Fulfill in Strong’s G4137.
Some, including the Hebrew Roots Movement, use the wording “fully preach” to refer to Jesus fulfilling the Mosaic Law. There are a couple issues with that interpretation. The words after the colon in the Strong’s definition above are examples of how the word has been translated in some of the English Bibles. The only time pleroo is interpreted as “fully preach” is in Romans 15:19 where many of the Bibles use a footnote to reference the meaning is “fulfilled”. We can easily see Paul discussing how through the power of the Holy Spirit he was able to fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This one translational use of pleroo cannot be used as a standard for all occurrences of the Greek word. For even just on the logical basis that if Jesus only came to fully preach the Law, why are we not observing all the 613 laws of Moses?
To fulfill means to satisfy, to finish, to complete. Jesus came to fulfill all that was spoken about Him by Moses, the prophets and the psalms when He declares from the cross, “It is finished!” (Luke 24:44). Jesus fulfilled the whole Law from His birth to death and resurrection because no one else could. Jesus alone could fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law (Romans 8:1-4). Jesus imparts His righteousness to us as believers through faith (Romans 8:4).
As Christians we are commanded to love God, our neighbor and our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 22:37-40). By doing so, we fulfill the Law (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8). God’s commandment for Christians through the new covenant is: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
1. Strong, J. (2009). Vol. 1: A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (58). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
