the law. Jesus magnified some other laws, too, in His Sermon on the Mount. Does this seem like Jesus is the “end” of the law? Again, !!! NO, OF COURSE NOT !!! an infinite number of times! So Christians are still under the obedience part of most of the general law. Law keeping Christians are no longer under the second part of the law, the penalty part, though, which is potentially eternal death. Once again, the Greek word telos, translated “end” in Romans 10:4 in most English translations, can very well convey variations in meaning, including “the aim or purpose of a thing” ( Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “End, Ending”).

1 Timothy 1:5: “but the GOAL (telos) of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith.” (World English Bible, parenthesized word added)

In the World English Bible telos is properly translated as goal in the clause “the goal of this command is love” in the Timothy verse above. In this same verse the NRSV translates telos as “aim” and the NIV renders it as “goal.” SO NEARBY ROMANS 3:31 AND ROMANS 6:15 DEFINE THE CONTEXT OF “END” IN ROMANS 10:4 MORE AS THE “GOAL, AIM, OR PURPOSE” OF THE LAW, RATHER THAN THE LITERAL “END” OR “TERMINATION” OF LAW KEEPING.

Romans 3:31: “Do we then make nullify the law through faith? MAY IT NEVER BE! No, we establish the law.” (WEB) Romans 6:15: “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? MAY IT NEVER BE!” (WEB) 1 John 3:4: Sin is breaking the law. (Christians are no longer under the PENALTY PART of the law, which is eternal death [Romans 8:2], but continue to be under the OBEDIENCE PART of the law, which is obeying the law.)

The following are 10 very reputable, often more recent translations providing a more accurate, more realistic translation of telos in Romans 10:4.

Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the CONSUMMATION OF LAW for righteousness to everyone who is believing.” (Concordant Literal Version)

Romans 10:4: “For Messiah is the COMPLETION/SHALOM OF THE TORAH to justness to everyone who trusts.” (exeGeses Companion Bible)

Romans 10:4: “For the Messiah is the CULMINATION OF THE LAW as far as righteousness is concerned for everyone who believes.” (International Standard Version)

Romans 10:4: “Christ is the GOAL OF THE LAW, which leads to righteousness for all who have faith in God.” (Common English Bible)

Romans 10:4: “For the GOAL AT WHICH THE TORAH AIMS is the Messiah, who offers righteousness to everyone who trusts.” (Complete Jewish Bible)

Romans 10:4: “Christ is the CULMINATION OF THE LAW so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (New International Version)

Romans 10:4: “You see, God’s PURPOSE FOR THE LAW REACHES ITS CLIMAX WHEN THE ANOINTED ONE ARRIVES; now all who trust in Him can have their lives made right with God.” (The Voice)

Romans 10:4: “The Messiah, you see, is the GOAL OF THE LAW, so that covenant membership may be available for all who believe.” (New Testament for Everyone)

Romans 10:4: “For Messiah is the GOAL OF THE TORAH as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.” (Tree of Life Version)

Romans 10:4: “For Moshiach is the GOAL OF THE TORAH as a means to being YITZDAK IM HASHEM, for all who have emunah.” (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

James 5:11: “Behold, we call them blessed that endured: Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the END (telos) of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.” (ASV, parenthesized word added)

James 5:11 is another example of where the American Standard Version, as well as many other translations again poorly translate telos as “end,” but in a very large number of other translations telos is translated correctly as purpose, and sometimes as outcome, consummation, or completion. James 5:11 should read “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end INTENDED by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” The Lord of course did not “end.”

Another example of the poor translation of telos as “end” occurs in the Bible in Basic English, as well as in many other translations, in verse 9 of

1 Peter 1:8,9: “…… though you have not seen him; and the faith which you have in him, though you do not see him now, gives you joy greater than words and full of glory: 9 For so you have the true END (telos) of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (BBE, parenthesized word added)

More accurate translations of verse 9’s “end” include the following: The New Simplified Bible says “outcome of your faith.” The Concordant Literal Version says “the consummation of your faith.” The World English Bible says “receiving the result of your faith.” The Twentieth Century New Testament says “as you receive the reward of your faith.” A Christian’s faith is of course continuous and is not something that ends.

1 Peter 4:7: “But the END (telos) of all things is near: so be serious in your behavior and keep on the watch with prayer;” (BBE, parenthesized word added)

This is another example where “end” is not the best translation of the Greek word telos because it is not really literally true that everything is coming to an end, just as it is not really literally true that Jesus Christ is the “end” of the law. For example, the earth, which is a part of all things, will not come to a literal end within the context of this verse because the Bible repeatedly reveals that saved Christians will inherit the earth to live on basically forever. The following four versions translate telos in a slightly more accurate, slightly more insightful way.

