The Scriptural Meanings Behind the Word Perfect

by Steve Crook

I feel led to share with you all a few points that stuck out in my mind as I was reading emails recently, and I hope what is said can be used to edify, exhort and comfort where needed and as the Lord wills it.

Everything I am going to say it something we all experience A LOT. Some of us are able to express various parts of the experience, but we all assuredly experience this same process.

You all know I love words and study them in-depth. I love the individual words because they collectively, one by one, add up to the “Word of God”. Many “words” become One and that’s a VERY fascinating thing to me since that’s what we ALL are in …as being a part of His body…many members making up His One body.

If you find fault with anything I write, please let me know. I write this all out in hopes that we are all sharpened more and more each day.

I hope to expound a little bit more on the English words “perfect” and “perfected” so that we can see how this topic ties into us ALL being the “sons” and “Sons” of God.

There are several different English words used for “perfect” but they have root in different things.

G2675
katartizō
Total KJV Occurrences: 17

perfect, 5
Luk_6:40, 2Co_13:11, 1Th_3:10, Heb_13:21, 1Pe_5:10

make, 2
Heb_13:21, 1Pe_5:10

mending, 2
Mat_4:21, Mar_1:19

fitted, 1
Rom_9:22

framed, 1
Heb_11:3

joined, 1
1Co_1:10

perfected, 1
Mat_21:16

perfectly, 1
1Co_1:10

prepared, 1
Heb_10:5

restore, 1
Gal_6:1

together, 1
1Co_1:10

When reading these words, it can seem like “perfect” might be applicable if we didn’t know to take the ‘sum of thy Word’ in order to “establish a thing”.

2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

1Pe 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 you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

When we set out to “stablish” a matter or a “word”, it simply means to “strengthen”, “set fast”, and “make stable” whatever it is we are trying to establish.

Not coincidentally, inspired in the verse above, Peter tells us that AFTER we have suffered, we are to “make you perfect” and “establish”…you.

There are two main Greek words used in English for perfect … G2675 and G5046.

The first one you see above doesn’t mean perfect in the way we might think and the scripture themselves reveal this.

G4741
stērizō

Thayer Definition:

1) to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix
2) to strengthen, make firm
3) to render constant, confirm, one’s mind

Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731)
Citing in TDNT: 7:653, 1085

The Greek word G2476 should not be translated as perfect, but as “mended” or “mend”, to make whole … to be repaired. I am listing all the times this word is used as perfect. I know that Strong’s also defines this as “complete thoroughly”, but that is a bit misleading when you look at how scripture defines this word, UNLESS you see what “complete thoroughly” means here.

For example, if I have a TEAR in my NET, I need to MEND it to make it WHOLE/COMPLETE AGAINand I need to do a thorough job or else the REPAIR is not a good repair/mend. So, let’s contrast “perfect” with “mended/mend”.

Perfect:

Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect 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.

1Pe 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 you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Mat 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?

1Co 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 in the same mind and in the same judgment.

As you can see above, the English word “perfect” could be seen as a possible translation.

However, when we take the other times this word is used, it gives a completely different “word picture” of what the Holy Spirit inspired to be penned.

Mending/mended/mend:

Mat 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 their nets; and he called them.

Mar 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 their nets.

Rom 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 to destruction:

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

If this word meant “perfect”, then we would have to conclude that Galatians would be saying that we could “perfect” each other after someone was found in a fault. However, a fault itself dictates that we need a “mending” or restoration. We would also have to conclude that the “worlds/aions” in Heb 11:3 were “perfect” by the word of God, but if they were “perfect” that would directly contradict other scripture speaking about this “aion” we live in.

Just for the sake of clarification, let’s exchange “perfect” for “mended” or “mend” in the verses above.

Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is mended shall be as his master.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be mended, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might mend that which is lacking in your faith?

Heb 13:21 Make you mended 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.

1Pe 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, mend you, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Mat 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 mended praise?

1Co 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 mended together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

This understanding is much more in line with what we know in scripture regarding the Potter’s hands. He is the one that has willed things to need mending.

This word is defined in Thayers as:

G2675
katartizō

Thayer Definition:

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

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2596 and a derivative of G739 Citing in TDNT: 1:475, 80

This is an ACTION, mend is a VERB… something we DO.

It takes more work to be clear on which word “perfect” we are talking about, but when we come across G2675 we now can see more clearly what this word intends for us to understand.

Now, let’s look at the other Greek word G5046.

G5046
teleios
Total KJV Occurrences: 20

perfect, 17
Mat_5:48 (2), Mat_19:21, Rom_12:2, 1Co_2:6, 1Co_13:10, Eph_4:13, Phi_3:15, Col_1:28, Col_4:12, Heb_9:11, Jam_1:4 (2), Jam_1:17, Jam_1:25, Jam_3:2, 1Jo_4:18

age, 1
Heb_5:14

full, 1
Heb_5:14 (2)

men, 1
1Co_14:20

“Teleios” is used the majority of the time as perfect. As Ayo mentioned in his article, this word is more accurately “complete” or minimally the concept of completion. However, the “completion” is rooted in a concept in the Greek. There is also G5048 (perfected), but G5046 is the root of it.

