Perfect

In our quest to behave in a righteous manner in the assembly of God, we must reteach ourselves the true meanings of certain terms we believe we already know. As cultures change, so do the accepted meanings of terms. Scripture was written into the English language as early as 1611 AD. It was in the Old British language of its day. Today, we have changed definitions of many terms from the Old British. It behooves us to return to the original meanings to identify why it was translated such and what the meanings were at the time of translation.

A Strong’s Lexicon has been written translating the Hebrew and Greek languages into English; typically the Old British English. To know the meanings of the terms used, a usage in Biblical definitions is provided.

We are studying the greatest gift God has given unto mankind–Charity–an active form of Love. We learn its meaning for our righteous behavior in the assembly of God in the thirteenth chapter of the first letter Apostle Paul wrote to Corinth.

However, we come across additional terms we often mistaken for their true Greek meanings translated into Biblical terms. One is ‘Perfect’.

The definition found on dictionary.com is:

matching in every detail the definition of an ideal type of something:

excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement:

exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose:

entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings:

accurate, exact, or correct in every detail:

thorough or complete; absolute; utter:

expert; accomplished; proficient:

pure or unmixed:

I remembered perfect to mean unblemished; without flaw. Nothing in this world is exactly without flaw or blemish.

None of these definitions depict the true meaning of the Greek term used in the Bible. What is the Bible usage definition? We look to a Biblical terms dictionary–Strong’s Lexicon.

We find both Hebrew and Greek languages defined; Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. These were the original languages spoken and written in their time. Let us discover the usage meanings in both Hebrew and Greek. First, Hebrew–Old Testament usage.

I hope you have your Bibles handy as we begin to look at many passages to see the usage of the term ‘Perfect’. ‘Perfect’ is listed with a number to identify each individual usage translation. The Hebrew and Greek languages each used predominantly one term per definition; unlike the English language.

The Hebrew is H8549–’Perfect’: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity: 1 of God's way and 2 elsewhere of man’s ways. Let us look at a set of passages of scripture and how the term is used.

Gen. 6:9. 9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Noah was innocent, having integrity of God’s Way.

Gen. 17:1. 17 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Abraham was called to be filled with the integrity of God’s Way–be thou perfect.

Deut. 18:13. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. God’s rule for his children was to be filled with the integrity of God–walk in his Ways.

Often “perfect’ is used with the term ‘way’

Ps. 101:2. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. King David desired to imitate the manner of God in his everyday life: sound, wholesome, innocent.

Ez. 18:25. 25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? The ‘way’ of God is the integrity of God; it is his sovereign right to choose what is acceptable. God is ‘perfect’; his way is perfect.

Prov. 11:20. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Those ‘upright in their way’ are filled with the integrity and mannerisms of God. They are perfect.

Ps. 119:1-4. 119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Those who walk with God are ‘perfect’.

Secondly let us see the Greek usage for Perfect.

G5046, perfect

that which is perfect: consummate human integrity and virtue–Romans 12:2. 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. That is the unblemished sovereign desire of God for mankind.