Is Christ the End-ing of the Law? | Romans 10:4

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (ESV)

This is one of, if not the most popular verse to quote as proof that the Law of God given through Moses is ended, stopped, abolished, passed away, and therefore no longer authoritative or applicable to believers in Jesus.

Before we take a look at what the original Greek text of Romans 10:4 says, let’s use some critical thinking and compare this ‘proof’ verse with some other verses from the Word of God.

Because, if it’s true, and Paul claimed here in Romans 10:4 that the Law of God given through Moses has been “put to an end”, “stopped”, “canceled”, i.e. abolished in Christ, then we MUST ask ourselves if the following 9 points are also true:

1. Is Jesus, the Son of God, a liar?

“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, or stroke of a letter will pass from the Law until everything takes place.” | Matthew 5:18

“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.” | Luke 16:17.

• • Heaven and earth are still here… check outside to verify.

• • • For further study of theses verses please click these links and read, ‘The Law: Fulfilled or Abolished‘, ‘It is Finished!‘ and ‘Was the Law of Moses Abolished in the Flesh of Jesus?‘.

2. Is God the Father a liar?

“Therefore, the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” | Exodus 31:16-17; See also Exo. 12:14-17, Deut. 5:29, Deut. 29:29.

• • If you are in Christ, then you are grafted into the olive tree, which is the commonwealth of Israel. You are now a citizen of Israel, and this forever covenant applies to you, as you are no longer a gentile; “gentile” means “of the nations” | Romans 11:17-24; Ephesians 2:11-12; Jeremiah 11:16. Please click these links to read the following studies: ‘The Sabbath: Forever Means Forever‘,  ‘Did Paul Really Say “Any Day” Can Be the Sabbath?‘, ‘Are You Grafted In? Part 1: Not My People‘ and ‘Part 4: No Longer Gentile‘.

3. Was the apostle Paul a liar and a hypocrite?

“Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself (Paul) also live in observance of the law” | Acts 21:24, James speaking to Paul (Present Tense in the Greek) Please click this link and read the study, ‘You Yourself Also Live in Observance of the Law‘.

“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be righteous.” | Romans 2:13 (Future Tense in the Greek)

“Do we then abolish the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” | Romans 3:31 (Present Tense in the Greek) Please click this link and read the study, ‘Paul Commands Us to Uphold the Law‘.

“So, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” | Romans 7:12

“For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,” | Romans 7:22 (Present Tense in the Greek)

Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses… | 1 Corinthians 9:8-9 (Perfect Tense in the Greek)

• • ♦◊♦◊ Whose authority is Paul saying this is? Paul admits it’s not on human authority, but on ‘the authority of the Law of Moses‘; according to the apostle Paul, ‘the Law of Moses still has authority‘… ◊♦◊♦
  • See also Acts 23:5; Romans 2:17-18,27, 3:1-2, 6:16,19, 7:7,14,16,22 8:7-8, 15:4; 1 Cor. 5:7-8, 7:19, 9:8-9, 9:13, 9:21, 10:11, 10:18, 11:1; Gal. 3:15, 3:21; Col. 2:16; 1 Tim. 1:7-11, 5:18-20, 6:3; 2 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:11-14

4. Was King David a liar?

“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” | Psalm 119:160

5. Was King Solomon a liar?

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind.” | Ecclesiastes 12:13

6. Was Isaiah a liar?

“…For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” | Isaiah 2:3b; see Isaiah 2:2-5.

• • This is the Law of God given through Moses prophesied to be taught in the future Messianic Millennial reign to all of the nations.

7. Was Jeremiah a liar?

“the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.” | Jeremiah 33:18; see Jer. 33:14-26.

• • These Levitical prophecies take place during the future Messianic Millennial Reign.

8. Was Ezekiel a liar?

“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. | Ezekiel 37:24; see Ezekiel 37:21-28.

• • Again, this is Mosaic Law observance in the future Messianic Millennial Reign. See also Ezekiel 40:38 – 46:14 for more Millennial Reign observances of the Law of Moses.

9. Was Zechariah a liar?

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths” | Zechariah 14:16.

• • Yet again, Gods Law given through Moses, specifically His Feast keeping Law, observed in the future Messianic Millennial Reign. See also ALL of chapter 14 of Zechariah. Please click this link and read the study, ‘The LORD’s Feasts‘.

