It all started with a Tweet; isn’t that how most great 21st century stories start? Maybe not, but that’s how this one started. I was about to post a Tweet claiming “perfectionism is a sin” and “scripture doesn’t command us to be perfect”. I thought that sounded very reassuring, wise, and thought-provoking. Before I posted the Tweet, I thought I had better check quick and make sure my claims were scriptural (always a smart idea!). Well, it turns out, the Bible commands us to be perfect! I thought, “what in the world is that supposed to mean?” Long story short, an almost-Tweet turned into months of study on the Biblical teachings and commands regarding perfection.
Allow me to take you on a guided, interactive, tour of that study.
First, I gathered all the passages that were relevant to understanding perfection.
Second, I found the original Greek word for “perfect” and sought to understand the definition.
Let’s start with definitions and then return to the passages.
Of all the passages relevant to this subject, there were five words that ended up getting translated into the English word “perfect”:
(Click on the links to take you to many good Bible study resources for that Greek word, but primarily I’d have you look at the Englishman’s Concordance on the left which gives you every Bible verse which uses that particular Greek word.)
Greek: Telios (Strong’s #5046)
- Definition in my own words: Complete, mature, finished (based on my reading of all New Testament verses using this word from Englishman’s Concordance)
- According to Vine’s Dictionary: “having reached its end” (in addition to my definition above)
- Definition in my own words: Perfect, finished, seems closest to English meaning of the word, [used a lot in the book of Hebrews] (based on Englishman’s Concordance of all NT verses using this word)
- According to Vine’s: “to bring to an end by completing or perfecting” (in addition to mine above)
- My definition: To make, to accomplish, to perform (based on Englishman’s Concordance of all NT verses using this word)
- Vine’s: “To bring through to the end” (in addition to mine above)
- My definition: Complete, fitting, what one ought to be, restored (based on EC of all NT verses using this word)
- Vine’s: “to render fit” (in addition to mine above)
- Note: The two words katartizo and katartismos have a sense in which they could apply to the whole local church body. Being fit together, they are called to a settled and complete harmony.
- Vine’s: “a fitting or preparing fully”
- Note: only used once in Bible
Double-check my work, look into these words and their usage in the New Testament, and now you understand the definition of the word “perfect” according to Scripture!
Next, look back at those passages for an understanding not just of the definition of the word, but to understand what the whole passage is conveying. Compile a list of the passages you think are most relevant to answering the question: “Are Christians supposed to be perfect? In what sense? What does that mean to be perfect? What does that look like lived out?”
I’ll post my own list of relevant New Testament passages in the next blog post, compare your list against mine and we’ll learn about perfection according to God’s Word together!
Want to save your eyeballs some strain and do this study old school with a concordance made of trees? I highly recommend grabbing of copy of The Englishman’s Concordance of the New Testament. Click the picture or linked text and I will get commission from your purchase! Fun fact, I will also get commission on literally anything else you purchase as long as you use that link to get to Amazon (or hey, why not store my Amazon Affiliate home page link to use for your purchases, nothing is different for you, you shop on Amazon like normal; the difference for me is I earn commission for each purchase! I appreciate your support!)
Name the Unknown 
One comment