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Explainer / Torah

Romans 10:4

For Messiah is the goal of the Torah to righteousness to everyone believing.

τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι.

Greek
Compare with the ASV

For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.

What we did

We rendered τέλος "goal" where the ASV has "end," and printed "Torah" for νόμος.

Why

  1. τέλος

    means "end" in the sense of the point something reaches: the finish of a race, the purpose of a plan, the outcome of a thing.

    More

    The standard lexicon (BDAG) gives both "termination" and "goal."

  2. The running words just before

    In 9:30–31 Paul says Gentiles "who did not pursue" righteousness attained it, while Israel, "pursuing (διώκων) the Torah of righteousness, did not arrive (οὐκ ἔφθασεν)" at it, and in 9:32–33 they stumble.

    More

    These are words for a race, and the τέλος of a race is the finish line runners aim at. "Goal" carries that sense in English.

  3. νόμος

    here is the Mosaic law, so it is rendered "Torah." The verses that follow quote it: Lev 18:5 in 10:5 and Deut 30:12–14 in 10:6–8.

  4. παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι

    is a present participle, "to everyone believing," rendered as continuing action.

Other renderings

"end" (ASV, KJV, ESV); "culmination" or "fulfillment" (other versions).

Read Romans 10:4 in context