“Τετέλεσται” John 19:30. In the Gospel of John this was the last word Jesus uttered while on the cross.

In Greek it stands in the perfect tense. The perfect tense is completed action that continues to the present (and beyond). That is to say it was, is and will be. 

English translates it as “it is finished” or “it is being accomplished”. Done. Completed. Perfected. What was in the past has been paid for and the debt fully paid. 

In their Greek lexicon, Moulton and Milligan wrote of Τετέλεσται,

“Receipts are often introduced by the phrase τετελεσταθ (tetelestai), usually written in an abbreviated manner…” (p. 630)

The Latin equivalent is “consummatum est” and means done, paid in full – and was written on the debt agreement and notices of taxation once paid was received. 

The point is the final words of Christ on the cross was to let us know He paid our debt and that in Him we have complete forgiveness.

Tom Dallis

Christian apologist, theologian, author, and former documentary filmmaker with a strong academic and ministry background. Graduate of Cedarville University (B.A. Speech Communications, Pre-Seminary Bible), Emmanuel Theological Seminary (Th.M. and Th.D. in Christian Apologetics and New Testament Textual Criticism), and the Israel Bible Center (Postgraduate studies in Biblical Hebrew). Produced faith-based documentaries through Ensign Media, distributed by Vision Video and Gateway Films. Husband to Kathy, father, and grandfather. Resides in Morrow, Ohio.

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