### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **apoteléō**, represented by `{{G658}}`, is defined as to complete entirely or consummate, often translated as **finish**. It is derived from ἀπό and τελέω. Despite its potent meaning, it is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, highlighting the specific and final nature of the action it describes.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G658}}` is found in a stark description of the progression of sin. In [[James 1:15]], the text explains a sequence: "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is **finished**, bringeth forth death." Here, **apoteléō** signifies the point where sin has run its full course, reached maturity, and is brought to its ultimate and final state. It is not merely stopped or ended, but fully realized, leading to its inevitable consequence.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Greek words from its context in [[James 1:15]] help illuminate the process that `{{G658}}` concludes:
* `{{G1939}}` **epithymía** (a longing (especially for what is forbidden)): This is the initial desire or lust that begins the sequence. It is the seed that, once conceived, leads to sin [[James 1:15]].
* `{{G4815}}` **syllambánō** (to clasp, i.e. seize... specially, to conceive): This term marks the moment when forbidden desire takes root and is actively embraced, transitioning from a passing thought to a developing sin [[James 1:15]].
* `{{G266}}` **hamartía** (a sin (properly abstract)): This is the direct offspring of conceived lust. It is the entity that, when **finished** or brought to completion by `{{G658}}`, results in death [[James 1:15]].
* `{{G2288}}` **thánatos** ((properly, an adjective used as a noun) death): This is the final, inevitable outcome produced once sin has been fully consummated. It is the consequence that directly follows the action of `{{G658}}` [[James 1:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G658}}` is concentrated in its single appearance, where it clarifies the life cycle of sin:
* **The Consummation of Sin:** The word emphasizes that sin is a process that culminates in a final, mature state. When sin is **finished**, it is not just an act but a fulfilled course of action that unleashes its full destructive potential [[James 1:15]].
* **A Causal Chain:** Its use locks in a clear, causal progression. Lust `{{G1939}}` leads to sin `{{G266}}`, and the completion `{{G658}}` of that sin inevitably "bringeth forth" `{{G616}}` death `{{G2288}}`.
* **Moral Finality:** The term **apoteléō** implies a point of no return. Once sin is brought to this state of completion, the outcome of death is presented as a guaranteed and direct result, much like a birth following a conception.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G658}}` is a precise and powerful word that, while used only once, provides a critical anchor in understanding the biblical view of sin's progression. It moves beyond the idea of a simple action to describe a consummation—a process brought to its complete and intended end. Its use in [[James 1:15]] serves as a solemn warning, illustrating how an internal longing, when nurtured and brought to completion, results in the ultimate finality of death.
TRV