τετέλεσται
Gloss: it has been (and stands) finished, completed, fulfilled
perfect passive indicative, 3rd singular of τελέω
BDAG: 'to bring to an end, complete, finish, accomplish.' Louw-Nida 68.22: 'to come to a conclusion, with the implication of the goal having been reached.' The perfect tense names the abiding state of completion arising from a definite past act.
- John 19:28
Jesus, knowing that all was now finished (τετέλεσται), said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.'
- John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished' (τετέλεσται), and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The 'PAID IN FULL receipt' illustration is misleading. While τελέω in commercial papyri can mean 'to pay what is owed,' no surviving papyrus shows the word stamped on a receipt as a Latin 'PAID IN FULL' stamp would be. The Johannine usage is theological — the completion of redemptive accomplishment — not commercial. Tetelestai means vastly more than 'paid in full,' not less. (Berding, Biola Good Book Blog 2022.)