Reference: Perfection
Easton
See Sanctification.
Hastings
The various Biblical terms connoting 'perfection' differ in shade of meaning between wholeness, the attaining of an end or ideal, complete adjustment, full equipment in fitness for an appointed task. They are sparingly applied to God; In OT His way, work, knowledge, law are 'perfect' (Ps 18:30; De 32:4; Job 37:16; Ps 19:7); in NT the same term is used of His will, His gifts, His law (Ro 12:2; Jas 1:17,25), while Christ describes the Father in heaven as 'perfect,' and therefore as the source and pattern of moral ideals (Mt 5:48). The sense in which perfection is attributed to or urged upon men must naturally vary according to the moral conceptions of the time.
1. In OT.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
These, are the generations of Noah, Noah, was, a righteous man blameless, in his generations, - with God, did Noah walk.
And it came to pass that, when Abram was ninety and nine years old, Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I, am GOD Almighty, - Walk, thou before me and become thou blameless:
For, I - Yahweh, am your God, therefore shall ye hallow yourselves and remain holy; for, holy, am, I, - therefore shall ye not make your persons unclean, with any creeping thing that crawleth upon the earth;
Speak unto all the assembly of the sons of Israel and thou shalt say unto them - Holy, shall ye be, - For holy, am I - Yahweh - your God
A Rock! faultless his work, For, all his ways, are just, A GOD of faithfulness and without perversity, Right and fair, is he!
So shall your heart be sound with Yahweh our God, - to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
Yea it came to pass, in the old age of Solomon, that, his wives, turned aside his heart after other gods, - his heart therefore was not sound with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.
And he walked in all the sins of his father which he had done before him, - and his heart was not blameless with Yahweh his God, like the heart of David his father.
because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him, all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, - only not with a whole heart.
A man, there was - in the land of Uz, Job, his name, - and that man was blameless and upright, and one who revered God, and avoided evil.
And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one revering God and avoiding evil?
And he took him a potsherd, to scrape himself therewith; he being seated in the midst of ashes.
Canst thou get to know concerning the poisings of the thick cloud, the wonders of one who is perfect in knowledge?
With the loving, thou didst show thyself loving, - With the blameless man, thou didst show thyself blameless;
As for GOD, blameless is his way, The speech of Yahweh hath been proved, A shield, he is to all who seek refuge in him.
The, law of Yahweh, is complete, Bringing back the soul, The, testimony of Yahweh, is confirmed, Making wise the simple;
Even from the presumptuous, keep back thy servant, May they not have dominion over me, Then, shall I be blameless, and shall be acquitted from great transgression:
Yahweh knoweth the days of the blameless, that, their inheritance, unto times age-abiding, shall continue.
For, the upright, shall abide on the earth, - and, the men of integrity, shall remain therein;
The righteousness of the blameless, shall smooth his way, but, by his own lawlessness, shall the lawless one, fall.
Do not think, that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets, - I came not to pull down, but to fulfil. For, verily, I say unto you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one least letter, or one point, may in nowise pass away from the law, till all be accomplished. read more. Whosoever, therefore, shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and teach men so, shall be called, least, in the kingdom of the heavens; but, whosoever shall do and teach, the same, shall be called, great, in the kingdom of the heavens. For I say unto you, that, unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, in nowise, may ye enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Ye have heard, that it was said, to them of olden time, - Thou shalt not commit murder, and, whosoever shall commit murder, shall be, liable, to judgment. But, I, say unto you, that, every one who is angry with his brother, shall be, liable, to judgment, - and, whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one!, shall be, liable, to the high council; and, whosoever shall say, Rebel!, shall be, liable, unto the fiery gehenna. If, therefore, thou be bearing thy gift towards the altar, and, there, shouldst remember that, thy brother, hath aught against thee, leave, there, thy gift before the altar, and withdraw, - first, be reconciled unto thy brother, and, then, coming, be offering thy gift. Be making agreement with thine adversary, quickly, while thou art with him, in the way, - lest once thine adversary deliver thee up unto the judge, and the judge, unto the officer, and, into prison, thou be cast. Verily, I say unto thee, In nowise, mayest thou come out from thence, until thou pay the last halfpenny. Ye have heard, that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But, I, say unto you, that, Every one who looketh on a woman so as to covet