Perfected

From PreparingYou
Jump to navigation Jump to search


The common appearance of the Greek word perfected in the New Testament is teleioo.[1] It is also translated make perfect, perfect, finish, fulfil, be perfect, and even consecrate in Hebrews 7:28[2]

In the Old Testaments perfected[3] is from the word Hebrew shalem[4] from the word shalam[5] meaning both peace and pay.

In 2 Chronicles 24:13[6] we see the completely different word 'aruwkah [7]

And another word kalal[8] is used in Ezekiel 27:4 [9]

Besides the common Greek word teleioo[1] we also see the term katartizo [10] in [11]

The term katartizo appears in:

Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending <2675> their nets; and he called them.
Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected <2675> praise?
Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending <2675> their nets.
Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect <2675> shall be as his master.
Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted <2675> to destruction:
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together <2675> in the same mind and in the same judgment.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect <2675>, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore <2675> such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect <2675> that which is lacking in your faith?
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared <2675> me:
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed <2675> by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 13:21 Make <2675> you perfect <2675> in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make <2675> you perfect <2675>, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

The Greek term teleioo appears in:

Luke 2:43 And when they had fulfilled <5048> the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected <5048>.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish <5048> his work.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish <5048>, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished <5048> the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect <5048> in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled <5048>, saith, I thirst.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish <5048> my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect <5048> in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect <5048>: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make <5048> the captain of their salvation perfect <5048> through sufferings.
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect <5048>, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made <5048> nothing perfect <5048>, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated <5048> for evermore.
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make <5048> him that did the service perfect <5048>, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make <5048> the comers thereunto perfect <5048>.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected <5048> for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they <5048> without us should <5048> not be made perfect <5048>.
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect <5048>,
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was <5048> faith made perfect <5048>?
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is <5048> the love of God perfected <5048>: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected <5048> in us.
1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect <5048>, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is <5048> not made perfect <5048> in love.

The present bondage of man in the world which makes him a surety for debt and classified as a human resource under the government of men rather than free souls under God creates their struggle and produces their pain and feeds their despair and depression.

But salvation is not by endless repetition [12] of words and phrases of the law but by the whole truth of the perfect law of liberty found in James 1:25 [13] and seeking the righteousness of God which we have neglected.

That term for perfect law of liberty is teleios.[14]

That term teleios appears:

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect <5046>, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect <5046>.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect <5046>, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
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>, will of God.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect <5046>: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect <5046> is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men <5046>.
Ephesians 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> man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect <5046>, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect <5046> in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect <5046> and complete in all the will of God.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age <5046>, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect <5046> tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect <5046> work, that ye may be perfect <5046> and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect <5046> gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect <5046> law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect <5046> man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect <5046> love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.


Are your assemblies[15] rooted in the way of Christ or have you forsaken the gathering together?[16]

Perfection or fulfillment has been associated with the adoption of Moses and redemption. Moses was adopted into the family of the Pharaoh and Israel was set free by that adoption but they had to follow the leadership of Moses who redeemed them through that adoption. Moses' repentance from the exercising authority as the the office of Pharaoh and his obedience to God opened a door to freedom and redemption from the bondage of Egypt. Jesus as high priest and King laid down his life so that we may also be redeemed if we are willing to repent and seek His kingdom of God and the righteousness of God.

The term[17] perfection[18] or perfectness[19] and all the other references to perfection of the law of liberty and love along with words like repent, seek, strive, and persevere are all words that point to us being doers of the word and not hearers only and not just saying we believe with our mouths but also our actions.

Being perfected does not suggest that we can save ourselves/ We cannot save ourselves with the strategies of men nor our own cleverness. We are to repent and turn that repentance into action. To repent is to think differently. We can forgive so that we may be forgiven. We can gather together in patterns of ten to save others as Christ commanded so that we might be saved.[20]

You may not look to those benefactors who exercise authority but have you gathered to become the benefactors who exercise love?

Are your ministers of the Church/ekklesia gathered in the spirits of just men or those that Covet the wages of unrighteousness?

  • "To the general assembly[15] and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect[1]," Hebrews 12:23


Is the ekklesia in one accord doing what Christ commanded and providing a daily ministration based in faith, hope, and charity of the general assembly[15]?

  • "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was <5048> faith made perfect [1]?" James 2:22


Are the general assembly[15] of the people and the Church keeping the word of Christ according to the law of love?[21]

  • "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is <5048> the love of God perfected[1]: hereby know we that we are in him." 1 John 2:5

If we will not live by that love, even love our enemies[22] that they might be saved[20], how can we hope for the miracles of God?

If we will not gather as Christ commanded how can we love one another in the meaningful ways of the early Church?