Since we all know that the Father, Jesus, Paul and the other 6 prophets are not liars, then we need to take a closer look at Romans 10:4 if we are going to reconcile this apparent contradiction.

So, let’s break down Romans 10:4 ~

Here is what we are forced to read in almost every single English version~

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. {ESV}

What does the Greek text say?

Romans 10:4 τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι {TR}

The following is the Strong’s number, the corresponding transliteration, the Greek word, the English word, and the Parsing:

G5056 G1063 G3551 G5547 G1519 G1343 G3956 G3588 G4100

telos gar nomou Christos eis dikaiosynēn panti tō pisteuonti

Τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι

end therefore law Christ into righteousness to all the faithful

N-NNS Conj N-GMS N-NMS Prep N-AFS Adj-DMS Art-DMS V-PPA-DMS

“Telos” in this verse does not belong to “Christos”, it belongs to “Nomou” which is in the Genitive Case.

Therefore, in English it actually reads, ‘the “end” therefore of the law is Christ into righteousness to all the faithful’ (or ‘all who are believing’).

‘If’ telos/τέλος means “put to an end”, “done away”, “annulled”, “repealed”, “stopped”, “finished”, “terminated”, or “abolished” (as mainstream theology teaches), ‘then’ the following verses that also use the Greek word τέλος should make sense when it’s replaced with “put to an end”, “annulled”, “terminated”, “repealed”, “stopped”, or “abolished”.

Let’s see if that holds true…

• Matthew 10:22 And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the abolished (end/telos) shall be saved.
• Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have stopped(end/telos).
• John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the repealed (end/telos).
• Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the stopped(end/telos) everlasting life.
• 1Timothy 1:5 Now the annulled (end/telos) of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
• 1Peter 1:9 Receiving the termination(end/telos) of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
• Revelations 2:26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the abolished(end/telos) to him will I give power over the nations:
• Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the put to an end(end/telos)

Obviously, this is not the meaning/definition of the word ‘telos/end’.

So, since what we’ve been taught for so many years is wrong, what is the real meaning that Paul was trying to convey by using this word ‘telos’?

According to Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon G5056 Τέλος/Telos is a noun from the primary root verb τέλλω/tello. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines it as: to set out for a definite point or goal; properly, the point aimed at as a limit.

The noun “Telos” does not mean ‘abolished’ or ‘done away with’ or ‘made void’ or ‘put to an end’. The English word “end”, which is deceptively used for τέλος/telos, actually means the “end product“ or “end result“; i.e. the final purpose, the intended objective, or the ultimate goal.

That is what the word means.

Telos/τέλος in the English language is likened to the “end zone” of a football field. The “end zone” is the final purpose or the intended objective of the offense. It is the ultimate goal to reach this area of the field, hence the name of the line that has to be crossed in order to reach it, “the goal line”.

If Paul had wanted to say “abolish” or “put to an end“ he would have used the Greek word, Strong’s G2647 καταλῦσαι/katalysai, which actually does mean to abolish, destroy, demolish, overthrow, throw down, annul, discard, subvert, etc. Or, he could have used Strong’s G622 ἀπόλλυμι/apolesai, which actually does mean to cancel out, permanently destroy, put an end to, put out of the way entirely, abolish, blot out, vanish away, to perish, etc.

But Paul did not use those words; he used “telos” which means the goal or the point aimed at.

We are being lied to; whether it is on purpose or in ignorance, it’s still deception.

As listed above, the Greek clearly renders the verse “telos gar nomou Christos eis dikaiosynen panti to pisteuonti” = “The goal truly of the Law is Christ into righteousness for all who are believing/faithful”.

There are 132 versus in the Septuagint (the Old Testament in Greek; referenced below) that have the word “Telos” in it, and every single one of them are translated from Hebrew words that mean one or more of the following: whole, sound, perfect, completely, truth, truly, perfection, accomplished, the sum, to complete or perfect, a goal, an objective, continual, perpetual, splendor, always, all, every one, everything, altogether, uttermost part, furthermost edge or corner, to enumerate, an assessment. None of these Hebrew words mean “abolished” or “made void” or “put an end to” or “destroyed” or “done away with” or “repealed” or “terminated”, not one!

The mainstream theological system is either willfully, or ignorantly preaching a false doctrine when it teaches that Romans 10:4 “proves” that the Law of God given through Moses has been ‘abolished’ and ‘put to an end’. The Greek clearly states nothing of the sort; Paul has been twisted and distorted as Peter warned us, 2 Peter 3:15-17.