her, already, hath committed adultery with her, in his heart. And, if, thy right eye, is causing thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, - for it profiteth thee, that, one of thy members, should perish, and not, thy whole body, be cast into gehenna. And, if, thy right hand, is causing thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee, - for it profiteth thee, that, one of thy members, should perish, and not, thy whole body, into gehenna, depart. It was said, moreover, Whosoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement; But, I, say unto you, that, Everyone who divorceth his wife - saving for unfaithfulness, causeth her to be made an adulteress, - and, whosoever shall marry a divorced woman, committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it was said, to them of olden time, Thou shalt not swear falsely, - but shalt render unto the Lord, thine oaths. But, I, tell you - not to swear, at all: Neither by heaven, because it is the, throne of God, - Nor by the earth, because it is his, footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because, it is the, city, of the Great King; Nor, by thine own head, mayest thou swear, because thou art not able to make, one hair, white or black. But let your word be, Yea, yea, - Nay, nay; and, what goeth beyond these, is, of evil. Ye have heard, that it was said, - Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But, I, tell you, not to resist evil, - Nay, whoever is smiting thee on the right cheek, turn to him, the other also; And, him who is desiring thee to be judged, and to take, thy tunic, let him have, thy mantle also. And, whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two: To him who is asking thee, give; and, him who is desiring from thee to borrow, do not thou turn away. Ye have heard, that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But, I, say unto you, Be loving your enemies, and praying for them who are persecuting you: That ye may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens: because, his sun, he maketh arise on evil and good, and sendeth rain, on just and unjust. For, if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? are not, even the tax-collectors, the same thing, doing? And, if ye salute your brethren only, what, more than common, are ye doing? are not, even the nations, the same thing, doing? Ye, therefore, shall become, perfect: as, your heavenly Father, is perfect.
Ye, therefore, shall become, perfect: as, your heavenly Father, is perfect.
Ye, therefore, shall become, perfect: as, your heavenly Father, is perfect.
Ye, therefore, shall become, perfect: as, your heavenly Father, is perfect.
Ye, therefore, shall become, perfect: as, your heavenly Father, is perfect.
Whatsoever things, therefore, ye would, that men be doing unto you, so, be, ye also, doing, unto them, - for, this, is the law and the prophets.
Then, coming near, Peter said to him- Lord! how many times, shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until, seven, times? Jesus saith to him - I say not unto thee, unto, seven, times, but, until seventy times seven.
Jesus said unto him - If thou desirest to be perfect, Withdraw! sell thy substance, and give to the destitute, - and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens; and come! be following me.
And, as he was going forth into a road, one, running, and kneeling before him, was questioning him - Good Teacher! what shall I do that, life age - abiding, I may inherit? And, Jesus, said unto him - Why callest thou me, good? None, is good, save one - God. read more. The commandments, thou knowest, - Do not commit murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal; Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour thy father and mother. And, he, said unto him - Teacher! all these things, have I kept, from my youth. And, Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said unto him - One thing, unto thee, is wanting; - Withdraw! whatsoever thou hast, sell, and give unto thedestitute, - and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come! be following me. And, he, becoming gloomy because of the word, departed sorrowing, for he was holding, many possessions. And, looking around, Jesus saith unto his disciples - With what difficulty, shall, they who have money, enter, into the kingdom of God! And, the disciples, were in amazement, because of the words. But, Jesus, again answering, saith unto them - Children! how difficult, it is, to enter, into the kingdom of God! It is, easier, for a camel, through the eye of a needle, to pass, than for, a rich man, into the kingdom of God, to enter. And, they, were being exceedingly struck with astonishment, saying unto him - Who, then, can, be saved? Looking at them, Jesus saith - With men, impossible, but not, with God; for, all things, are possible, with God Peter began to be saying unto him - Lo! we, have left all, and followed thee! Jesus said - Verily, I say unto you - There is, no one, who hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for the sake of me, and for the sake ofthe glad-message, who shall not receive a hundredfold, now, in this season, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, - with persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, life age-abiding. But, many, shall be - first-last, and theLast-first.
