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Christian Perfection: New Testament Words and Verses
by David Cox
Study on the word "Perfect" in Scriptures
Mateo 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect
even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect .
New Testament Words
The word "perfect" occurs 99x in KJV, perfected 8x, perfecting 2x, perfection 11x,
perfectly 7x
The New Testament uses the greek words:
teleios (adj 5046),
teleiow (verb form of 5046; 5048),
epitelew (verb form of 5055 with preposition, 2005),
katartizo (verb 2675),
a word cluster around akribos, exactly, (199 akribos, 196
akribeia, 197 akribesteron),
artios (adj 739).
5046 teleios - "perfect" adj
[5046 teleios] 17x
Matt. 5:48; 19:21; Rom. 12:2; 1 Co. 2:6; 13:10; 14:20; Eph. 4:13; Phil.
3:15; Col. 1:28; 4:12; Heb. 5:14; 9:11; Jas. 1:4, 17, 25; 3:2; 1 Jn. 4:18
Definition: attaining an end or purpose, complete. 1. pertaining to meeting the
highest standard. a. of things perfect, perfect fullness. b. of persons who
are fully up to standard in a certain respect and not satisfied with
half-way measures. 2. pertaining to being mature, full-grown, mature, adult.
a. adjective, grown up. b. substantive 3. pertaining to being a cult
initiate, initiated. 4. pertaining to being fully developed in a moral
sense. a. of humans, perfect, fully developed. b. of God perfect. [BDAG]
lacking nothing [Thayer]
1. having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect without spot or
blemish, full tale or number. 2. of animals, fullgrown, 3. of people,
absolute, complete, accomplished, perfect of its kind, 4. of prayers,
fullfilled. 5. in arithmetic, those numbers which are teleioi which are
equal to the sum of their divisors, as 6 = 3+2+1 [Liddell and Scott]
Verses [5046
teleios] 17x Matt. 5:48; 19:21;
Rom. 12:2; 1 Co. 2:6; 13:10; 14:20; Eph. 4:13; Phil. 3:15; Col. 1:28; 4:12;
Heb. 5:14; 9:11; Jas. 1:4, 17, 25; 3:2; 1 Jn. 4:18.
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If
thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among
them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor
of the princes of this world, that come to naught:
1Co 13:10 But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children
in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be
men.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ:
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as
be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning
every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you,
a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in
prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come a high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting
nothing.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend
all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a
perfect man,
and able also to bridle the whole body.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love.
Translation notes: The KJV translates this word almost always as
"perfect", with the exception of 1Cor 14:20 "men" and Heb 5:14 "full age".
Verse Analysis
Mat 5:48
Our first observation about this verse is that perfection is commanded by
God. In some sense we must be able to comply with what God commands us.
Therefore it is extremely important to defend the point that our
interpretation of "perfect" - "perfection" has to fit within this parameter.
It would seem clear enough from passages such as 1 John 1:8-10; Ecclesiastes
20:9, that all men have sinned, are sinners, and this side of heaven still
sin. It is hard to reinterpret these general statements to exclude the saved
because there is no warrant for doing so in the texts. John says "if we
say", John apparently including himself in the lot of sinners.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Our second observation is that God associates our being
"perfect" with the divine attribute of God, perfection. God is holy, God is
just, God is merciful and gracious. We must immediately clarify that in no
sense can we reach the degree of holiness, justice, mercy, or benevolence
that God has, but by the same token we absolutely must affirm and maintain
that even though we cannot reach God's level of these attributes, God
commands and obliges us to seek, create, hold, and maintain them firmly in
our lives (through the power of the Holy Spirit) even so. So there is no
excuse in the impossibility before us. God understands that, but even so
obliges us with these divine attributes just the same.
Mat 19:21
This young man came to Christ seeking
something from him. Most probably what he was seeking was assurance of his
salvation, which he perhaps doubted on some level. Perhaps he wanted
assurance of his righteousness before the crowd. We do not know. It is
doubtful that he truly wanted salvation because if so, he would have paid
any price to obtain it. Supposedly he asks for clear knowledge of salvation.
Christ cites 6 of the 10 commandments. Jesus uses the term "be perfect"
answering the call for salvation. From this point, it is most probable that
Christ had no reference to sanctification with this youth. Why bother with
sanctification when the youth is unsaved?
Therefore the use of "perfect" here
should be understood as being BDAG #3, initiated into Christianity. Jesus
was offering him salvation, not sanctification (which is for those who first
are saved). This gospel which Christ offers him is to turn over his gods
(covetousness), abandon it (repentance), and follow Christ (discipleship).
Romans 12:2
This verse also is not talking about
sanctification but the quality of God's will. God's will is perfect. In what
sense is God's will perfect? It is perfect in the sense that it is complete,
full, lacking nothing. Nothing can be added to or changed in it to make it
better than what it presently is.
1Cor 2:6
Paul obviously was being facetious here
with his readers. As spiritually immature as the Corinthians were (shown by
two long epistles to them dealing with issues and dealing with them in a way
as to imply they were very immature and childish), Paul's view of them is
that they were anything but perfect (mature). Probably the word that best
portrays Paul's feeling here is if the word "mature" was used instead of
"perfect."
Conclusions:
- Perfection is possible, because it is commanded and demanded of us
(Mat 5:48).
- Perfect is in some sense complete, without grave glaring defects or
faults. (Rom 12:2).
5048 teleiow
[5048 teleiow]
23x Matt. 5:48; 19:21; Rom. 12:2; 1
Co. 2:6; 13:10; 14:20; Eph. 4:13; Phil. 3:15; Col. 1:28; 4:12; Heb.
5:14; 9:11; Jas. 1:4, 17, 25; 3:2; 1 Jn. 4:18
Definition: verb
- 1. to make perfect, complete 2. to complete (perfect) a. add to what is yet
wanting in order to render a thing full. b. to be found perfect. 3. to bring to
the end (goal) proposed. 4. to accomplish a. bring to a close or fulfilment by
event.
John 17:23 I (Jesus)
in them (disciples), and thou (Father) in me (Jesus) , that they (disciples)
may be made perfect [5048 teleiow]
in one;
2Cor 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace
is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect [5048
teleiow] in weakness."
Phil 3:12 "Not as though I had already
attained, either were already perfect [5048 teleiow]:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus."
[2005 epitelew] verb.
telew 5055 (to end, complete, execute, discharge a debt) with the preposition
epi added. 1. to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete. a. to
take upon one's self. b. to make an end for one's self, leave off. 2. to appoint
to, impose upon.
Gal 3:3 "Are ye so foolish? having begun
in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect [2005
epitelew] by the flesh?"
[2675 katartizo] to render, i.e. to fit, sound,
complete. a. to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair, fill out, equip,
put in order, arrange, adjust. b. to fit or frame for one's self, prepare. c.
ethically to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be.
Luke 6:40 The disciple
is not above his master: but every one that is perfect [2675
katartizo] shall be as his master.
2Cor 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell.
Be perfect [2675 katartizo],"
1Thes 3:10 "Night and day praying
exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect [2675
katartizo] that which is lacking in your faith?"
[199 akribos] exactly, accurately, diligently.
Acts 3:16
[196 akribeia] exactness, exactest care; in
accordance with the strictness of Mosaic law. Act 22:3
[197 akribesteron] more exactly, more perfectly.
ACts 24:22
Used with understanding[199 akribos] of the
gospel in Luke 1:3.
[739 artios] 1. fitted. 2. Complete perfect. a.
having reference apparently to "special aptitude for given uses".
2Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect [739
artios], throughly furnished unto all good works.
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