PERFECT

The word "perfect" is used in different ways in the Bible. (a) Only deity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is perfect in the absolute, moral sense (Mt. 5:48), though Christians are to strive for this quality. Whenever man is referred to as "perfect" it is only in a relative sense, i.e., he is spiritually mature, in comparison to his fellows (Job. 1:1; cf. Phil. 3:12ff). (b) Sometimes "perfect" is employed in the sense of completeness. Jesus, by his suffering, became completely qualified to serve as our High Priest (Heb. 5:8-9). The Scriptures furnish the man of God to the end that he may be "perfect" (KJV), i.e., completely furnished (ASV), for the Christian life (2 Tim. 3:17). In 1 Corinthians 13:8ff, Paul speaks of the cessation of miraculous gifts. The target time for the termination of those phenomena would be "when that which is perfect" is come. The Greek text literally speaks of "the perfect thing" (neuter gender) to come. Here, "perfect" means "complete," and it is placed in contrast to the "in part" things, i.e., the bit-by-bit revelatory process that was conveyed by means of the various spiritual gifts (see 12:7ff). The "perfect," or "complete," revelation was realized when the N.T. record was finished (cir. A.D. 96).