And he said unto him - Rightly, hast thou answered: This, do, and thou shalt live.
And a certain, ruler, questioned him, saying - Good Teacher! by doing what, shall I inherit life age-abiding? But Jesus said to him - Why, callest thou me, good? None, is good, save one - God. read more. The commandments, thou knowest: - Do not commit adultery, Do not commit murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, - Honour thy father and mother, And, he, said - All these things, have I kept from my youth. And Jesus, hearing, said unto him - Yet one thing, unto thee, is lacking: Whatsoever thou hast, sell, and distribute unto the destitute, - and thou shalt have treasure in theheavens; and come! be following me. But, he, hearing these things, became, encompassed with grief; for he was rich exceedingly. And Jesus, beholding him, said - With what difficulty, shall, they who have money, enter, into the kingdom of God. For it is, easier, for a camel, to enter, through the eye of a needle, than for, a rich man, to enter, into the kingdom of God. And they who heard said - Who, then, can be saved? And, he, said - The things impossible with men, are, possible with God. And Peter said - Lo! we, have left our own possessions, and followed thee! And, he, said unto them - Verily, I say unto you - No one, is there, who hath left - house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, - for the sake of the kingdom of God; who shall in anywise not receive manifold in this season, and, in the age that is coming, life age-abiding.
For this cause, - just as, through one man, sin into the world entered, and through sin, death, - and, so, unto all men death passed through, for that all had sinned; - For, until law, sin was in the world, although sin is not reckoned when there is no law, - read more. Yet still, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, - who is a type of the Coming One; - But, not as the fault, so, alsothe decree of favour, for, if, by the fault of the one, the many died, much more, the favour of God and the free-gift in favour, by the one man Jesus Christ, unto the many superabounded; And, not as through one that sinned, is that which is freely given, for, the sentence of judgment, indeed, was - out of one fault into condemnation, whereas, the decree of favour, is - out of many faults, into a recovery of righteousness. For, if, by the fault of the one, death reigned through the one, much more, they who the superabundance of the favour and of the free-gift ofthe righteousness do receive, in life, shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ. Hence then, as through one fault, the sentence was unto all men unto condemnation, so, also, through one recovery of righteousness, the decree of favour is unto all men for righteous acquittal unto life; For, just as, through the disobedience of the one man, sinners, the many were constituted, so, also, through the obedience of the one, righteous, the many shall be constituted - Law, however, gained admission, in order that the fault might abound, but, where the sin abounded, the favour greatly superabounded: In order that - just as sin reigned in death, so, also, favour, might reign through righteousness unto life age-abiding, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What then shall we say? are we still to continue in sin that favour may abound? Far be it! we who have died unto sin, how, any longer, shall we live therein? read more. Or know ye not that, we, as many as were immersed into Christ Jesus, into his death were immersed? We were, therefore, buried together with him through our immersion into his death, in order that - just as Christ was raised from among the dead through the glory of the Father, so, we also, in newness of life should walk. For, if we have come to be grown together in the likeness of his death, certainly, in that of his resurrection also, shall we be. Of this taking note - that, our old man, was crucified together with him in order that the sinful body might be made powerless, that we should, no longer, be in servitude to sin; For, he that hath died, hath become righteously acquitted from his sin. Now, if we have died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with him; Knowing that, Christ having been raised from among the dead, no more dieth, - death, over him, no more, hath lordship, - For, in that he died, unto sin, died he once for all, but, in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. So, ye also, be reckoning yourselves to be - dead indeed unto sin, but, alive unto God in Christ Jesus.
Wretched, man am, I! Who shall rescue me out of this body doomed to death? Butthanks be unto God! - Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hence, then, - I myself, with the mind, indeed, am in servitude unto a law of God; but; with the flesh; unto a law of sin.
But, ye, have not your being in flesh, but in spirit, - if at least, God's Spirit, dwelleth in you; and, if anyone hath not Christ's Spirit, the same, is not his; -
And be not configuring yourselves unto this age, but be transforming yourselves by the renewing of your mind, to the end ye may be proving what is the thing willed by God - the good and acceptable and perfect.
