Paid in Full! A Note on “It is finished” in John 19:30.
By Kurt Seboe
Hanging on a Roman Cross 2000 years ago, Jesus, “knowing that all things had already been accomplished,” declared, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28). And after drinking the sour wine, he declared, “It is finished!” (19:30).
The expression “It is finished,” is translated from the Greek verb τετέλεσται. Earlier in the context, in 19:28, this word was used to highlight that “all things had already been accomplished.” The verb is a perfect form. When the author is building to the climax of his point in the argument, he will employ a perfect form. When an author/writer is portraying background information to carry the storyline, he will use an aorist or present form.
Secondly, the verb itself (τελέω) carries three basic uses that are similar in meaning. First, it has the force, “to complete an activity or process,” hence bring to an end, finish or complete. Second, it means “to carry out an obligation or demand,” hence carry out, accomplish, perform, fulfill, keep. And third, “to pay what is due,” hence pay (BDAG). Which of these three usage categories is always a matter of what is the best fit contextually? D. A. Carson notes,
As an English translation, It is finished captures only part of the meaning, the part that focuses on completion. Jesus’ work was done. But this is no cry of defeat; nor is it merely an announcement of imminent death (though it is not less than that). The verb teleō from which this form derives denotes the carrying out of a task, and in religious contexts bears the overtone of fulfilling one’s religious obligations. Accordingly, in the light of the impending cross, Jesus could earlier cry, ‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing (teleiōsas; i.e. by accomplishing) the work you gave me to do’ (17:4). ‘Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them eis telos—not only ‘to the end’ but to the full extent mandated by his mission. And so, on the brink of death, Jesus cries out, It is accomplished! (John, PNTC, 621).
So take comfort and and rest in confidence, believer in Christ. For in the purpose of his crucifixion, namely, to die for the sins of the world, Jesus is declaring the debt has been paid in full.