  • "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected[1] in us... 17 Herein is our love made perfect[1], that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect[1] in love." 1 John 4:12


  • "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect[1] in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:23-26


Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 5048 ~τελειόω~ teleioo \@tel-i-o’-o\@ from 5046; TDNT-8:79,1161; {See TDNT 785} v AV-make perfect 12, perfect 4, finish 4, fulfil 2, be perfect 1, consecrate 1; 24
    1) to make perfect, complete
    1a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
    2) to complete (perfect)
    2a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
    2b) to be found perfect
    3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed
    4) to accomplish
    4a) bring to a close or fulfilment by event
    4a1) of the prophecies of the scriptures
    • oikos teleios is the perfect marriage in Rome. “perfect community” (koinonia teleios) ,
    • teleio ,a can be a complete adoption and has been asociated with redeemed.
      • Philo writes (Mos. 1.19). "And the princess, seeing him so advanced beyond his age, conceived for him an even greater fondness than before, and took [adopted] him for her son, having at an earlier time artificially enlarged the figure of her womb to make him pass as her real and not a supposititious child” (LCL, trans. F. H. Colson)."
    Even Josephus writes,“Such was the child whom Thermuthis adopted as her son” (LCL, trans. Henry St. John Thackeray).
  2. Hebrews 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
  4. 08003 ^םלשׁ^ shalem \@shaw-lame’\@ from 07999 Pay and peace; adj; {See TWOT on 2401 @@ "2401d"} AV-perfect 16, whole 4, full 2, just 1, peaceable 1, misc 3; 27
    1) complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace
    1a) complete
    1a1) full, perfect
    1a2) finished
    1b) safe, unharmed
    1c) peace (of covenant of peace, mind)
    1c1) perfect, complete (of keeping covenant relation)
  5. 07999 ^םלשׁ^ shalam \@shaw-lam’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-pay 19, peace 11, recompense 11, reward 10, render 9, restore 8, repay 7, perform 7, good 6, end 4, requite 4, restitution 4, finished 3, again 3, amends 1, full 1, misc 8; 116
    1) to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to be at peace
    1a2) peaceful one (participle)
    1b) (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)
    1c) (Hiphil)
    1c1) to make peace with
    1c2) to cause to be at peace
    1d) (Hophal) to live in peace
    2) to be complete, be sound
    2a) (Qal)
    2a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended
    2a2) to be sound, be uninjured
    2b) (Piel)
    2b1) to complete, finish
    2b2) to make safe
    2b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation
    2b4) to make good, pay
    2b5) to requite, recompense, reward
    2c) (Pual)
    2c1) to be performed
    2c2) to be repaid, be requited
    2d) (Hiphil)
    2d1) to complete, perform
    2d2) to make an end of
  6. 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
  7. 0724 ^הכורא^ ‘aruwkah \@ar-oo-kaw’\@ or ^הכרא^ ‘arukah \@ar-oo-kaw’\@ passive participle of 0748 (in the sense of restoring to soundness); n f; {See TWOT on 162 @@ "162d"} AV-health 4, perfected 1, made up 1; 6
    1) healing, restoration
  8. 03634 ^ללכ^ kalal \@kaw-lal’\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 985} {See TWOT on 986} AV-perfected 1, made perfect 1; 2
    1) to complete, perfect, make complete, make perfect
    1a) (Qal) to perfect
  9. Ezekiel 27:4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
  10. 2675 ~καταρτίζω~ katartizo \@kat-ar-tid’-zo\@ from 2596 and a derivative of 739; TDNT-1:475,80; {See TDNT 100} v AV-perfect 2, make perfect 2, mend 2, be perfect 2, fit 1, frame 1, prepare 1, restore 1, perfectly joined together 1; 13
    1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete
    1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair
    1a1) to complete
    1b) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust
    1b1) to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare
    1c) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be
  11. Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
  12. Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
  13. James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
  14. 5046 ~τέλειος~ teleios \@tel’-i-os\@ from 5056 definite point or goal; TDNT-8:67,1161; {See TDNT 785} adj AV-perfect 17, man 1, of full age 1; 19
    1) brought to its end, finished
    2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
    3) perfect
    4) that which is perfect
    4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
    4b) of men
    4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 3831 ~πανήγυρις~ paneguris \@pan-ay’-goo-ris\@ from 3956 and a derivative of 58; n f AV-general assembly 1; 1
    1) a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities
    2) a public festal assembly
  16. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
    2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
    Isaiah 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
  17. 5047 ~τελειότης~ teleiotes \@tel-i-ot’-ace\@ from 5046; associated with 5048; TDNT-8:78,1161; {See TDNT 785} n f AV-perfectness 1, perfection 1; 2
    1) perfection
    1a) the state of the more intelligent
    1b) moral and spiritual perfection
  18. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, let us go on unto perfection <5047>; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
  19. Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness <5047>.
  20. 20.0 20.1 John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
    John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
    Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
    2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
  21. Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
    Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
    Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
    James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
  22. Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;