We speak of «last» meaning end or purpose (for this the New Testament often used
the word telos); and of «last» meaning completion, like the last act of a drama.
Not exact matches
In any case, «
telos» should not be treated as a toxin or a swear
word.
So St. John can say in the Fourth Gospel, that Jesus, «having loved his own which were in the world, loved them to the end» — the Greek
word for «end» here is
telos and that is to say «unto the very limit», a limit which in Jesus was to the point of death for those whom he loved.
The incarnate
Word and the divine providence, which guides creation toward this
telos, hold precedence in Maximus» manner of speaking of divine immanence in creation.
The
word «end» Jesus uses there is
telos.