Paul told those in Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Jesus ~

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Jesus is ‘the‘ example, and he showed us how to walk righteously before God. God’s Instructions for mankind, His Laws, are His defined righteous way of living ~

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’

Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

• When the Messiah spoke these words what was his definition of righteousness?

Romans 6:19 For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification (being set-apart).

The Scriptures right here state that our goal should be to walk in righteousness before God, and not in lawlessness. The Master Jesus walked righteously before God by obeying all the commands of the Law. Our goal should be to strive to do the same as our Master, for righteousness’s sake. Not to be justified or saved, to be righteous. Or as Paul so eloquently stated, we are to ‘present our members as slaves to righteousness‘, which he said leads to our sanctification, our holiness, our being set-apart.

What does the text say?

Romans 10:4 The ‘goal/purpose’ therefore of the Law is Christ INTO righteousness for all those believing.

Another Scriptural fact about this verse that is not taught by mainstream theology is the word “INTO“, which is Strong’s G1519, εἰς/eis. This word is consistently mistranslated/misinterpreted because the ‘Parsing’ (grammar/syntax) is ignored!

According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, εἰς/eis is a preposition governing the accusative, in this case the word “Righteousness“, and can be used:

A. Properly

I. Of place (this does not apply to Romans 10:4)

II. Of time (this does not apply to Romans 10:4)

B. Metaphorically

I. retains the force of entering into anything (this does not apply to Romans 10:4)

II. after words indicating motion or direction or end

1. it denotes motion to something (this does not apply to Romans 10:4)

2. of ethical direction or reference (this does not apply to Romans 10:4)

3. it denotes the end;

a. the end to which a thing reaches or extends, i.e. measure or degree (close)

b.  the end which a thing is adapted to attain (closer)

c. the end which one has in view, i.e. object, purpose; [BINGO!!!]

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states the Greek word “εἰς/eis”, the preposition for the ‘Accusative Case Noun’ Righteousness, to mean in definition B., II., 3., c. the end which one has in view, i.e. object, purpose; to this end, for this very thing, to what purpose, to be. The other definitions do not grammatically apply to Romans 10:4.

Romans 10:4 ~ Truly, the goal of the Law is Messiah:

• to this end Righteousness
• for this very thing Righteousness
• to what purpose Righteousness
• to be Righteousness

And now Romans 2:13 makes more sense ~

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be righteous.

The Law of God shows mankind how to walk in His “right ways”; i.e. righteousness. Paul stated that our goal is to walk in righteousness before our God, and Jesus the Righteous One, is that goal personified. The purpose/goal of the Law is to lead us to be just like Jesus the Master, and to walk in the same way in which He walked, “into righteousness“. The “goal” of the Instructions/Law of God is to be like Jesus, obedient, faithful and humble before the Almighty; i.e. walking into righteousness. Again, NOT to be justified or saved, but to be righteous, and thereby, “Set-Apart”. Please click these links and read the studies, ‘Justification vs. Righteousness‘, and ‘Salvation vs. Eternal Life‘. Salvation is not the same as Eternal Life, and Justification is not the same as Righteousness; these studies show the difference between them, Scripturally!

Once more, Romans 10:4 states the goal of the Law is Messiah into righteousness; our goal is to walk as He did.

What does the text say?

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 John 2:5-6 By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

1 John 3:7,10 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous… ₁₀By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God

Romans 6:16, 19 ₁₆Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?… ₁₉For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Final thought: Like the 9 witnesses listed at the beginning of this study, Moses is the 10^th.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob inspired Moses to prophesy that in *“OUR FUTURE” *, yours and mine, the offspring of God’s covenanted people will be gathered back to Him because they will choose to keep, guard, observe, and obey the “Law of God given through Moses”…

Deuteronomy 30:1-19 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, »»and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you««, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you TODAY, with all your heart and with all your soul, »»then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you««. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the LORD your »»God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring««, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD »»and keep all his commandments that I command you TODAY««.”

This prophesy states that “in the future” (*In Our Future*), when the descendants of these covenanted Israelites come to their senses and return to keep and obey the Commands that Moses is commanding in these verses (the Law of Moses) they will be granted the opportunity of reconciliation with the Almighty. They will have their fortunes restored, their hearts circumcised and God will regather them from *”ALL The Nations Where They Have Been Scattered”*…

This prophesy, that specifically lists the “future-keeping/obeying-of-the-Law-of-Moses”, has NOT happened yet… But, it will happen!

