Bible Encyclopedias
Teleioi

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(τέλειοι or τελειούμενοι, the perfect), a name of early Christians, which had relation to the sacred mysteries, and denoted such as had been initiated. Baptism was denominated τελετή ); to join the Church was styled ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὸ τέλειον, to attain to perfection; the participation of the eucharist, which followed immediately on baptism, was called τελετὴ τελετῶν, perfection of perfections; and the absolution granted in the eucharist was called τὸ τέλειον, the perfection of a Christian. The word is, however, used frequently in the New Test., not indeed in this sense, but in relation to Christian perfection.

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Teleioi'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​t/teleioi.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.