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
Don't think that I am come to abolish the law or the prophets: I am not come to abolish, but to complete them. I assure you, heaven and earth may as well cease to be, as that one jot or one tittle of the law should fail of its completion. read more. whoever therefore shall break any commandment, tho' of the least importance, and shall teach men so to do, shall not have the least admittance into the kingdom of the Messias: but whoever shall do and teach them, he shall be great in the kingdom of the Messias. for I declare to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the heavenly kingdom. Ye have heard that it has been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be punish'd by the tribunal." but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be punish'd by the tribunal: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be punish'd by the Sanhedrim: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be punish'd by the fire of Gehenna. When therefore you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has reason to be displeas'd with you: leave your gift before the altar, go, and first of all reconcile yourself to your brother; then come to offer your gift. endeavour to win your adversary, even whilst you are in the way: left the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into jayl. I assure you, you will not be discharged till you have paid to the very last farthing. Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," but I tell you, that whosoever looks on a woman with impure desires is already guilty of approving the fact. If your right eye insnare you, it is better to pull it out, and to suffer the loss of that single part, than that thy whole body should be cast into Gehenna. and if thy right hand insnare thee, it is better to saw it off, and to suffer the loss of that single part, than that thy whole body should be thrown into Gehenna. It hath been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. but I say unto you, whoever shall put away his wife, except in the case of adultery, is the occasion of her being an adulteress, and he that shall marry her is an adulterer. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not for swear thy self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths." but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. but let your communication be, yes, yes; no, no: for whatever goes beyond this, is evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." but I say unto you, don't return evil for evil; on the contrary, if any one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other likewise. and if any man will go to law with you, to have your coat, let him have your cloke too. and if any one will press you to go a mile with him, go with him the other two. give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away. You have heard that it hath been said, "you shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy:" but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who traduce you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. but if you love only them who love you, what reward can ye have? do not the heathens themselves do as much? and if ye salute your brethren only, what mighty matter is that? do not even the heathens do the same? be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.
be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.
be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.
be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.
be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.
Let your actions be such, with regard to others, as you should think reasonable with regard to yourselves, for this is the substance of the law and the prophets.
Then Peter advancing to him, said, Lord, if my brother injures me, how many injuries must I forgive him? must I forgive him seven? Jesus answered, I tell thee not only seven: but seventy times seven.
Jesus said, if thou wilt be perfect, go sell your estate, give the value to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come and follow me.
When he was set out upon his journey, there met him one, who kneeling down before him, said, good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? there is but one, who is good, that is God. read more. you know the commandments, "do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honour your father, and mother." to which he answered, master, said he, all these precepts have I observed from my youth. then Jesus looking upon him with a favourable eye, said, there is one thing still to be done; go, sell all your estate, and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; then come, take up the cross, and follow me. but he was troubled at this answer, and went away very sorrowful, for he had a great estate. then Jesus looking round about, said to his disciples, how difficult a thing is it for those who have riches to enter into the gospel kingdom! at this expression the disciples were much surpriz'd. but Jesus reassum'd the discourse, and said, how difficult a thing is it for those, who place their trust in riches, to enter into the divine kingdom? it is easier for a cable to pass thro' the eye of a needle, than for such a rich man to enter into the divine kingdom. at this they were more amazed than before, and said to one another, how then can such a man be saved? but Jesus casting his eye upon them, said, what is impossible to men, is not so to God; for to God all things are possible. Then Peter thus address'd himself to Jesus, you see we have left every thing to follow you. Jesus answered him, I declare unto you, there is not a man who has forsaken his house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, out of love to me and to the gospel, but shall receive at present in this age, what will be a hundred times better to him, than houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, tho' with persecution: and in the age to come eternal life. but they that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Then a person of distinction ask'd him this question, good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied, why do you call me good? there is but one who is good, that is God. read more. you know the commandments, "do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honour thy father and mother." all these, said he, have I observ'd from my youth. upon hearing that, Jesus said to him, one thing you have yet to do: sell all you have, and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come, and follow me. upon hearing this he was very sad: for he had a large estate. Jesus perceiving him so very dejected, said, how difficult is it for those, who have riches, to enter into the kingdom of God! it is easier for a cable to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. upon which the audience said, who then can be saved? Jesus answer'd, by divine assistance men may do that which would be otherwise impossible. Then said Peter, you see that we have left every thing to follow you. Jesus answer'd, I declare unto you, no one has ever quitted house or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, upon account of the gospel-dispensation, who shall not receive abundantly more even in this age, and everlasting life in the age to come.