Your love, be without hypocrisy, - loathing that which is wicked, cleaving to that which is good;
Nothing to any, be owing - save to be loving one another; for, he that loveth his neighbour, hath given to, law, its fulfillment. For, this - Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not commit murder, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not covet, and if there is any different commandment, in this word, is summed up, namely- Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. read more. Love, unto ones neighbour, worketh not ill; Law's fullness, therefore, is, love. And, this besides, - knowing the season - that it is an hour already for you out of sleep to be wakened; for, now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed: The night, is far spent and, the day, hath drawn near; let us, then, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light, - As in daytime, becomingly let us walk: not in revellings and in drunken bouts, not in chamberings and in wanton deeds, not in strife and envy; - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, for the flesh, take not forethought to fulfil its covetings.
But I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, - that, the same thing, ye, all, be saying, and that there be not, among you, divisions; but that ye be fitly joined together - in the same mind, and in the same judgment.
Wisdom, however, we do speak, among the full-grown, - wisdom, indeed, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are to come to nought;
I, therefore, brethren, have not been able to speak unto you, as unto men of the Spirit, but as unto men of the flesh - as unto babes in Christ: -
Brethren! do not become children, in your understandings; but, in baseness, become babes, while, in your understandings, ye become, full-grown.
But, the fruit of the Spirit, is - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, graciousness, goodness, faithfulness,
And, they who are of Christ Jesus, have crucified, the flesh, with its susceptibilities and covetings. If we live by Spirit, by Spirit, let us also walk.
For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father, - From whom every fatherhood in the heavens and upon the earth is named, - read more. In order that he may give unto you - according to his glorious riches, with power, to be strengthened, through his Spirit, in the inner man, That the Christ may dwell, through means of your faith, in your hearts, in love, having become rooted and founded, In order that ye may be mighty enough to grasp firmly, with all the saints, - what is the breadth and length and depth and height, To get to know, also, the knowledge-surpassing, love of the Christ, - in order that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God: Now, unto him who is able to do, above all things, exceeding abundantly above the things which we ask or conceive, - according to the power which doth energise itself within us, -
Now, unto him who is able to do, above all things, exceeding abundantly above the things which we ask or conceive, - according to the power which doth energise itself within us, -
Giving diligence to keep - the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting-bond of peace, - One body, and one spirit, even as ye were also called in one hope of your calling, read more. One Lord, one faith, one immersion,
Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God - by reason of the ignorance that existeth within them, by reason of their hearts being turned into stone,
Become ye, therefore, imitators of God, as children beloved,
Being persuaded of this very thing - that, he who hath begun in you a good work, will perfect it, until the day of Jesus Christ;
For it is, God, who energiseth within you, both the desiring and the energising, in behalf of his good pleasure.
Not that I have, already, received, or have, already, reached perfection, but I am pressing on - if I may even lay hold of that for which I have also been laid hold of by Christ Jesus: -
As many, therefore, as are full-grown, let, this, be our resolve; and, if, somewhat differently, ye are resolved, this, also, shall, God, unto you reveal.
Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I will say - rejoice! Let, your considerateness, be known unto all men. The Lord, is near: - read more. For nothing, be anxious, but, in everything, by your prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let, your petitions, be made known unto God; And, the peace of God, which riseth above every mind, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are dignified, whatsoever things are righteous, whatsoever things are chaste, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, - if there be any virtue, and if any praise, the same, be taking into account; The things which ye have both learned, and accepted, and heard, and seen in me, the same, practise; - and, the God of peace, shall be with you.
I have might, for all things, in him that empowereth me.
