John 19:28

μετὰ τοῦτο εἰδώς. See on John 19:38; John 3:22; John 13:1. The identity between τετέλεσται here and in John 19:30 must be preserved in translation; are now finished. The construction that follows is amphibolous. In order to avoid the apparent contradiction between all things being already finished and something still remaining to be accomplished, many critics make ἵνα τελειωθῇ depend upon τετέλεσται. But this is awkward. It is better to connect ἵνα τελ. with λέγει, especially as Psalms 69 speaks so plainly of the thirst. The seeming contradiction disappears when we consider that the thirst had been felt before it was expressed. All things were finished, including the thirst; but Jesus alone knew this. In order that the Scripture might be accomplished and made perfect, it was necessary that He should make known His thirst. “He could have borne His drought: He could not bear the Scripture not fulfilled” (Bishop Hall). Τελειόω in this sense is remarkable and very unusual.