The Truth About Being Perfect
	Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Hank Hanegraaff says: "You can't be perfect."

ave you ever seriously looked at what the bible teaches on this subject? The word perfect is often used in the Church, yet most are surprised to find out how often the word is used in the bible. They are even more surprised to find out that the biblical teaching concerning perfection is often unrelated to their expectations. This issue is easier to deal with if studied in-depth, as a scriptural issue, before coming to any conclusions. Therefore, I would encourage you to become familiar with the concepts before you reach a final verdict.  In the New Testament, we find variations of the Greek word teleios 48 times. It is most often translated in English as "perfect" or "mature." In the following sections, we will discuss most of these to show that the teaching concerning perfection/maturity is a significant New Testament teaching. Since the word is used in more than one way, it is necessary to see how the Bible utilizes the term before we compare it with common misuses of it. If we do otherwise, we have no objective frame of reference.

The most frequently quoted text on this subject is Philippians 3:12. Unfortunately, it is most often cited out of context and without consideration for the different forms of the original Greek word. In Philippians 3, Paul refers to both a perfection which is strived for and a perfection which is attained, in verses 12 and 15 respectively. Verse 12 refers to the completion of a goal, while in vs 15 it describes a state (maturity). In the context of this verse and others, it can be shown clearly what is (and is not) implied. Many conclude that since Paul had not attained the perfection spoken of in verse 12 that he was still sinning regularly and merely trying to stop. Before coming to this conclusion, however, it should be noted that a lack of perfection does not always imply sin. The best example is in Luke13:32, where Jesus states: "I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal." Goal here is the word tel-i-o'o, which is translated "will be perfected" in the KJV. Interestingly, it is the same word that Paul uses in Philippians 3:12, defined as: to complete, i.e., (literally), accomplish, or (figuratively) to consummate (in character): Consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect.

The word for perfect which is used in vs 12 is seen 17 other times in the New Testament: Luke 13:32, John 17:23, 2 Cor. 12:9, Phil. 3:12, Heb 2:10, 5:9, 7:19, 9:9, 10:1, 10:14, 11:40, 12:23, James 2:22, and in 1 John 2:5, 4:12, 4:18.

It is evident that the word is applied in a variety of contexts, with and without reference to sin. God's power is made perfect in weakness. Abraham's faith was made perfect (or complete) by what he did. If you obey God's word, His love is truly made complete (perfect) in you. In Hebrews 10, there is a perfection we've already attained in Christ, and in Philippians 3:12, a perfection strived for. All of these verses use the same word but in a different context. They describe the completion of different ends. This is why in the Bible (or any writing) you must pay attention to the context to correctly understand what is meant.

Whereas the word "perfect" in Philippians. 3:12 is the same as that in Luke 13, the perfection spoken of in Philippians 3:15 is the same as that in Matthew 5:48, where Jesus introduces the command to be perfect. When faced with Christ's command, countless times I have heard people say that this perfection is impossible to attain before death. However, this is not scripturally sound. The context gives us three indications that Christ intended this command to be obeyed:

1) In the same discourse, Jesus warned, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father." (Matt 7:21). To the others, Christ will say "Away from me, you evil doers!" If you are truly saved, you'll do God's will and obey His word.

2) Again in the same discourse: "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock . . . everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on the sand." One house survived, but the other was destroyed.

3) In the Great Commission, Christ tells us to make disciples and teach them to obey all that he has commanded-this includes the command to be perfect (see Matt 28). How horrible it is that so many will go out in his name teaching the antithesis of this commission!

Now we may clarify the perfection strived for in Philippians 3:

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that God will make clear to you."

The question is: what had Paul not yet attained? Paul had already endured a great deal of suffering, and had been given a tremendous amount of power in his ministry, but he wanted still more: to know Christ as intimately as possible. He even wanted to become like him in his death. The goal (perfection) which is being strived for here is in reference to growth, and reaching the prize.