Who also hath made evident unto us your love in spirit. For this cause, we also, from the day when we heard of you , cease not, in your behalf, praying and asking - that ye may be filled unto the personal knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and discernment,
For this cause, we also, from the day when we heard of you , cease not, in your behalf, praying and asking - that ye may be filled unto the personal knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and discernment, So as to walk worthily of the Lord, unto all pleasing, in every good work, bearing fruit, and growing in the personal knowledge of God, read more. With all power, being empowered, according to the grasp of his glory, unto all endurance and long-suffering with joy, Giving thanks unto the Father that hath made you sufficient for your share in the inheritance of the saints in the light, Who hath rescued us out of the authority of the darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; In whom, we have our redemption - the remission of our sins, - Who, is an image of the unseen God, Firstborn of all creation, - Because, in him, were created all things in the heavens and upon the earth, the things seen and the things unseen, whether thrones or lordships or principalities or authorities, - they all, through him and for him, have been created, And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together; And, he, is the head of the body, the assembly, Who is the beginning, Firstborn from among the dead, in order that, he, might become, in all things, himself, pre-eminent; - Because, in him, was all the fullness well pleased to dwell, And, through him, fully to reconcile all things unto him, making peace through the blood of his cross, - through him- whether the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens; And, you, who at one time were estranged and enemies in your mind in your wicked works, yet, now, hath he fully reconciled, In his body of flesh, through means of his death, to present you holy and blameless and unaccusable before him, - If, at least, ye are abiding still in the faith, founded and firm, and not to be moved away from the hope of the glad-message which ye have heard, which hath been proclaimed in all creation which is under heaven, - of which, I Paul, have become minister.
Whom we are declaring, admonishing every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, in order that we may present every man complete in Christ;
And, over all these things, love, which is a uniting-bond of completeness;
Epaphras who is from among you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, - at all times, contending in your behalf in his prayers, that ye may be caused to stand complete and fully assured in everything willed by God;
For it was becoming in him - For the sake of whom are the all things, and by means of whom are the all things, - when, many sons, unto glory, he would lead, The Princely Leader of their salvation, through sufferings, to make perfect.
And, being made perfect, became, to all them that obey him, Author of salvation age-abiding;
Concerning whom, great, is our discourse, and of difficult interpretation, to express, seeing that, slothful, have ye become in the hearing;
Wherefore, dismissing the elementary discourse concerning the Christ, unto maturity, let us be tending, not, again, a foundation, laying down - of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God,
If indeed, therefore, there had been, a perfecting through means of the Levitical priesthood, - for, the people, thereon, have had based a code of laws, what further need, according to the rank of Melchizedek, for a different priest to be raised up, and, not according to the rank of Aaron, to be designated? For, seeing there is to be a change of the priesthood, of necessity, of law too, a change cometh. read more. For, he as to whom these things are said, with a different tribe, hath taken partnership, from which, no one, hath given attendance at the altar; For it is, very evident, that out of Judah hath sprung our Lord, - respecting which tribe, concerning priests, nothing did Moses speak, And, yet more abundantly evident it is - that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there is to be raised up, a different priest. Who, not according to a law of commandment dealing with the flesh, hath arisen, but according to the power of an indissoluble life; For it is witnessed - Thou, art a priest, age-abidingly, according to the rank of Melchizedek. For, a setting aside, doth, indeed, take place, of a foregoing commandment, by reason of its own weakness and unprofitableness, - For, the law, perfected, nothing; but there is the superinducing of a better hope, - through which we draw near unto God.
For, the law, constituteth, men, high-priests, having, weakness; but, the word of the oath-taking, which cometh after the law, A Son, age-abidingly, made perfect.
The which is a similitude for the present season, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, as to the conscience, perfect him that rendereth the divine service: -
For, by one offering, hath he perfected for evermore, them who are being made holy.
God, for us, something better providing, - that, not apart from us, should they be made, perfect.
in high festival, - and unto an assembly of firstborn ones, enrolled in the heavens, - and unto God, judge of all, - and unto the spirits of righteous ones made perfect, -
Fit you, by every good work, for the doing of his will, doing within us, that which is well-pleasing, before him through Jesus Christ: to whom be the glory, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
But let, your endurance, have, mature work, that ye may be mature and complete, in nothing, coming short.
Every good giving, and every perfect gift, is, from above, coming down from the Father of lights - with whom is no alternation, nor shadow cast, by turning:
But, he that hath obtained a nearer view into the perfect law of liberty, and hath taken up his abode by it, becoming - not a forgetful hearer, but a work doer, the same, happy in his doing, shall be.
For, oft, are we stumbling, one and all: If anyone, in word, doth not stumble, the same, is a mature man, able to curb even the whole body.
Whom, not having seen, ye love, on whom, though at present not looking, but believing, ye exult with joy unspeakable and filled with glory,