Perfect

March 31, 2005

Perfect

Mark 12:29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:31: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

There are three particular Greek words when you see the word "perfect" in the New testament, one needs to determine which Greek spelling, word, definition is used, to determine the intent of the writer or speaker. The two Greek spellings, definitions are:

Perfect = 2677 complete furnishing, perfecting

Perfect = 5046 teleioV teleios tel'-i-os from teloV - complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.

Perfect = 5048 teleiow teleioo tel-i-o'-o -to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character):--consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.

Matthew 5: 48 Be ye therefore perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age).

What did Paul write about "perfect"

Romans 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 (5046 complete growth, of full age), will of God.

I Corinthians 2:1: And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3: And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit (logic, mental disposition of God) and of power: 5:6: Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit (logic, mental disposition of God): for the Spirit (logic, mental disposition of God) searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit (logic, mental dispostion) of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit (logic, mental dispostion) of the world, but the spirit (logic, mental disposition) which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost (pure mental disposition of God) teacheth; comparing spiritual (logical of God) things with spiritual (logical things of God). 14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit (logic, mental dispostion) of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually (logically of God) discerned. 15: But he that is spiritual (logical of God) judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. That your faith (God's persuasion) should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians church, had a prophecy, that the knowledge and prophecy revealed miraculously will be done away with, when the perfect in Greek meaning completeness growth, of full age (prophecy and knowledge) is come.
The perfect arrival would be within their lifetime, that all the knowledge and prophecy would begin to reach it's completeness growth, of full age, maturity, simultaneously resulting in bringing them to be matured, full age in Christ Jesus. The time Paul wrote his prophecy, they only know in part and prophesy in part, (some spoken teachings and letters so far), mark, luke, John, many letters of Paul, Peter, John and revelations weren't written yet, this would caused limited spiritual growth as exhibited in the Corinthians church, but soon all the letters will be written, knowing fully, a complete new testament. All essential spoken and written teachings, recorded in letters will be increasingly available, liken as a mirror clearly reflecting the fullness of Christ, as face to face, fully knowing Christ.

I corth 13:8 Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age) is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. 13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 11: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12: For the perfecting (2677 complete, furnishing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Paul in Philippians, labeled some perfect, they reach being perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age in Christ), but not yet had attained, perfect (another greek spelling, 5048 meaning complete, accomplish, finish, in regard to have received the literal resurrection). It would be safe to conclude Paul reach being perfect (5046 complete growth, of full growth in Christ). So this form of being perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age in Christ) is attainable for us today.

Philippians 3:11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (5048 complete, accomplish, finish, received the literal resurrection of the dead): but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (complete, accomplish, finish, received the literal resurrection of the dead): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (a different greek word, 5046 complete growth, of full age in Christ), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Collossians 1:28 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect (5046 greek spelling meaning complete growth, of full age) in Christ;
29 whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

James 1:3: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4: But let patience have her perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age in Christ) work, that ye may be perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age in Christ) and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:25 But he that looketh into the perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age) law (N.T.), the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.

Continual in Sin?

What did Paul write about "continue in sin":

Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Peter wrote about perfect.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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 (5046 greek spelling meaning complete growth, of full age) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

John writes continue in sin?

I John:3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

John is expecting them not to sin, to purifieth themselves, to the extent sins no more, not to continue in sin. John is showing contrast, his readers to them born of God purifith themselves "sinnith not, he cannot sin".

By
John J Nowak