1 Peter 4:7: “Now the Goal (telos) (or: the end; the final act; or: the finished Product; or: the completion of the plan) of all people (and: pertaining to and affecting all things) has approached and is now near at hand and [He] is close enough to touch (= has arrived)! Therefore, you folks keep a healthy and sound frame of mind ……” (The Jonathan Mitchell New Testament)

1 Peter 4:7: “The consummation (telos) of all things draws nigh. Be temperate, be vigilant in prayer.” (Daniel Mace New Testament)

1 Peter 4:7: “But the completion/shalom (telos) of all approaches: so be sound and watch to prayer.”(exeGeses Companion Bible)

1 Peter 4:7: “For the culmination (telos) of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.” (New English Translation)

Isaiah 2:2,3: “…… in the latter days …… all nations will come to it. 3 …… FOR OUT OF ZION THE LAW WILL GO OUT, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. (BBE)

Micah 4:1,2: “….. in the latter days ….. 2 And MANY NATIONS SHALL GO and say ….. let us go up ….. to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways …… FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL GO FORTH THE LAW …… FROM JERUSALEM;” (ASV)

You can now easily see that our Savior did not end the law because he not only upheld the law, He magnified the law, and according to Isaiah and Micah, He will play a major role in even bringing the law to every single nation on the earth during the approaching Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

Even though mainstreamers seem to assume that you accept a self contradictory Bible concerning law keeping, you can confidently assume that God is not deliberately lying to you in any verse in the original Greek because He told us that He does not lie. Hebrews 6:18: “……it is impossible for God to lie ……” (ASV) 1 Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace.” (ASV) Therefore we can confidently assume that the original Greek in the New Testament is not really self contradictory about law keeping. Since God will not lie or try to confuse us then we need to really believe LITERALLY the following verses that plainly tell us that Christians still need to obey the law.

1 John 3:4: “…… SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW” (King James Version) The Greek definition of law definitely includes the Mosaic law. If it did not include the Mosaic law, then bestiality, incest, bribery, arson, convicting a son for the sins of his father, Saturday work, and so on would no longer be Biblically prohibited, which, of course, is totally absurd. Just because those sins are not specifically condemned in the NT is not justification to assume the laws prohibiting them have been abolished. There are so many laws in the very familiar OT that the Apostles may have simply thought that it would be redundant to repeat every single one of them in their epistles. The sacrifice, circumcision, and Levitical priesthood laws, though, have been annulled according to the Apostles.

Romans 2:13: “For not the hearers of the LAW are just before God, but the DOERS of the LAW shall be justified.” (ASV)

Romans 3:31: “Are we abolishing Moses’ Teachings by this faith? THAT’S UNTHINKABLE! Rather, we are SUPPORTING Moses’ teachings.” (God’s Word Translation)

Romans 6:19: “…… as you gave your bodies as servants to what is UNCLEAN, and to evil to do evil, SO NOW GIVE THEM AS SERVANTS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS TO DO WHAT IS HOLY.” (BBE) The Greek definition of UNCLEAN includes the Levitically “unclean” or forbidden foods. The word “righteousness” in these Roman verses usually refers to the Jewish LAW keeping type of righteousness. So according to the green, capitalized phrase above, Paul clearly commands us to start or to continue obeying the LAW.

Matthew 19:17: “….. BUT IF you want to enter into life, KEEP the commandments.” (WEB)

Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who DO His commandments, that they may HAVE THE RIGHT to the tree of life ……” (WEB) Remember, the Ten Commandments contain the one requiring rest on Saturday, not Sunday, which was started by the Catholics.

Yes, the death of Jesus did wipe away and atone for our sins (violations of the law), BUT IT WAS GENERALLY ONLY FOR OUR PAST, REPEAT, PAST SINS, NOT SINS AFTER REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM!!

ROMANS 3:24,25: “…… Jesus …… freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin …… God …… held back and DID NOT PUNISH THOSE WHO SINNED IN TIMES PAST,” (New Living Translation) That is why we need to keep on obeying the law after our baptism. New, post baptismal sins, though, when confessed and sincerely repented of, can also be forgiven (1 John 1:9, 2:1,2). Abandoning one’s conversion and baptism, however, or deliberately and consistently sinning may ultimately be judged as unforgiveable according to Hebrews 6:4-6, and 10:26-27.

Remember, only 7 verses in the entire Bible say literally that Christians are no longer under the law, but every single one of those 7 contextually constricted verses is limited to the very few, specific laws that the Apostles said were now abolished. Those laws are the sacrifice, circumcision, Levitical priesthood, and eternal death penalty laws. The topic is never the general law, so that means the safe meat, mostly prophetic, hope filled festivals, and enriching tithing laws are still in full force despite what the popular, verse skipping, added verse supporting (the last sentence in Mark 7:19, which is highly deceitful and therefore sinful, in most translations, IS NOT the original Greek), mainstream churches fanatically preach.

For further study please visit http://www.ucg.org/booklet/new-covenant-does-it-abolish-gods-law/apostles-old-testament-and-gods-law/what-did-paul-mean/. Another site to visit is http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible-questions/how/christ-is-the-end-of-the-law/.