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, so death by this sin; and thereby death passed upon all men, who all by his means became mortal. sin indeed was in the world all the time before the law: but then sin is not punished when there is no law. read more. nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned by violating a positive law, as did Adam, who is the type of him that was to come: but yet the damage of the fall does not exactly correspond to the advantages of the divine favour: for tho' through the fall of one, mankind became mortal, yet this is greatly over-ballanced by the favour and bounty of God, in the benevolence of one man, Jesus Christ, to all mankind. neither is the gift, as was the fall by one sin: for the sentence of condemnation, was for one offence; but the divine favour extends to justification from a multitude of sins. for tho' death reigned thro' the single offence of one, they who receive the most valuable favour, even the gift of righteousness, shall much more easily reign by the life of one, even Jesus Christ. Therefore as by one offence all men fell under condemnation: even so by one act of righteousness, all men are restored to life. for as by one man's disobedience many receiv'd the punishment of sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many receive the reward of the righteous. the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent. that as sin prevailed unto death, even so might the divine favour prevail by righteousness unto eternal life, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.
Do we then conclude thus, let us continue in sin, that the divine favour may be more fully display'd? God forbid, that we who have died to sin should live any longer therein. read more. don't you know that when we were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were plunged into a state figurative of his death. therefore we are buried with him by being plunged into a sort of death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead into a state of glory with the father, even so we also should proceed to a new state of life. for if we resembled him with regard to death, certainly we shall likewise do so with regard to his resurrection: considering this, that our vicious passions were crucified with him, that the body of sin being destroyed, we might not any longer be vassals to sin. for by its being dead, we are set free from sin. since then we died with Christ, we are persuaded that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, is to die no more; death hath no more dominion over him. for as to his death, he died upon the account of sin once for all; but as to his being alive, he lives to the glory of God for ever. in like manner consider your selves as dead to sin; but alive to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O wretched man that I am, what shall deliver me from this body of death? the divine grace thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. so then, with the mind I my self am devoted to the law of God; tho' my carnal inclinations are enslaved to the law of sin.
you are not in such a state, but in a spiritual one, provided the divine spirit dwell in you. now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
and be not conformed to the present age: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may perceive what God requires of you is good, and acceptable, and perfect.
Let love be without dissimulation. abhor that which is evil, adhere to that which is good.
Owe no man any thing, but mutual love: for he that loves others hath fulfilled the law. for this, "thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet;" and whatever social precept there be, it is reduced to this single head, read more. thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self." the benevolent never does wrong to his neighbour: therefore benevolence is the fulfilling of the law. Consider likewise the present season, that now it is high time to rouse out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. the night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore throw off the habits of darkness, and be invested with the ornaments of light. let us behave with decency as in open view; not with rioting and drunkenness, not with lewdness and brutality, not with strife and envy. but imitate the Lord Jesus Christ, and by no means indulge any sensual desires.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to maintain all the same doctrine, to suffer no divisions among you; but to be perfectly united in the same mind, and in the same judgment.
However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing.
However, I could not speak to you, my brethren, as to the spiritual, or as to the dispassionate, but as to novices in christianity.
Brethren, be not childish in understanding: be as innocent as babes, but use your understanding like men.
but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, sweetness of disposition, beneficence, faithfulness, meekness, temperance:
now they who belong to Christ, have crucified the animal nature with the affections and passions thereof. if we live by the spirit, let us regulate our actions by the spirit:
for this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth are denominated his children: read more. that by his immense power he would strengthen the faculties of your minds by his spirit: so that your souls may be possess'd with faith in Christ. Be ye rooted and grounded in social virtue, that you may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of this mystery: and be sensible of his exceeding love, in giving you the knowledge of Christ, that you may be filled with all the supplies of divine bounty. Now unto him that is able to do infinitely above what we ask or comprehend, by his power operating in us,
Now unto him that is able to do infinitely above what we ask or comprehend, by his power operating in us,
endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another. Being one body, acted by one spirit, since you all have but one expectation in view; read more. there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy:
Be ye therefore imitators of God, as his dear children; live together in love,
he who has begun this good work in you will bring it to perfection against the appearance of Christ. it is but just
for it is God that influences your desires and endeavours, out of his benevolence to you.
for I am not yet secure of the prize, I have not yet finish'd my course: but I press to obtain the reward, which Jesus Christ invited me to.
