Perfection
“Complete, having reached the end/purpose; made complete”
Summary
Perfection in biblical teaching denotes the realization of one's created purpose, particularly in love—being complete in conformity to God's will rather than absolute sinlessness, with Christ commanding believers to be 'perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect' through wholehearted love of God and neighbor.
☩Meaning of Perfection
The Greek adjective teleios derives from telos, meaning 'end' or 'purpose.' The perfect person is one who has reached the end designed in creation, representing the ideal set before their being. Absolute perfection—entire freedom from defect or liability to fail—belongs to God alone and is incompatible with finite existence. Scripture therefore does not demand absolute perfection from creatures but rather relative perfection: the full realization of purpose according to one's nature and calling. When Christ commands perfection 'as your heavenly Father is perfect,' He speaks not of impossible equality with divine attributes but of likeness in character, particularly in love.
☩Perfection as Love
Christ's command to be perfect culminates His teaching on the law of love in the Sermon on the Mount. The context reveals that perfection consists in loving enemies as well as friends, doing good to the just and unjust alike—being 'perfect in the continuous maintenance and manifestation of the spirit of love.' Paul identifies perfection with love: 'above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.' John similarly teaches that divine love is realized where brotherly love is manifested in deeds. This perfection of motive and affection is compatible with imperfections of other sorts—a child may love perfectly while remaining weak in body and immature in mind.
☩Biblical Examples
Scripture ascribes perfection to Noah, who was 'just and perfect in his generations'; to Job, who was 'blameless and upright'; to David, whose heart was 'perfect' before God; and to Zacharias and Elizabeth, who were 'righteous before God, walking in all the commandments.' These were not sinless individuals but persons of sincere, wholehearted devotion. The term expresses integrity of purpose and undivided loyalty rather than flawless performance. Paul distinguishes between 'children' and 'perfect,' between 'carnal' and 'spiritual,' indicating that perfection represents maturity in faith and sanctification rather than mere conversion.
☩Types of Perfection
Scripture uses perfection in several senses: perfection of sincerity, serving God without hypocrisy; perfection of parts, both subjective (the whole person) and objective (the whole law); comparative perfection, distinguishing mature believers from spiritual infants; and evangelical perfection, whereby Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers who are 'complete in Him.' Beyond these, Scripture speaks of a perfection of degrees involving the full exertion of all powers without defect—what the law requires but saints cannot attain in this life. Paul confesses 'Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect' while simultaneously calling mature believers 'perfect.'
☩Present and Future Perfection
The feeling of imperfection is a necessary part of Christian experience, and Paul condemned excesses of perfective theory while acknowledging perfection in its complete sense belongs to the life to come. John teaches that sin and regeneration are incompatible in principle, yet also that 'if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves'—implying that sinful activity is not included in the regenerated personality even though the fleshly nature may still sin. Christian perfection is thus a present possibility in terms of undivided love and sincere devotion, while complete perfection awaits glorification. The saints advance toward this goal, pressing on as Paul did toward 'the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'
Related Verses60 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Perfection," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Perfection (Human)," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Perfection," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. VIII (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 4.Charles Buck, "Perfection," in A Theological Dictionary (Charles Buck (London), 1802).