It should also be known that obedience is a prerequisite to running the race and winning the prize. In 2 Timothy 2:3-7, Paul teaches that the victor in a race doesn't receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. Therefore, obedience and the perfection of Philippians 3:15 is a prerequisite to attaining the perfection of vs 12. To strive for perfection in the ultimate sense, we should have the perfection spoken of in vs 15: "All of us who are mature should take such a view." In other words, these verses in no way imply that Paul regularly had sin in his life. Without a doubt the opposite is true. He was running the race to win, which implies that he was running according to the rules! He was aiming to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him. This is what I myself strive for, and despite all who would try to stop me, I want to echo the words in Hebrews:

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

The scriptures teach that we are obligated to throw off sin and run the race. This we can do. Until I die, my obligation is to run the race marked out for me. It should be known that I am not the first one to make a distinction in this passage. Even Clement of Alexandria [A.D. 153-193-217], one of the early Church Fathers made a clear distinction between Paul's description of striving after perfection and possessing it:

"And yet he reckons himself perfect, because he has been emancipated from his former life, and strives after the better life, not as perfect in knowledge, but as aspiring after perfection. Wherefore also he adds, "As many of us as are perfect, are thus minded," manifestly describing perfection as the renunciation of sin, and regeneration into the faith of the only perfect One, and forgetting our former sins."(1)

Many have used Philippians 3:12 to imply that Paul still had sin in his life, but if you base your theology on false definitions and proof texts, you could just as well use Luke 13:32 to "prove" that Christ had sin in his life! Please don't misunderstand me. There is a difference between Christ and the rest of us. We, unlike Christ have all sinned, and I am not trying to claim otherwise. But I am saying that contrary to popular opinion these passages in no way imply that we have to continue sinning. Both Jesus and Paul spoke of a perfection that was in the future. Christ's would be attained after his mission was fulfilled; Paul's would be attained after his race was won. Here it is not the issue of attaining holiness; but rather of growth (Heb 5:8-9) and of completing a mission (Lk 13), and both in Philippians 3:12.

An excerpt from Robert Newton Flew is helpful at this point:

"We must turn to the later stoics and to Philo for light on the Pauline use of Teleios . . . The word is used as the culminating stage of the good life, towards which the philosopher is called to strive. In his Encheiridion, or popular handbook, Epicteus appeals to his reader for action: You are no longer a lad, but already a full-grown man (Teleios) . . . Live as a mature man (Teleios) who is making progress (prokopton)." (2)

Paul was not a Greek philosopher, but there are parallels in the two main uses of the word.

Many believe that it is wrong to teach that we should be obedient to Christ's command "be perfect." They imply that it should not be taken seriously, because as they define perfection, it is impossible to attain in this life. This implies that the greater danger lies not in sin, but in believing that we should obey Christ! Does this not sound blasphemous? I do not deny that if their definition of teleios was correct, it would indeed be impossible to attain before death. Apparently, however, this was not a biblical obstacle. The Word states that some had actually attained this perfection, and it does so in such a way as to imply that it wasn't even unusual. For example, "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature (perfect)," (1 Cor 2:6) or "as many as are perfect." (Phil 3:15). This perfection or maturity was spoken of not as some future goal, but as a present reality. Those who ignore this confuse teleios with teleioo. The Following is from Clement of Rome a disciple of Peter and Paul who was probably martyred around 100 A.D;

"Let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the [blessed] bond of the love of God? What man is able to tell the excellence of its beauty, as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls." (3)

Part II Perfection verse by verse. Part III Questions and Objections

1. Clement of Alexandria, "The Instructor" Fathers, Ante-Nicene, v.2, edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson (Ages Digital Library), Book 1, Chapter 7, p 428.

2. R.N. Flew, "Perfect-Perfection" Handbook to Christian Theology, ed. Marvin Halverson, and Arthur Cohen (Great Britain: Meridian Books, 1958), 268.

3. Clement of Rome, "Clement To The Corinthians," Fathers, Ante-Nicene, v.1, edited by A. Roberts and J Donaldson (Ages Digital Library), chapter 49, p 44.