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Perfect, Perfection
I t is unfortunate that so many beau tiful concepts of the Bible are ob scured by the introduction of ideas that have no foundation in the Scrip tures. Such is the case with the words “ perfect” and “ perfection.” Some well-meaning and devoted souls have conceived from these words the idea of sinless perfection for man as at tainable here on earth. Is such a position defensible or warranted? The usual words employed are sha- lem and tamin in the Old Testament, and teleios in the New Testament, but a total of some 16 other words can be found to express the idea of perfect or perfection. Failure arises when all the instances are not taken into account and properly evaluated. Our word “ perfect” and the Greek teleios share a certain ambiguity, be cause they are used in both a relative and an absolute sense. Absolute perfection is always right ly ascribed to God. Perfection exists and always has existed in God. See Matthew 5:48. God’s work is perfect (Deut. 32:4); His way is perfect (2 Sam. 22:31; Ps. 18:30); His law is perfect (Ps. 19:7). When the word refers to God’s nature or deeds, it has the absolute force in mind. God Himself is the ideal and pattern for the conduct and life of the godly. In the Old Testament the word “ perfect” is found in relation to in animate objects also. We read of a perfect and just weight (Deut. 25:15) where the force is that of a full and correct weight. When Proverbs 4:18 speaks of the perfect day, the thought conveyed is that of a day ideal in its quality. The perfect man in the Old Testa ment economy was the one who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord. Noah and Job are declared perfect (Gen. 6:9; Job 1:1, 8; 2 :3 ); perfection is enjoined upon all Israel (Deut. 18:13). Can this possibly mean that Ecclesiastes 7:20 is invalidated? Let us test it with David. In Psalm 18:23 David claims perfection, but it is well known that he confesses sin— yes, even the sin of murder — in Psalm 51:3 ff. Asa’s perfection ex tended in the matter of his attitude toward God’s commands, though he fell short in the case of the high
places (1 Ki. 15:14). In short, we may say that the perfect man is the upright man as contrasted with the wicked. Compare Job 8:20; 9:22; Ps. 37:37 and Prov. 2:21. The New Testament has much to say of the perfection of the believer. There is, first of all, the positional perfection every believer has in Christ by virtue, of His work for us (Heb. 10:14). Christ has gained for us a perfect and absolute standing before God because of the travail at Cal vary. That there is need for experi ential or progressive perfection in the life of every child of God is made clear by Galatians 3:3. Scripture speaks of perfection relative to one of the Christian graces, such as patience, in James 1:4. God has assured all His children of final and consummate perfection. See 1 Pet. 5:10. Nothing less than perfection is the Christian ideal which God has set before us; it is infinite in outreach (Matt. 5:48 and 1 Pet. 1:15, 16). But what are we to do with pas sages in the New Testament which speak of some as perfect ( teleioi )? The perfect are the mature and full- grown in the faith in contrast to babes and children ( nepioi and pai- dia). Note carefully Hebrews 5:13 f.; 6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 2:6; 3:1; Ephesians 4:13, 14. The perfect are the adults of the faith who have reached full strength and mental power and are distinguished from the immature or babes. The full- grown are called fathers in 1 John 2:13, 14. We need to remember that the full-grown man, too, can still grow in the grace of God, as is clear from Philippians 3:12, 15. The ul timate ideal is that of Romans 8:29— nothing less than conformity to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer is exhorted to be per fect, not in the sense in which some teach a doctrine of sinless perfection, but going from spiritual babyhood to spiritual maturity and adulthood, well-versed in the deep things of the Spirit of God in doctrine and prac tice. (For a thorough treatment of the whole subject of perfection, the student may be referred to B. B. Warfield, Perfectionism, 2 vols., Ox ford University Press, 1931.) END.
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m eu c cu v - I MESSIANIC FELLOWSHIP Formerly Chicago Hebrew Mission Laboring in many cities of the U.S. and State of Israel. Would you like to reach the Jews of your city? We can help you. Write today to: Milton B. Lindberg - Archie A. MacKinney 7448 N. DAMEN AVE., CHICAGO 45, ILL. Los Angele* Phone: CHapman 5-2464 Glendale Phone: Citrus 1-0861 CLU r e ó á P R I N T E R S 3900-06 San Fernando Road Glendale 4, Calif. Specializing in Christian printing of books, tracts and publications Printers of The King's Business
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