This study can now be viewed on YouTube at, ‘Is Christ the End-ing of the Law?‘.

• For further study of Paul’s teachings, as well as the original Greek, see the ‘Links’ at the top of this page or blog posts at the bottom. Be like the Bereans, and test Paul’s doctrines to the “Scriptures”; look up for yourself more than 60 of the “forever verses” listed below the ‘Telos Septuagint List’. Please ‘share’ this study. Thank you for your time!

“Telos” in the Septuagint: Genesis 46:4(H5927 עלה‛âlâh); Leviticus 27:23 (H4373 מכסה miksâh); Numbers 17:13(H8552 תּמם tâmam)*; 31:28(H4371 מֶכֶס mekes), 31:37-41 (H4371 מֶכֶס mekes)x5; Deuteronomy 31:24 (H8552 תּמם tâmam), 31:30 (H8552 תּמם tâmam); Joshua 3:16 (H8552 תּמם tâmam); 8:24(H8552 תּמם tâmam); 10:13(H8549 תָּמִים tâmı̂ym, 10:20 (H8552 תּמם tâmam); Judges 11:39 (H7093 קץ :qêts); 2 Samuel 15:7(H7093 קץ qêts); 24:8 (H7097 קצה qêtseh)2 Kings 8:3 (H7093 קץ qêts); 18:10 (H7093 קץ qêts); 19:23 (H3411 ירכה H3411); 1 Chronicles 28:9 (H5703 עַד ‛ad); 29:19 ( H3605 כּוֹל kol ); 2 Chronicles 12:12 (H3617 כָּלָה kâlâh); 18:2( H7093 קץ qêts) ; 31:1 (H3605 כּוֹל kol ); Nehemiah 13:6 ( H7093 קץ qêts); Esther 3:13; 10:1 (H4522 מס mas ); Job 6:9 (H5425 נָתַר nâthar); 14:20 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 20:7 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach), 28 (H5064 נָגַר nawgar’); 23:3 ( H8499 תְּכוּנָה tekûnâh), 7 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach) ; Psalm 4:1 (H5329 נָצַח nâtsach) ; 5:1; 6:1; 8:1; 9:1; 11:1; 12:1; 13:1; 14:1; 18:1; 19:1; 20:1; 21:1; 22:1; 30:1; 31:1; 36:1; 39:1; 40:1; 41:1; 42:1; 44:1; 45:1; 46:1; 47:1; 49:1; 51:1; 52:1, 5; 53:1; 54:1; 55:1; 56:1; 57:1; 58:1; 59:1; 60:1; 61:1; 62:1; 64:1; 65:1; 66:1; 67:1; 68:1, 16; 69:1; 70:1; 74:1; 75:1; 76:1; 77:1; 80:1; 81:1; 84:1; 85:1; 88:1; 109:1; 139:1; 140:1;{All of these are (H5329 נָצַח nâtsach)} Psalm 9:6 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 18 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 10:11 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 16:11 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 18:35 (H5582 סָעַד sâ‛ad) ; 38:6 (H3605 כּוֹל kol ); 44:23(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 49:9 (H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 74:3(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach), 10(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach), 19(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach) ; 77:8(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 79:5(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 89:46(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach); 103:9(H5331 נֶצַח nêtsach) Ecclesiastes 3:11 (H5490 סוֹף sôph); 7:2 (H5490 סוֹף sôph); 12:13 (H5490 סוֹף sôph)* Isaiah 19:15(H100 אגמון agmôn) ; 62:6(H8548 תּמיד tâmı̂yd); Ezekiel 15:4 (H7098 קָצָה qâtsâh) ; 20:40(H3605 כּוֹל kol); 22:30(added in front of the Greek word destroy to emphasize “utterly” ; 36:10(H3605 כּוֹל kol);Daniel 1:15 (H7117 קְצָת qetsâth), 18(H7117 קְצָת qetsâth); 2:34(added to emphasize “completely”); 3:19(H5922 על ‛al); 4:34(H7118 קצת Aramaic qetsâth); 6:26(H5491 סוף Aramaic sôph); 7:26(H5491 סוף Aramaic sôph); 9:26(H7093 קץ qêts); 11:13(H7093 קץ qêts); Amos 9:8 (H8045 repeated) as in completely or utterly; Habakkuk 1:4 (H5331 נצח netsach)