G5046

teleios
Thayer Definition:

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

Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G5056 Citing in TDNT: 8:67, 1161

The root of G5046 is G5056.

G5056
telos
Thayer Definition:

1) end
1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)
1b) the end
1b1) the last in any succession or series
1b2) eternal
1c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue
1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose
2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)

Part of Speech: noun neuter
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal) Citing in TDNT: 8:49, 1161

The word G5046 is rooted in “the end”, but why does that matter in the context of completion? The reason we are running the race is to endure to the end. The reason we are fighting the good fight of Faith is to overcome to the end.

“Completeness” is about realizing what the END is we are RACING towards and accepting that the Lord WILL FINISH what He alone has STARTED us towards.

Jesus Christ said He has NOT yet gone on to PERFECTION

So, if we must endure and overcome to the end we MUST have things that PULL and TUG on our flesh. We must have temptations. We must have the adversary telling us we CANNOT endure.

Luk 4:1 And Jesus being FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Joh 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
Joh 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth NOT the Spirit by measure unto him.

“Command this stone that it be made bread”, “here are the kingdoms of this world…all this power I will give to thee and the glory of them”, and “cast thyself down from the pinnacle of the temple of God” are all things we can learn a great deal from; yet, when we PRACTICE and WORK OUT these DEEDS, we will find that Jesus Christ was able to resist the devil in all of these WITHOUT FAIL because He had the Holy Ghost/Spirit without measure.

We have everything in measure as the Sons of God in down payment and at times we want to COMMAND stone to be bread for us because we want to force our understanding of the Word of God = bread.

We WANT the KINGDOMS within us to simply just be under our control, to have power over them and to have that glory placed on ourselves by being able to claim some part of it. This is deceiving because we can say all day “the Lord gave ME the power to do this” without realizing we are interjecting ourselves in the process without saying it is ALL of the Lord.

At times, we want to somehow BELIEVE we can’t possibly be the Sons of God by throwing ourselves down from the very PINNACLE of the TEMPLE where the Lord has placed us. Yes, it was the DEVIL who took Jesus to see these places and to TEMPT Him while He was there, but that is simply because the TRADUCER knows how to TEMPT our MINDS!

One of the great differences in being a son of God and a Son of God is obedience, as Ayo stated. However, NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, so I ask you all, who do you believe is the “US”?

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 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.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Are you looking to WALK/WORK/DO ungodly lusts or are you with the mind serving the spirit KNOWING that your flesh is in control of you unless the Lord shows you mercy?

Do you have HOPE that you are indeed a Son of God NOW and not just in the future?

Have you been given the desire to LOVE GOD which is to keep His commandments, even if a “just man falls seven times”?

The reason I’ve taken the time to point out what “mending” is instead of being “perfect” is that you’ll notice that MENDING one ANOTHER is needed by each of us! We need each other in order to be reminded from time to time that we are THE SONS OF GOD, and we just have to keep on keeping on.

2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection (G2676).

The root of G2676, “perfection” in the verse above, is the focus of MENDING (G2675).

“We wish” for your MENDING.

Your mending leads and enables you to ENDURE what you are needing to OVERCOME so that you can go onto COMPLETENESS (G5046).

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

This happens because you need HEALING/MENDING/RESTORATION. We all have this need and it happens seasonally throughout our entire AION/AGE/LIFE.

1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might mend(G2675) that which is lacking in your faith?

Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you mended 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.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

1Pe 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, mend you, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

It says in Hebrews that the God of peace MENDS us in every good work to do His will … THROUGH Jesus Christ. We are His body so we have a part in helping each other…by GIVING words of EXHORTATION, but that does NOT mean one is not a Son of God because they need words which tells them what is EXPEDIENT.

When you have SUFFERED awhile, whether in the flesh due to what the world throws at you, or by what the Lord does internally in your heavens, know that it is the LORD who works all things after His counsel.

The “perfection” we are to have is to be COMPLETE in Him. We are to know, to have a KNOWLEDGE of Him that in this AGE…. in our AION, He will be with us and working in us, burning what can be burned out so that it can be purged from us. However, it is on His time-table alone!

I will end with this last set of verses.

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING can keep is from the OBEDIENCE of God if He has concluded and willed that we are the Sons of God. If you can answer my questions above positively then you can be confident in your “adoption process” as the Sons of God.

There are other ways for me to say the same thing using the Word of God to say them, but I suppose this will be sufficient for now.

Your brother in the Christ,

Steven

[questions or comments may be directed to Steven at swcrook@gmail.com]