Let us therefore, who have been instructed, have this in view: and if you are sollicitous about any thing else, God will reveal even that unto you.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: I say it again, rejoice. let your meekness be known unto all men. read more. the Lord is coming: be not in any manner of sollicitude, but in all your occasions lay your requests before God by prayer and supplication accompany'd by thanksgiving. and the favour of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall keep your hearts and mind attach'd to Jesus Christ. Finally, my brethren, whatever has the character of truth, of dignity, of justice, of chastity, whatever can procure you esteem and reputation, in a word, if there be any thing virtuous or praise-worthy, let that be the object of your enquiry. practise what I have taught, what you have learnt of me, what you have heard me preach, and seen me practise. this do, and the God of peace will then be with you.
to these things I am equal, thro' Christ who strengthens me.
who also declared to us the love you bear to us upon a spiritual account. For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment:
For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment: that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge: read more. being fortified in so effectual a manner, as to sustain your trials with constancy and joy: giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people: who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son. It is by him, that we have obtain'd the redemption, even the remission of our sins: he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation. for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things, and by him all things consist. he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief. for it seemed good to the father to inhabit the whole body of the church by Christ: and having made peace by the blood of his cross, to reconcile all things to himself, both those in heaven, and those upon earth. You then that formerly were alienated from God, and were enemies by your imaginations and wicked practices, even you has Jesus Christ now reconciled to the body of his church, through his own death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his own sight: provided you continue well-grounded and settled in the faith, and do not abandon that hope which has been offer'd to you by the gospel, and is proclaim'd to all mankind; of which I Paul am made a minister.
he it is that we preach, exhorting, and instructing men in every part of divine knowledge, that they may all be perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of Christ Jesus.
to all this add love, which is the band of perfect union:
have cordially reliev'd me. Epaphras a servant of Christ, and your countryman, salutes you, who is always very earnest in his prayers, that you may be perfectly acquainted with, and constantly observe,
For it was agreeable to his wisdom, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to consecrate the author of their salvation by his sufferings.
and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;
On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices.
Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith:
If therefore the Levitical priesthood, concerning which the people received a law, could have given perfection, what further need was there that another priest should rise, to be named after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron? now the priesthood being changed, the law must necessarily be changed too. read more. for he who was there mention'd was of another tribe, none of whom ever gave attendance at the altar. since it is evident that our Lord sprang out of the tribe of Juda, to which Moses never ascribed the priesthood. This appears still more clear from another priest's arising like Melchisedec, who was not establish'd by virtue of a temporary law, but with the power of being a perpetual priest. for it is said, "thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." wherefore the preceeding law is abolished for its being weak and useless. for the law made no man perfect, but this was effected by introducing a better hope, which brings us nearer to the divine presence.
for the law appointed frail mortals to be high priests, but the oracle pronounc'd with an oath, which was since the law, established the son, who is crown'd with immortal perfections.
This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates
for by one single oblation he has purified for ever those that are sanctified.
because God out of his distinguishing kindness to us, would not let them arrive before us to the enjoyment of perfect felicity.
the church of the first-born who are enroll'd in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
the sheep) make you perfect in every virtue, to the accomplishment of his will: effecting that in you by Jesus Christ, which is agreeable to him: to whom be glory thro' all ages.
but constancy should be brought to its perfection, that you may be entirely accomplished, without any defect.
every thing that is valuable, every gift that leads to perfection is deriv'd from heaven, it descends from that original light, which knows no change, no shadow, or decline:
whereas, he that attentively considers the perfect law of liberty, and is attach'd thereto, he is not a forgetful hearer, but reduces it to practice, and his conduct is crown'd with hapiness.
for we are all liable to frequent mistakes. he that does not give too great a loose to his tongue, is an accomplish'd person and fit to moderate the whole church.
whom though you have not seen, you love: and though he is not now the object of your view, yet you believe in him, and triumph with such a laudable transport, as cannot be express'd: